What a fantastic opportunity to have easy access to a major breeding site for one of the scarcest raptors in France ! The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is on the IUCN red list in the category Vulnerable and in Cites appendix II. In France, there are as few as a 175 pairs breeding in two major sites : The Crau Area (Steppe zone at east of Camargue),with 139 pairs, and this little village in the Herault department (36 pairs) that happens to be my natal region. Here, during breeding season, the observation is quite easy. They are everywhere flying over the village. No need to hide and no risk to disturb them because they are perfectly habituated to humans in this urban environment. All photos are shot with Nikon 300 2:8 VR with tripod and TC 1.7, natural light. Here again the “Handbook of the Birds of the World” Vol. 2 (del Hoyo, J., Elliot,A.& Sargatal,J.- Lynx Edicions) has been a worthy backup to comment Lesser Kestrel behaviours.

What a fantastic opportunity to have easy access to a major breeding site for one of the scarcest raptors in France ! The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is on the IUCN red list in the category Vulnerable and in Cites appendix II. In France, there are as few as a 175 pairs breeding in two major sites : The Crau Area (Steppe zone at east of Camargue),with 139 pairs, and this little village in the Herault department (36 pairs) that happens to be my natal region. Here, during breeding season, the observation is quite easy. They are everywhere flying over the village. No need to hide and no risk to disturb them because they are perfectly habituated to humans in this urban environment. All photos are shot with Nikon 300 2:8 VR with tripod and TC 1.7, natural light. Here again the “Handbook of the Birds of the World” Vol. 2 (del Hoyo, J., Elliot,A.& Sargatal,J.- Lynx Edicions) has been a worthy backup to comment Lesser Kestrel behaviours.