When can I see Common Cranes at Lac du Der?
Do you dream of seeing a spectacular spectacle with the kids?
Every year, the migration of Common Cranes attracts thousands of enthusiasts and curious onlookers.
What about you?
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The magic of the Common Crane sunrisea unique spectacle of nature
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A magical showmorning...
Mid-October to mid-March is the ideal time to see them with your family. The Common Crane is a morning bird – so much so, in fact, that to see it take flight, you have to get up before dawn. And the best vantage point for observing them is the dike on the shores of Lac du Der.
As the first glimmers of autumn tint the sky and water from pink to orange, the thousands of Common Cranes that have come to rest for a few hours or days begin to trumpet their distinctive “Krou Krou”. The clamor grows louder and louder until the sun’s first rays appear.
A visual and aural spectacle!
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Flight of Sandhill Cranes over Lac du Der
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Sandhill cranes in flight and on the ground at Lac du DerAnd it'stake-off
By the hundreds, by the thousands, skimming the waves and then climbing over the dyke to pass the many spectators, children and adults alike, who have come to admire this spectacle, a veritable gift of nature.
Regenerated by their nocturnal rest in the middle of Lac du Der, which offers them a peaceful haven of almost 5,000 hectares, the large damselflies leave this dormitory to feed in the neighboring fields, up to several dozen kilometers away, or to continue their great migration.
Cranes in an autumn sky at Lac du Der
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TAKE A BREAK
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The “Ferme aux Grues”, located in Saint-Rémy-en-Bouzemont, is set up on a former farm, the main feeding area for Common Cranes. Every year, from mid-February to mid-March, organic grain is fed to the cranes to attract them and prevent them from feeding in neighboring fields. An observatory is available to visitors.
