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Wildlife · The wild Verdon

The vultures of the Verdon: the rebirth of Rougon

A century ago, they had vanished from the skies of Provence. Today, hundreds of vultures once again wheel above the Grand Canyon — one of France’s finest conservation success stories. Here is their story, the four species to recognise, and above all where and when to see them.

A species back after a century’s absence

The griffon vulture had been absent from Provence for more than a century, a victim of poison and persecution. In 1999, a reintroduction programme was launched at Rougon, in the heart of the gorges, led by the association Vautours en Haute-Provence and the LPO PACA. The first birds were released in the autumn; according to the LPO, more than 90 griffon vultures would be released over the course of the programme.

The gamble paid off: the colony has been breeding naturally since 2002. Today it numbers more than 300 individuals, including around a hundred pairs, ranging over a territory of nearly 600,000 hectares. The Verdon has become a major site for European ornithology — and one of the few places where you can look up and see, for free, these giants of the sky in their element.

The four vultures of Europe

A rare fact: all four vulture species of Europe frequent the canyon. Learn to tell them apart.

Griffon vulture

Gyps fulvus
The flagship species, reintroduced

The great beige glider of the gorges, the one you see wheeling by the dozen above the cliffs. A gregarious scavenger, it was reintroduced at Rougon as early as 1999 and has bred naturally in the canyon since 2002.

Cinereous vulture

Aegypius monachus
The largest raptor in Europe

Dark and massive, it is the largest raptor in Europe. Reintroduced in the Verdon from 2005 (around thirty birds from Spain and European parks), it recorded its first regional breeding there.

Egyptian vulture

Neophron percnopterus
The small migrant that came back on its own

The smallest of the European vultures, black and white with a yellow face. A migrant, it winters in Africa and returns every spring. Drawn by the griffon vulture colony, it came back naturally and has nested again in the gorges since 2011.

Bearded vulture

Gypaetus barbatus
The bone-breaker

The rarest and most spectacular: it feeds on bones, which it drops onto rocks to break them. A visitor to the Verdon, it completes the quartet — making the canyon one of the few sites where all four European vultures can be seen together.

Where and when to see them

Rougon — spot number one

Around thirty vultures nest on the great cliff facing the old village. From the viewpoint at the foot of Rougon, you can watch them take off, glide and return to roost. The most reliable observation spot in the gorges.

The Route des Crêtes (D23)

From La Palud-sur-Verdon, its overhanging viewpoints often place the observer at eye level with vultures in flight. The Point Sublime and the Couloir Samson round out the observation posts, down at the bottom of the canyon.

The right time

In the middle and at the end of the morning, when thermals build up: the vultures then rise in wide circles, without a single wingbeat. Early evening, as they return, is superb too. A clear sky and binoculars are recommended.

Observe without disturbing

During the nesting period (late winter to spring), some climbing routes are closed to protect breeding pairs: respect the orders and the waymarking. Never feed the vultures, do not approach nests, and observe from a distance with binoculars. The LPO PACA offers a discovery map and guided outings.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see vultures in the Gorges du Verdon?

Yes, and for free. From the village of Rougon and the viewpoints along the Route des Crêtes, you can commonly watch griffon vultures wheeling above the canyon — often at eye level from the rocky balconies. Around thirty birds nest on the cliff facing Rougon.

How many vulture species live in the Verdon?

All four vulture species of Europe are present: the griffon vulture (reintroduced in 1999), the cinereous vulture (reintroduced since 2005), the Egyptian vulture (returned naturally, breeding since 2011) and the bearded vulture, a visitor. This is what makes the canyon’s ornithological richness so exceptional.

When were the vultures reintroduced, and by whom?

The programme began in 1999 at Rougon, led by the association “Vautours en Haute-Provence” and the LPO PACA, at a time when the griffon vulture had been absent from Provence for more than a century. The colony has been breeding on its own since 2002 and today numbers more than 300 individuals, including around a hundred pairs.

What is the best time to observe the vultures?

In the middle and at the end of the morning, when warm air currents (thermals) build up: the vultures then rise in wide circles without flapping their wings, before setting off to find food. Early evening, when they return, also offers good sightings. Favour a clear sky and bring binoculars.

Are vultures dangerous to people or livestock?

No. Vultures are scavengers: they feed exclusively on animals that are already dead and do not attack people or live livestock. On the contrary, they provide a valuable sanitary service by “cleaning” the mountain. They should never be fed or approached.

The Grand Canyon of the Verdon The wildlife of the Verdon The geology of the Verdon The Route des Crêtes The wild Verdon

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