At Château Cazebonne, our commitment to respectful viticulture and the balance of our ecosystems manifests itself in many ways, and welcoming a diverse range of wildlife is one of its finest illustrations. Among the emblematic guests soaring over our plots, falcons hold a special place. These fascinating birds of prey, belonging to the Falconidae family, embody the good health of our viticultural environment through their very presence.

Falcons, with their slender silhouettes and powerful wings, are formidably efficient hunters. Their piercing eyesight allows them to spot prey from impressive distances, while their swift and agile flight makes them unparalleled predators for small rodents like mice or voles, as well as for destructive insects that can threaten the vines. As natural regulators of pest populations, they perfectly align with our agroecological approach to viticulture, reducing the pressure on our vines and limiting the need for human intervention.

Observing a Common Kestrel hovering above the rows of vines, or witnessing the lightning-fast hunt of a Eurasian Hobby, is always a breathtaking sight. Their presence is a valuable indicator of the quality of our biodiversity. It proves that our plots offer a habitat rich in food resources and suitable shelters, thus creating an environment conducive to their thriving. We believe that a vineyard in harmony with its environment naturally attracts these sentinels of the sky, which contribute to its protection and vitality.

Our approach is part of a broader vision of our terroir's living heritage. Much like the falcons watching over our vines, we strive to revive Bordeaux's viticultural history and heritage. This is why we passionately replant forgotten grape varieties, such as Castets, Mancin or Saint Macaire, whose history and uniqueness are highlighted in the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages" published by Éditions BBD and written by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne. This long-term endeavour, this quest for authenticity and distinctiveness, would be impossible without the unwavering support of the many wine lovers who have embraced our wines and share our vision, enabling us to breathe life back into these viticultural treasures that had disappeared from the Bordeaux landscape.

Winged sentinels of the vineyard: species and life cycle

At Château Cazebonne, several species of falcons can be observed. The Common Kestrel: the sky sentinel of Cazebonne (Falco tinnunculus) is the most common, recognisable by its characteristic hovering, known as the "Holy Spirit flight". The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is also present, appreciated for its speed and agility. These birds of prey, although belonging to the same family, exhibit distinct visual and behavioural characteristics.

The Common Kestrel is a small bird of prey with pointed wings and a long tail, which is reddish-brown on the male and barred on the female. Its back is reddish-brown speckled with black, and its pale belly is finely streaked. The Hobby, larger and darker, boasts a slate-grey plumage on top and a white belly streaked with black. Both species share piercing eyesight, essential for their hunting method.

The life cycle of these falcons is closely linked to the seasons of the vineyard. In spring, the breeding season begins with the establishment of nests (often old corvid nests) and egg-laying. Summer is marked by the rearing of the young, which take their first flights and learn to hunt. Autumn and winter see populations disperse or migrate for certain species, while others remain resident, continuing to regulate rodent and insect populations.

Ecological impact and role in the vines

The presence of falcons at Cazebonne is a strong indicator of the good health of our vineyard wildlife and the richness of the biodiversity. These predators occupy an essential role as natural regulators of small rodent populations (voles, field mice) and insects. Their action limits the damage these pests could cause to young plants, vine roots, and grapes. This natural regulation allows us to reduce the need for human interventions, notably the use of phytosanitary products, thus fitting perfectly into our organic and biodynamic farming approach.

Falcons therefore interact in a highly beneficial way with the vines. They cause no direct damage and actively contribute to crop protection. Their presence at Cazebonne testifies to a balanced viticultural ecosystem, rich in food resources and offering resting and nesting sites. We regularly observe these birds of prey hunting above our plots, providing concrete proof of their integration into our environment and their crucial role in the sustainability of our vineyard.

Our commitment to preserving biodiversity translates into cultural practices that encourage the presence of these allies, such as planting hedges, maintaining grassed areas and creating ecological corridors. By valuing these species, we participate in safeguarding a natural heritage vital for the future of our terroir. You can learn more about the black kite, another fascinating bird of prey from our region.

We invite you to discover our wines, the fruit of this passion and commitment. Thanks to the support of wine lovers who have embraced our wines and share our vision, we can continue this long-term endeavour, notably by breathing life back into the vanished grape varieties of Bordeaux. To deepen your knowledge of these resurrected grape varieties and Bordeaux's viticultural history, feel free to download the digital version of the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", test your knowledge with our oenological quizzes, or visit our online shop to order our wines.