Free stay for seawatchers

Would you like to seawatch at Cap Gris-Nez? If you like the idea of free accommodation in exchange for voluntary work, we offer this possibility since the autumn of 2012!

Natural surroundings

On the French side, the watchpoint in the Straits of Dover is Cap Gris-Nez  at Audinghen, between Boulogne and Calais, in the centre of the Côte d’Opale. The Opal Coast was named by the Impressionists, enthralled by the quality of the light. It is part of the site of “les deux Caps” (Cap Gris-Nez, Cap Blanc-Nez), gazetted in  2011 as « grand site de France ». The watchpoint is in the lower part of the cliffs of Cap Gris-Nez.

This exceptional site attracts thousands of visitors annually. Most of them come to admire the impressive cliffs of chalk at Cap Blanc-Nez (133 m) and the Jurassic rocks of Cap Gris-Nez. On a clear day the emblematic « white cliffs of Dover » can be seen.

This is part of a protected area (ZNIEFF I). At a European level, Cap Gris-Nez is recognized as an IBA (Important Bird Area) by BirdLife International. The marine area of Cap Gris-Nez is part of the Natura 2000 network under the EU Birds Directive.   

Its unique geology created a unique ecosystem supporting several interesting botanical and animal communities, typical of the North Atlantic Coast of the Channel and the North Sea. Several sea mammals occur regularly, e.g. Grey Seal, Common Seal and Harbour Purpoise.

The ornithological interest of the site was shown by several generations of French, British and Belgian birders since 1956. Their observations show the importance of the site, both by the number of species involved as by the sheer number of migratory birds. The area is of international importance for many seabirds (scoters, grebes, divers, shearwaters, gulls and terns, alcids, etc.). A number of pelagic species can be seen regularly (Sabine’s Gull, Grey Phalarope, etc.). Thousands of passerines occur on migration but are rarely counted.

Cap Gris-Nez is a bottleneck both in spring and in autumn. The Straits of Dover is one of the hot spots for bird migration in Europe. Located at a latitude of 50°N, Cap Gris-Nez is halfway the North Pole and the Equator. This explains an exceptional richness of migratory birds in both seasons.

A professional seawatcher is present at the site since 2012. The standard protocol takes into account weather and sea conditions. The seawatcher will be happy to provide information on bird migration to the visitors throughout the survey (from 1^st September to 30 November). The aim of the count is to provide detailed information on bird migration to enable future scientific studies.

Visitors

The association « La Vie du Nord » aims to show bird migration to all interested visitors and offers free accommodation in a holiday cottage and optical equipment to participants of the migration count.  Participants can stay for a day, for a week or maximum for a month.

Additional information can be obtained from Nathan Legroux; phone +33 6 47 45 33 81 or by e-mail mailto:laviedunord@live.fr.