Information
and reservation

Cavaillon-Luberon Tourism Office

tel : +33 (0)4 90 71 32 01
www.cavaillon-luberon.com

likes to take up residence on the sandy banks of rivers, on rocky slopes or in former gravel pits. In the Luberon region, it can be found along the Durance River, but also in Maubec, a village on the northern slope of the mountain range, about 10 kilometers to the east of Cavaillon. When the bee-eaters arrive, the sandy cliffs of the former village dump are transformed into an observatory where one can participate in hunting or display scenes of this charming bird. If you’d like to learn about the bee-eater, you can participate in guided outings

Nature

Discover

By Corinne Russo - Photos José Nicolas - August 5, 2011

The European Bee-Eater, a migratory bird, is one of the most colorful that you will find in the Luberon – a true thrill for amateur photographers.

Turquoise blue on its breast, belly and on the base of its wings; rust-colored on its back, head and upper wings; yellow-edged with black on its throat, and a green tail… these numerous bright colors clothe this bird in a dazzling costume. Its curved black beak and black eyes with a red iris further highlight the beauty of this intensely photogenic species. Living in colonies, the bee-eater is commonly found in the south of France from April to August, before returning to Africa at the end of summer when the bees and other insects making up its diet thin out. It

organized every Tuesday evening in July from from 7-8pm, departing from the municipal camping ground. Small groups may also set up tours via the Cavaillon-Luberon Tourist Office from April to the end of July. To see the bird in a completely different environment, cross the Luberon to the southern slope of the range. At less than 30 kilometers from Maubec, in the village of Mérindol, the Regional Natural Park has constructed a bird watching observatory. Located by the Durance River, it allows one to observe the fauna on the banks of the river

unobtrusively. The League for the Protection of Birds is regularly on site, and organizes guided walks between Durance and Garrigue Wednesday evenings in July and August at 5pm and 7pm, and on request for small groups between April and September.