Parc Ornithologique du Teich (bird park - Southern France)

The Ornithological Park in Teich is part of Arcachon, not far from Bordeaux in southern France; and if you've been to the Wetlands for Wildlife bird sanctuary in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire it's quite similar. The park in Teich which has been open to the public since 1972 is a well preserved natural environment ideal for the 300 species of birds that thrive there. The wetlands of the bird park which consists of swamps, mud-flats, humid meadows, and ancient fishponds is an important migratory route for these European birds.

Slowly walking the park stopping off at the numerous hides and other observation spots en-route can be a pleasurable well spent half-day out. To full walk is about three miles return for the less ambitious there is a shorter route of about a mile distance.

In your walk you are likely to observe the usual array of birds typically seen in a wildlife bird sanctuary such as storks , ducks, swans, herons, the Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta).

Near the start of the walk you can see the storks nesting in the trees, there are several good observation points for this, and being the south of France you are almost guaranteed good weather making it a good opportunity for photography.

For a bit of Latin the storks belong to the Ciconiiformes family and are exclusive to the Ciconiidae sub group; and in laypersons terms storks are large wading birds with long legs. They have long necks and long stout bills.

Storks populate most of the world; preferring drier habitats to other closely related birds such as the herons, spoonbills and ibises. However, unlike other birds they don't have a syrinx and are therefore mute; making bill-clattering an important part of their communication at the nest site.

Most Stork species are migratory and on their return they do like to reuse the same nests, some of which can be huge; and they also tend to be monogamous. They generally soar using thermal air currents, or glide, rather than fly to conserves energy; and their diet mostly consists of insects, earthworms, frogs, fish, small birds and small mammals.