Île aux Oiseaux (Gironde)

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Ile aux Oiseaux
Aerial view of the Île aux Oiseaux, with the Cap Ferret peninsula and the Atlantic coast in the background
Aerial view of the Île aux Oiseaux, with the Cap Ferret peninsula and the Atlantic coast in the background
Waters Eyre ; Arcachon Basin
Geographical location 44 ° 42 '0 "  N , 1 ° 11' 0"  W Coordinates: 44 ° 42 '0 "  N , 1 ° 11' 0"  W.
Île aux Oiseaux (Gironde) (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Île aux Oiseaux (Gironde)
surface 3 km²

The Île aux Oiseaux is a tidal island in the Bassin d'Arcachon , which was formed from an estuary of the River Eyre . The Île aux Oiseaux, which belongs to the commune of La Teste-de-Buch in the Gironde department , is the largest island in the Bassin d'Arcachon. It is located 60 km west of Bordeaux and has been a nature reserve since 2004 . The two preserved pile huts , so-called Cabane tchanquée, are regarded as one of the most important sights on the island .

Development of the Bassin d'Arcachon with the Île aux Oiseaux
Cabane tchanquées with a pinasse, a typical fishing boat from the Bassin d'Arcachon
Île aux Oiseaux with the Cabanes tchanquées

Geographical location and administrative affiliation

The Île aux Oiseaux is next to the Banc d'Arguin and the Île de Malprat, the largest of the three islands in the Bassin d'Arcachon. The island is three kilometers north of Arcachon and can only be reached by small boats. The size of the island varies depending on the tide. It is 1643 hectares in size at its greatest extent at low tide . With an average tidal range of 4 meters, the island only covers a size of about 300 hectares at high tide .

Most of the island is under state administration, only in the north there are 44 hectares in private ownership. There are currently no people living permanently on the island, most of them only come to the island temporarily for bird watching, hunting or oyster farming. In 1910 a total of 102 people lived here in simple wooden huts. These one-story huts are now grouped into five small hamlets ; as a rule, no new building permits are issued.

The island is administered by the local authorities of La Teste de Buch and the General Council of the Gironde department. The main focus of the administrative activities is the sustainable protection of the natural environment and the preservation of the original architecture of the island buildings. In addition to regulating tourism and building work, the main tasks of the administration also include combating invasive plant and animal species.

Origin and history of the island

The development of the island is closely linked to the creation of the Bassin d'Arcachon. 6000 years ago the funnel-shaped estuary of the River Eyre was located here, which was divided by various sand banks . Over time, the Cap Ferret peninsula , which partially cut off the open connection between the Atlantic and the estuary delta of the Eyre , developed due to the transport of sand along the Atlantic coast . The sedimentation conditions in the estuary changed and there was silting on the south side of the estuary, of which the Île aux Oiseaux forms the largest remaining area today. Others consider the island genetically as the remnant of a sandbar in the mouth of the Eyre delta.

The first cartographic representation of the island can be found on a map by Claude Masse from 1708. At that time there were two huts on the island, which were inhabited by cowherds and a freshwater well. From 1820, the farmers in the area were initially able to send their cattle to graze on the island free of charge. After the July Revolution of 1830 , the island served as a place of exile for the expelled Prefect of Gironde. The island is nationalized in the 1820s . Bird and rabbit hunting established itself on the island in the 19th century.

Since the natural oyster beds on the Atlantic could no longer meet the demand for oysters in the 1860s, the decision was made to set up artificial oyster farms. On the island, seafarers could acquire a concession to farm oysters. To pursue their trade, they built Cabanes , the characteristic wooden huts on the island.

On October 28, 1882, a large storm tide devastated the island, drowning the oystercatchers, farmers and grazing cattle living on the island. In the following year the first huts were built on stilts in order to be better protected from storm surges.

