Cutting back the vines (la taillage) is our priority in the fields during this time of year. It takes less than a minute and a dozen strokes for an expert pruner to select the wood and the buds that remain, in preparation for the upcoming growth period. The old wood is then removed (enlever les bois) and shredded.
This is a vine before pruning.
After being cut back, this same vine, is ready for spring.
While this keeps your eyes focused at vine level, you can’t help but notice what is going on above. Right now the cranes are returning north.
They fly in large flocks diagonally from Spain, cross the Pyrenees, through France to Scandinavia. Their route is 4000 to 5000 km in length. Cranes usually make flights of 100 km up to 1000 km per day. The vast majority of birds migrate within a 20 day interval, Feb 11th to the 26th. The number of birds is estimated as being at least 80,000. Since the common crane is now a protected species throughout Europe, numbers are now on increase.
We enjoy their trumpet-like calls and their impressive V flights which glide overhead.
