Management of threats

Reducing threats such as predation by insectivores

The Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur will coordinate the following four actions:

Study of Lesser Kestrel home ranges

To analyse the home range and hunting areas, fifteen birds will be fitted with GPS transmitters by Philippe Pilard (LPO France) in spring 2022, in line with the objectives of the 3rd National Action Plan for this species. Data will be used for the reintroduction of the Crau Plain Grasshopper and the adaptation of nesting sites for colonial insectivores (below).

 

Adapted grazing management – Installation of temporary fences

The abundance of corvids and the cattle heron is closely linked to the sheep flocks. In addition to adapted grazing management, grazing will be limited on the Crau Plain Grasshopper sites using mobile and temporary fencing to exclude sheep flocks and birds very locally (compensatory payments).

 

Adaptation of nesting sites of colony-breeding insectivorous birds

The breeding colonies of Jackdaws and Lesser Kestrels are concentrated in buildings. Based on the results of the Kestrel home range study (above) and the Crau Plain Grasshopper reintroduction plan, adaptations will be made if necessary to one or two colonies in order to reduce their size, by translocation of breeding pairs, avoiding any negative impact on the species.

 

Monitoring of insectivorous birds

Monitoring of insectivorous birds will be carried out partly with the help of volunteers (e.g. shepherds).