In September 1910 an airfield was built on the island, which was in operation for a short time. To ensure the water supply on the island, the existing well was deepened to 114 meters in 1924 and artesian groundwater was found. Because income from oyster farming and tourism had declined, parts of the island were privatized on August 24, 1925 . The buyers, industrialists from Bordeaux, had big plans to remodel the island, but most of them were never realized. Currently, the island's commercial use is severely restricted in favor of nature conservation. A historic stilt house, Cabane tchanquée No. 53 is now operated as an island museum.

Nature and conservation

The island is characterized by a location-specific, species-rich flora and fauna . The highest peaks on the island are characterized by loose vegetation with maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster ), figs and common robinia .

Most of the island, however, is occupied by wetlands, which are criss-crossed by creeks , waterholes and canals. Various rushes , sea lavender , various salt plants such as Arthrocnemum , beach asters and sea ​​snails can be found in these habitats .

The tidal flats that are released from the sea at low tide are covered with seaweed , which serves as a food source for the ducks and geese. In the salt marshes the increased occurrence of invasive species such as the cross shrub (Baccharis halimifolia) has been observed in recent years .

Located on the Ile aux Oiseaux can be up to 150 species of birds observed living here incubate or by pulling on the migration of birds, including Blaukehlchen , Wagtails , redshank , black-tailed godwits , larks , reed bunting , short-eared owls , peregrine falcons , gray geese , kingfishers , gray plover and little egrets . In winter, various species of gulls , curlews and the Kentish plover can be found here.

In 2004 the area was placed under nature protection (CDDA code 392069). Together with the Bassin d'Arcachon, the island is part of the Natura2000 area Bassin d'Arcachon et Cap Ferret (FR7200679).

Agriculture, oyster farming and hunting

The island has been used as pasture for cows since the early 18th century . The barren salt vegetation for grazing cattle and the frequent flooding led to the cattle farming being discontinued at the end of the 19th century after a storm surge in 1882 decimated half a herd.

The first oyster farms on the Île aux Oiseaux were established in 1860. Oyster farming quickly became an important economic factor in the region and is still practiced today in the Bassin d'Arcachon.

The hunting season on the island is limited to the winter months when tourism is dormant. The hunt is done from a total of 41, mostly floating huts, which are anchored in water hollows and shallow lakes. In the period from October 1st to November 20th, catching birds with net traps is permitted on the island .

Until the early 1950s, from October 15 to March 15, duck and seabird hunting was practiced with large area nets that were set up perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction. In addition to ducks, this method was also used to catch songbirds , thrushes , larks and waders that got caught in the nets. This hunting method established itself on the island in the 17th century and was used until shortly after the end of World War II .

tourism

Tourism is heavily regulated due to the flora and fauna on the island that are worth protecting. Mass tourism and motorized traffic are generally not permitted on the island and individual tourists are also bound by strict rules of conduct. Regular boat tours have been offered from Arcachon and Cap Ferret since the beginning of the 20th century. Individual boat traffic is also permitted to a limited extent.

On the island is tents and bivouacs and the investment of fireplaces strictly prohibited. Sports events are not allowed on or in the shore area of ​​the island. Access to the island is by small boats during low tide . Tourists visiting the island are advised not to leave the boardwalks that lead across the land and across the creeks . Sights include the bird watching spots , the two Cabanes tchanquée and the artesian wells .

Individual evidence

  1. a b Un peu d'histoire | Aclou de l'île aux oiseaux. Retrieved December 23, 2017 .
  2. a b Fiche Site classé - SCL0000677 - L'île aux oiseaux. Retrieved December 23, 2017 (French).
  3. Natura 2000 - Arcachon and Cap Ferret basin. European Environment Agency, accessed December 23, 2017 (French).
  4. La chasse | Aclou de l'île aux oiseaux. Retrieved December 21, 2017 .
  5. Le tourisme sur l'île | Aclou de l'île aux oiseaux. Retrieved December 19, 2017 .

literature

  • Victor-Eugène Ardouin-Dumazet: Voyage en France: d'Arcachon (Île aux Oiseaux) à Belle-Islet. Les îles de l'Atlantique . Berger-Levrault et Cie, 1914.

Web links

Commons : Île aux Oiseaux  - Collection of images, videos and audio files