Le Balbuzard pêcheur : situation en France et observation en forêt d’Orléans (Loiret)

An international symposium on the Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was held for the first time in France between September 27th and September 29th 2013 in the National Museum of Natural Sciences of Orleans, in the department of Loiret. This bird of prey, today considered as an iconic figure of the Centre region, was put in the highlights during these three days.
Specialists, representatives of several countries: mainland France and Corsica, the UK (Scotland and England), Germany, Switzerland, Spain (Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, and the Spanish Basque country), Finland, Portugal, Morocco, Italy attended this symposium to emphasize the significant efforts provided for the species’ survival in Europe and on the African continent. The quality of the presentations, the slide shows, and the high level of competency from all the French and foreign experts who took part at this symposium were all greatly appreciated by the audience The speakers shared their experiences and did put forward all that has been done in their countries, particularly the actions aimed by all the specialist s devoted to the cause of the species: recovery, breeding, strategy of reintroduction and protection programs, radio and satellite tracking. Very important and praiseworthy efforts have been made, particularly in the French region of Centre for the protection and the restoration of this threatened species since its return in 1984.
Marie-Claire Imbert wrote a detailed summary of the symposium and we publish the following parts: description of the species, biology, status in France, protection, the return in France in 1984, its presence in the public forest of Orleans (Loiret) and where the Ospreys can be watched from the Ravoir’s observatory.