birding facts Birding Resources by the Fat Birder for France Corsica<BR>

Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus). It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia. Corsica is considered one of the 26 r�gions of France, although strictly speaking Corsica is designated as a 'territorial collectivity' (collectivit� territoriale) by law. The region consists of the Departments of: Corse du Sud & Haute-Corse. The traditional Province (& Island) of Corsica. As a territorial collectivity, it enjoys greater powers than other French r�gions, but for the most part its status is quite similar. Corsica is referred to as a 'r�gion' in common speech, and is almost always listed among the other r�gions of France. Although the island is separated from the continental mainland by the Ligurian Sea and is much closer to the Italian than to the French mainland, politically Corsica is part of Metropolitan France. It was once briefly an independent Corsican Republic, until being incorporated into France in 1768. Corsica is famed as the birthplace of Napol�on Bonaparte. His ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte, is located there still.

Corsica has several rivers, some with tributaries. They originate in inland lakes or mountain passes, flow through gorges featuring rapids and waterfalls, then meander through coastal alluvial deposits before discharging into the sea rather than into one of the many coastal �tangs or 'pools'.

The island is divided into three major ecological zones by altitude.

Below 2,000 feet (610 m) is the coastal zone, which features a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The natural vegetation is Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrubs. The coastal lowlands are part of the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests ecoregion, in which forests and woodlands of evergreen sclerophyll oaks predominate, chiefly Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and Cork Oak (Quercus suber). Much of the coastal lowlands have been cleared for agriculture, grazing and logging, which have reduced the forests considerably.

From 2,000 to 6,000 feet (610 to 1,800 m) is a temperate montane zone. The mountains are cooler and wetter, and home to the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, which supports diverse forests of oak, pine, and broadleaf deciduous trees, with vegetation more typical of northern Europe. The population lives predominantly below 3,000 feet (910 m), with only shepherds and hikers at 2,000 to 3,000 feet (610 to 910 m).

From 6,000 to 9,000 feet (1,800 to 2,700 m) is a high alpine zone. Vegetation is sparse. In spite of the southern location, the highest elevations are snow-capped with small glaciers. This zone is uninhabited.

The island has a natural park (Parc Naturel R�gional de Corse), which protects thousands of rare animal and plant species. The park was created in 1972 and includes the Golfe de Porto, the Scandola Nature Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and some of the highest mountains on the island. This park is protected and cannot be reached on foot, but people can gain access by boat. Two endangered subspecies of hoofed mammals, the mouflon (Ovis aries musimon) and Corsican red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus) inhabit the island; the Corsican red deer is endemic.

birding...

Birdwatching Guide to France: South of the Loire Including Corsica (Paperback)

Birdwatching Guide to France: South of the Loire Including Corsica (Paperback)

Books, CDs, etc.

The Birds of Corsica

2000 [April] - Simon Woolley and Julia Casson

2000 [April] - Yann Kolbeinsson

2002 [May] - Peter Rueegg

2003 [May] - Martin J Pitt

2006 [March] - Bob Swann & Andrew Ramsay [Corsica & Sardinia]

2006 [May] - Richard Bonser

2007 [May] - Jan Vermeulen

2009 [July] - Stephen Burch

2010 [May] - Pete Morris

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