Île aux Castors

Testifying to the Arve's ancient braided appearance, the torrent has a branch at Bois de la Châtelaine in Gaillard. An island sits proudly in a meander of the Arve.
It's called "Beaver Island" because it's home to a family of beavers, an astonishing rodent. Beavers use the riverbanks to dig their lodge, the entrance to which is underwater.
The island is largely wooded, with many typical riparian trees such as willows, poplars and alders, which the beaver cuts into pencil shapes to eat the bark of young branches.
The woodland is also home to a multitude of birds that come to find food and shelter on the island (jays, great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches...). The pebble banks with their fine sand are a godsend for riverside birds.
These include dippers and wagtails, which lay their eggs between the pebbles.