Wednesday I arrived on the traditional location in Vaucluse before midday and started immediately to investigate the area. In the field I met Jean-Pierre Baron that was present since the day before. We put our forces together to try to find the first V. ursinii of the May 2012 research session.
Early in the afternoon, I discovered the first viper but a dead one... This female was marked on the 21th May 2011 and was already in poor conditions. JPB was not very surprised although it was the first V. ursinii to be found dead in the field since the research started in 1979 (if we except some animals killed by human, road or intentional killing). We continued to search since 6 pm without success.
Thursday, we were joined by a third researcher. The weather was nice, sunny with poor wind and sweet temperature. We continued to search all the day and in the middle of the afternoon JP found a little male that was marked for the first time as newborn on the 2nd September 2007.
According to JP Baron it's probably the first time in May that there is so few animals (1 in 3 days) and it's probably because the reproduction took place early in the month...
Because of bad meteo forecast for friday I didn't return to the place and try to find some interesting herps in Bouches-du-Rhône but without success...
Finally it's was a very instructive little trip with my first Vipera ursinii and the meeting of Jean-Pierre Baron that is very interesting and nice person.
More pics on http://www.pbase.com/stephaubry/vipera_ursinii_170512
