“Danger, attacks of aggressive nozzle in progress. Forest path closed to the public. ». This is a rather disconcerting sign for walkers who wish to enjoy the spring awakening of the city wood forest, in the town of Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie). If the pins, the thrushes or the red-gorges welcome the hikers of their melodious and peaceful song there, a nozzle is on the contrary hostile to any intruder who dares to pass in the sector.
Several attacks were reported at the town hall of Thonon-les-Bains which therefore decided to close the path passing under the tree where the aggressive raptor nests. The situation does not date from this spring, because this nozzle has lived there for ten years and has already attacked several people.
“Just make a detour to avoid any inconvenience”
“She can melt on walkers, greenhouses and with big wings,” explains Bernard Delorme, municipal employee in charge of forests. Sometimes it is only to intimidate, other times it can cause slight scratches to the head. However, no serious injury was identified in Thonon-les-Bains and we are far from the Hitchcock thriller “Birds”.
Some residents are worried, however, and wonder if the bird should not be killed (which has been prohibited by law since 1972). A raptor specialist is reassuring.
“The nozzle is territorial and some individuals can be slightly more aggressive in the event of intrusion, while the little ones have just come out of their eggs,” says Jacques-Olivier Travers, Fauconnier and founder of the Park des Eigles du Léman, right next to it. “Just make a detour to avoid the nest and any inconvenience. The nozzle should become more convenient from mid-June … until the following spring.
