Birds of a feather flock together – and so do translators! After Amélie and I bonded over our shared love of birds, we decided to set up a bilingual blog all about them. And to get it under way, we’ve both answered a few questions about our birding experiences so far. Read on to find out more – including which species is the elusive “one that got away”. And when you’re done, don’t forget to read the interview with Garen: Birdwatcher and Translator
Hello, where do you live?
I come from western Brittany, so I’m used to watching seabirds on the coast. But for a few months now, I’ve been living in a village in the forests of the Vosges du Nord regional natural park. Across the German border, it becomes the Palatinate Forest, and it’s home to typical – and rare! – forest species such as little owls and lynx. So my natural surroundings have changed a lot, and it’s so exciting!
What are your favourite species?
That’s a tough one!
I’d have to say the northern gannet. They’re very elegant birds that are known for their streamlined shape and white plumage. Their fishing technique is spectacular. They dive beak first into the sea, catching and stunning a fish before swallowing it as they return to the surface. The gannet’s aerodynamic shape inspired Concorde’s designers – a brilliant example of biomimicry.
And I love the Eurasian eagle owl. I was lucky enough to witness the piercing gaze of two eagle owl chicks in Monfragüe national park in Spain. It was the middle of the day, and they were waiting for their parents on a huge rock face on the other side of the river, so they were pretty easy to spot. I’ve been told that, for many years, a pair of eagle owls nested in the bell tower of a church a few kilometres away from where I now live. Unfortunately, that was before I’d moved here, but I hope they’ll come back.
What’s your favourite reserve?
My favourite is the Sept Îles reserve [fr], a string of islands located just off the Pink Granite Coast in northern Brittany. It’s home to France’s nesting population of puffins, razorbills and Manx shearwaters. But it’s best known as the site of France’s only gannet colony, making it the southernmost in Europe. You can only get there by boat, and landing is forbidden. It’s well worth a visit!
My second favourite reserve is Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland, which is managed by the RSPB. It’s the perfect place to bring your binoculars or spotting scope to watch the birds without disturbing them. The viewing platform overlooks a cove surrounded by cliffs hosting thousands of nesting seabirds, including puffins, kittiwakes and fulmars. It’s absolutely magical!
How did you get into birdwatching?
During the 1999 oil spill, I got in touch with the Île-Grande rescue centre [fr] to see if I could help, but I was too young to join the team. A few years later, I re-applied and was accepted as a volunteer (at last!). The staff were experienced ornithologists who wanted to pass on their knowledge. I learned so much about the biology and the behaviours of the species that were being cared for there.
Afterwards, I volunteered for the RSPB on Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland. My job was to tell visitors about the birds found on the reserve. I loved sharing my passion using the skills I’d learned a few months earlier. Plus I got to birdwatch all day for weeks. It was fantastic! Both of these experiences really helped develop my love of birds.
Which bird have you always wanted to see?
Seeing an osprey would be a dream come true.
Recently, I’ve been trying to see a pair of black storks. They’re quite a rare bird that are now reappearing in Alsace. Every year, a pair of them are seen in the valley where I live, but they seem to be keeping a low profile. Black storks are very discreet, easily disturbed and scared of humans. But it’s very quiet where I live, so I’m not giving up hope of spotting one eventually.
Which bird are you unluckiest with?
Sparrowhawks. I’ve never managed to see one.
What’s your funniest birdwatching story?
I spent years trying to spot a dipper in Ireland or the UK. We don’t get them in Brittany, so every time I crossed the Channel, I always hoped I’d see one. And in the end, I saw finally saw a dipper here in Alsace, a stone’s throw from my house, while I was running an errand. I’d been looking for them along streams in the middle of the countryside, and I ended up seeing one in the channelled river in the village centre. It tickled me that I saw it in such an everyday place while on an everyday errand.
And finally, do you have any birdwatching advice to share?
Garden birds and shorebirds are both relatively easy to spot. For less common species, or if you want to study how certain birds behave, you’ll need to be (very) patient and discreet, enjoy your own company, leave your pets at home and get a good pair of binoculars or even a spotting scope, depending on the species you’re hoping to see. And remember that in general, birds are busiest at dawn and dusk.
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Amélie Le Jeune – Traductrice de l’anglais vers le français
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