Observer les oiseaux dans la région Melaky (Madagascar)

The Melaky region is situated on the western coast of Madagascar, between Morondava and Mahajanga. This an isolated region, quite difficult to access, and which is renowned for its famous Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve : much of the area comprises highly dissected limestone karst, part of the Bemaraha Plateau. The western slopes of the massif rise more gently, and the whole western region of the reserve forms a plateau with rounded hillocks which slope away, with decreasing steepness, to the west. Vegetation is characteristic of the calcareous karst regions of western Madagascar, with dense, dry, deciduous forest, and extensive anthropogenic savannas throughout. Although there have been few studies (mostly carried out more than 40 years ago), and the flora is not well known, many of the species are unique to this formation.The fauna of the region has not been studied in any detail. The Tsingy is the only known location for the chameleon Brookesia perarmata (known from only a few specimens). 53 species of bird have been recorded here, including numerous endemics.
There are also numerous lakes (including the superb Bemamba lake), and the hydrographic network is complex.
The region is very good to discover several lemurs (including Propithecus verreauxi deckeni) and very rare birds, in particular the Madagascar Fish-Eagle.
Julien Charmont, which worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Madagascar program, visited the region in October 2006.