The Flora
The richness and specificity of the Camargue vegetation comes from the double influence of water and salt. Irrigation water softens the north of the delta, while seawater introduced to the south for salt production increases the salinity of the soil. Under these conditions, halophilic plants are predominant as they are tolerant of salt environments. The most representative in the Camargue is the salicorne: small green herb bush. It particularly loves the salty soil of the Sansouïre and is tinted with various colors to the threads of the seasons: green in spring, grey in summer and rather red in winter. Its fleshy branches store water to reduce the concentration of salt in its tissues. It is edible, can be used as a condiment, macerated in vinegar, or cooked as green beans, hence its nickname “sea bean”.
On less salty soils, very rich aquatic vegetation has settled. The salad or sea lavender spreads in the form of carpets and colours the pastures with its soft blue. Six varieties of saladelles are present in the Camargue. It rejects the excess salt absorbed by its leaves. All you have to do is turn them around and get proof. Rare are the trees able to withstand the salinity of the soil, the tamarisk meets on the whole of the plain in the form of groves. The reed or «cane of Provence» grows on the edge of the ponds and forms hedges windbreaks because of its robustness. It rubs shoulders with yellow irises, water buttercups, broom and myosotis.
The tip of the Espiguette is full of vegetation typical of the dune massifs. A distinction is made between dune-building plants such as oyat (a grass with elongated spikes) or euphorbia, and those involved in stabilizing dunes such as sea grapes (a small green shrub with red balls), panicaut (or blue thistle) and sand lilies. The latter blooms in the summer in the heart of the dunes and is protected at national level like many other species present in the Camargue (garlic small moly, myosotis held…)
The birds
Located on the migration axis between northern Europe and Africa, the Camargue is an important staging area for many waterfowl and ducks, making it an outstanding ornithological observation site. More than 150,000 birds, representing more than 250 different species, migrate through or live in the Camargue year-round. Bird watching is done according to the seasons. On long, sunny spring days, migratory birds return from Africa. They stop in the Camargue to rest and refuel before continuing their journey to the north of Europe. For species living in the Camargue, the nesting period begins. It is then the best time to observe the wedding parades and the construction of the nests for the breeding period that comes with the summer. A hundred species of birds nest in the Camargue during the summer season. One can then observe ardeidae (blue herons, egrets), anatids (ducks, geese), shorebirds or «waders» (woodcock, knights, avocets, oyster, stork) and larids (gulls, gulls, terns). Many birds, such as the flamingo, usually congregate in colonies on islets near the ponds. The trees used for nesting are now used as dormitories. Young people are beginning to emancipate themselves and regroup for the future fall migration. Then comes the time of regrouping. Migratory birds make another stop in the Camargue before spending the winter further south. Many birds come to spend the winter in the Camargue where the living conditions are better and the food more abundant than in the countries of northern Europe. Each year, more than 100,000 ducks come to settle in the Camargue during the winter.
Among all these birds, the most representative species of the Camargue is the flamingo, which is present all year round in the region. In spring, when it reproduces, its population can reach up to 30,000 individuals. In fact, the Camargue is the only breeding ground for flamingos in Europe. They congregate mainly on the pond of Fangassier, south-east of the pond of Vaccarès, where an artificial islet was created in 1970 to compensate for the destruction of natural islets and thus allow the flamingos to continue to reproduce in Camargue. The young are born white and then become grey. The flamingo gets its beautiful pink plumage around 3-4 years. This species has the particularity of creating crèches: group of small ones guarded by a few adults. About ten weeks after their birth, the young take flight. The following autumn some will make their first migration to spend the winter in warmer regions. The flamingo feeds on insects, worms, fish, seeds of aquatic plants and rice, which causes conflicts with Camargue rice farmers. However its favorite dish is artemia salina: a small crustacean living in the lagoons and salt marshes. It is its high carotene content that gives the flamingo its beautiful pink plumage. Since 1979 and the implementation of the Birds Directive, the Flamingo is a totally protected species in Europe. This Directive involves the protection of birds but also of their nests, eggs and habitats.
The Camargue bull
There are two breeds of bulls present in Camargue. The raço di biou (occitan name) is present in Camargue since the highest Antiquity. They live in manade (herd) of 150 to 300 head on unsuitable land and feed mainly on reeds and salihorns. Its coat is dark brown and its horns head vertically towards the sky forming a lyre, making it its main feature. The leader of the herd, the «simbeù» is a castrated bull carrying the «redoun», bell whose sound guides the manade. They are raised in particular to provide the bulls that will be used for games in the arenas and also for the consumption of their meat. This animal is small and light compared to other breeds of bulls which gives it a predominant ability for running. The Camargue bull is the only breed in Europe considered to be still wild. There are 20,000 head following the 2011 census. The Brave or Combat breed originated in Spain and was introduced in the Camargue in 1869. Fewer of these bulls (about 6,000 head) are raised in a herd called ganaderia in the eastern delta and are intended exclusively for bullfighting with killing. Its horns are instead directed forward unlike the Camargue breed.
The breeding of Camargue bulls is done in freedom. From April to November they feed in the humid part of the delta to the south and go up for the winter in the peripheral areas not floodable. Like foals, one-year-old calves are marked with red iron, this is called ferrade. It allows the breeder to identify his own animals and to ensure the selection and the follow-up of the families, the Camargue livestock being subjected to a strict control. It’s also the occasion of a big party with the babysitters. Throughout his life, the bull will have little contact with man, only for the ferrade, when the herds are gathered for sale and when the gardian watches over the health of his manade. The sorting of the cattle will allow the guardians to test the animals that will be used in the traditional Camargue race, to treat them or to take them to the slaughterhouse. The sorting of the cattle is delicate and requires that the guardians have perfect control of the horse-riding in order to remove the animal smoothly and without hurting it. Bulls unfit for games in the arenas are intended for the consumption of their meat, which is dark red and lean, related to game. Since 1996, bull meat has had a Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée label. It is frequently used in traditional Camargue recipes like the gardiane, a kind of stew.
