The Golden eagle

The golden eagle, a large bird of prey and emblematic of mountain regions, regularly nests between Piolit and the Aiguilles de Chabrières. Boasting a wingspan of over 2 metres, it is one of the largest eagles in the world. It has an absolute command of gliding and, using updrafts, can climb to great heights to survey its territory. It is also capable of lightning-fast acceleration when swooping on prey. In the past, like all birds of prey, it was hunted down by humans, which led to its disappearance from many parts of the world. But today it is protected by law throughout Europe and its populations are doing quite well. So look up and open your eyes: you might just be lucky enough to see it gliding over the ridges in search of a marmot, its favourite prey!