Réserve naturelle nationale de Lilleau des Niges, National nature reserve in Les Portes-en-Ré, France.
This nature reserve on the northern coast of Île de Ré includes salt marshes, sandy shores, and coastal pools spread across a large protected area. The mix of different habitats supports diverse animal life throughout the seasons.
The reserve was established in 1980 from former salt production areas that had been worked for generations. This transformation shows how abandoned industrial lands can become refuge for wild nature.
The visitor center occupies a former salt storage building and displays exhibits about the birds and natural life of the island. Here you discover which species pass through and how human activity shaped this landscape over time.
You can walk through the reserve on a path roughly 2 kilometers long that runs along its southern edge with good viewing spots. Guided tours are available to help you identify bird species and learn how to observe them properly.
This location serves as a crucial stopover for migrating birds traveling between northern and southern Europe, especially in spring and fall. Observers can spot thousands of birds from many different species on a single day here.
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