Located at the heart of the Fier d'Ars marine bay in the north of Île de Ré, the Lilleau des Niges Natural Reserve provides a home to nearly 300 bird species throughout the year. It has a very rich natural heritage, characteristic of the Atlantic coastal marshes, showcased in the Maison du Fier ecomuseum. Learn about this preserved natural space.
A protected natural space
Created in 1980, the Lilleau des Niges Natural Reserve, in the north of Île de Ré, is managed by the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (Bird Protection League). It covers an area of 121 hectares inside a closed bay, protected from swells and sea winds. Located in a former salt farming area, it provides birds with many different areas to shelter and feed. Two distinctive zones can be identified in the maritime landscape: salt meadows and mudflats.
Estran recouvert de spartine maritime dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
Salt meadows
Most of these are former salt marshes that have been taken over by the sea. Halophiles are a type of vegetation typical of these salt environments, and can be found there. It is visible at low tide, like the spartina shown here, which is an invasive species.
Vasières dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
Mudflats
The mudflats are covered by the ocean at high tide and are a feast for birds at low tide. This space is populated by numerous small mollusks and crustaceans—the food of choice for small wading birds in particular.
Marais salé dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
Salt marshes
The natural reserve's land was reclaimed from the sea between the 16th and 19th centuries to create salt marshes. This activity gradually declined after peaking in the 19th century.
The reserve's last salt marsh was in operation until 1976.
Lavande de mer dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
The earthen levees separating the salt marshes are home to several plants that are emblematic of the region, including a species of heritage sea lavender that is protected by the regional government: Limonium auriculiursifolium (lychnis-leaf sea lavender).
These spaces are maintained by a flock of Scottish Black Face sheep.
Lever de soleil sur la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
Today, these former salt marshes enable precise control of the water level, in order to best meet the birds' needs.
Some structures, built when the salt farms were in operation, still remain in the Reserve, for example the Bossys Perdu hut.
Cabane des Bossys perdus dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
It was in use until the 19th century to store equipment, and especially to let the salt workers rest.
Damaged through neglect and bad weather, it was restored in 2011, with the support of the Fondation du Patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation).
It is now used to store equipment used for the natural reserve's maintenance and development.
The Île de Ré aviary
The Lilleau des Niges Natural Reserve is located at a migration crossroads. It hosts more than 300 different bird species each year. During the period of migration, hundreds of thousands of birds pass through the reserve to feed and rest. The numbers observed have increased tenfold compared to the first few years it was made into a reserve. In the winter, during high tide, it is home to up to 80% of the water birds on Île de Ré.
Goélands bruns et argentés dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
The reserve hosts a large number of lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls. They often compete with other species for potential nesting sites, leading to increased monitoring of their population.
Reposoir pour oiseaux dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
Here, we can see three different species cohabitating peacefully.
In the foreground are black-tailed godwits—small wading birds that probe the mud with their long, straight beaks. In the winter, the nature reserve is one of the main sites where birds coming from Iceland take refuge.
In the middle ground are Eurasian spoonbills—larger wading birds that capture prey with their impressive beaks. There are 50 to 60 individuals in the reserve during the winter.
In the background are great cormorants, which are experts at catching fish through diving and can stay under the water for almost a minute. Coming from all across the island, they gather at night to sleep in the Reserve.
Gorgebleue à miroir dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
Bluethroats are another of the reserve's iconic species. Female bluethroats, present on Île de Ré, are part of a type endemic to the French Atlantic coast.
In the spring, males sing from the top of tamarisk trees to mark their territory and attract females. They then show off a superb blue breastplate.
The species leaves to winter in Portugal or Morocco.
Échasse blanche dans la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
The black-winged stilt looks like a miniature stork with its long red legs and black and white plumage.
This small wading bird nests on the ground. They settle in small colonies on the salt marshes' levees.
As migratory birds, they leave to winter in the African tropics.
The Maison du Fier (Bay House)
Now a museum space highlighting Île de Ré's natural heritage, the Maison du Fier was originally a salt warehouse in the Vieux-Port of the Portes en Ré. Built around 1914, in some years it held up to 2,000 tons of salt, testifying to the island's salt farming past. Abandoned during the 1950s, it became a shipbuilding workshop before being bought by the Conservatoire du Littoral (Coastal Conservatory) in 1997. The warehouse was then completely stripped down to its original state and refurbished to accommodate the Maison du Fier, named after the Fier d'Ars bay where it is located.
Vue d'ensemble de la scénographie de la Maison du Fier : écomusée de la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
The museum, which was completely redesigned in 2013 to be accessible to all, presents the island's different natural environments and its challenges.
Scénographie de la Maison du Fier : les saisons sur la réserve naturelle de Lilleau des NigesFondation du patrimoine
A panel shows the island's iconic bird species by season.
It is an essential step to take before visiting the reserve, to better understand its landscapes and feathered inhabitants.
Rencontre avec Jean-Christophe Lemesle - La réserve naturelle Lilleau des Niges sur l'Île de RéFondation du patrimoine
Video interview with Jean-Christophe Lemesle, conservator at the Lilleau des Niges Reserve, on Île de Ré.
Our thanks to Jean-Christophe Lemesle, conservator at the Lilleau des Niges Reserve, for his hospitality and help in creating this content.
To support the Fondation du Patrimoine's activities supporting natural heritage click this link : https://www.fondation-patrimoine.org/recherche-projet
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