Photo Essay: France’s Camargue is a Bird Paradise

Flamingos in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.

The Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau in the Camargue region of southern France is a bird paradise in the spring. I had always wanted to visit it, and I finally got my chance. It did not disappoint.

The main draw are flocks of flamingos, but there are other large nesting birds like herons and ibises that are tending to their young as well. It’s a beautiful natural habitat that I highly recommend if you’re a birder.

If you aren’t, I still recommend it if you’re visiting nearby Avignon or Arles in the spring. Below are some of the photographs I took during my recent visit at the ornithological park.

A flamingo in flight. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
An ibis and a heron nest in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Flamingo in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Flamingos in flight in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Flamingos in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Beautiful flamingos. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Herons nesting in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
A flamingo in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Flamingos in the Camargue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
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Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.

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