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  Winter/Spring 2013 newsletter out now! Subscribe below or view it here (in English) or here (in Greek)

BirdWING News

BirdWING (BirdWatching In Northern Greece) has been set up to raise awareness of birds in Greece and to raise money for the conservation and restoration of bird habitat in the region. Birdwing has supporters from all over the world.

The BirdWING site guide, 'Birdwatching in Northern Greece', has detailed information about birds and birdwatching in the region, with up-to-date maps and site info and can be ordered from this website. See the Birdwing Books page. All money raised from the book goes to bird conservation in Greece.

Why not join us?

• it's free
• you will receive regular newsletters about what's happening and what's been seen
• you'll be helping birds in Greece by adding to our 'voice'

Birdwatching in Northern Greece site guide - April 2013 update

Things are constantly changing out there - directions to places, value of sites, access alterations, not to mention a river changing course! If you have the 2nd edition of the site guide there is an update to download to help bring things up to date. You'll find it in our Resources section.

 

Dalmatian Pelican Project at the Evros Delta

Work on the Evros Delta Dalmatian Pelican Project has begun!

An area on the chosen island site has been cleared of existing vegetation, nesting material has been provided and several ‘nests’ have been created to give the pelicans every idea of what we would like to happen next! The area will be monitored during this phase to see what level of interest is shown by the birds.

We will keep you updated as things progress.

A two-phase project, put forward by Birdwing, was approved by the board of the National Park of the Evros Delta to encourage breeding of Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelicanus crispus). The project, to be funded by Birdwing, is only possible due to your donations and support.

Until 1962 there were 40-50 pairs of Dalmatian Pelicans nesting at the Evros Delta but this colony was destroyed by local fishermen. There have been no reports of breeding since.

The species is classed as Vulnerable in both the Greek and IUCN red list categorisations. Indeed the world population is only around 14 000. Dalmatian Pelicans are present almost all year at the Evros Delta and it is hoped that by altering habitat and providing nesting materials for them (Phase 1) or, if necessary, building a nesting platform similar to that at Lake Kerkini (Phase 2) breeding may be re-established.

The project will begin this autumn and is scheduled to run until June 2014.

A suitable island in Drana lagoon has been identified as it is relatively free from disturbance and the area is no longer used as a fishery. This location is close to a winter roost site that the Dalmatian Pelicans use and it is  hoped  will  be a good potential breeding site. Currently the island is covered with dense vegetation and work in Phase 1 will be done to clear an area of the vegetation for the nest site.

To find out more details about the project, please go to the Resources page and download the project document. 

Our thanks go to the Evros Delta Management Body for agreeing to undertake this project  and we hope that members of Birdwing will support us in this exciting venture. 

Birdwing relies upon your support for funding such projects and if you wish to make a donation towards this please click the Donate button on the left!

New birds for Greece!!!

During June Greece's bird list increased by two. The more significant record is of a Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) at Messolonghi wetland on the west coast. Not only a first for Greece, this African bird is also a first for Europe.

Following close behind is a female Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) found on the Nestos Delta.

See greekbirding.blogspot.com for more details and pictures.

 

Cattle Egrets spread east!

A nest containing five chicks has been found at Kerkini for the first time, following an increase in sightings over the last few years. Already an established breeder at Kalamas in the west of the country, it looks like the eastward march is on.

 

Birds of Northern Greece

Can you name all 36 birds from Northern Greece shown?

We've put the answers at the end of the Lake Kerkini page. Have a look around our site and find out about one of the best birdwatching and bird phototgraphy sites in Europe!

Why not also read some of our newsletters on the Resources page to see what Birdwing has been doing to help birds of the region?

We'd love to hear from you if you answered all the quiz questions correctly or if you're interested in visiting Greece to see the wonders of nature and wildlife there. Email us at info@birdwing.eu or join our Friends of Birdwing Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/138708459488919

If you'd like please use the box on the left above to subscribe to our free newsletter and help us make a difference.

We hope you'll see for yourself why so many birdwatchers come back to Northern Greece time and time again!

Steve and Hilary

 

Birding in Northern Greece

There are some fantastic places to come birdwatching in Northern Greece, including the unique Dadia forest and the wetlands of Lake Kerkini and the Evros delta.

If you have never been birdwatching in Northern Greece, consider this: where else in Europe could you see…

• hundreds of White and Dalmatian Pelicans
• thousands of Pygmy Cormorants and Greater Flamingos
• White-tailed, Imperial, Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Golden, Booted and Short-toed Eagles
• Lanner, Saker, Lesser Kestrel, Eleonora’s and Red-footed Falcons
• Black, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures
• Long-legged and Honey Buzzards
• Goshawk and Levant's Sparrowhawk
• four species of shrike breed in Northern Greece, as do eight species of owl. Five species of flycatcher can be found
• nine species of woodpecker are resident and Isabelline Wheatear and Spur-winged Plover are regular breeders
• over 100 000 duck winter on the Evros Delta, often with Lesser White-fronted and Red-breasted Geese
• in Dadia Forest 36 species of raptor have been recorded, and 20 breed
• in 2008 a single eagle roost in Northern Greece held 47 Spotted Eagles and 2 Eastern Imperial Eagles

 

New Birdwing Tern Raft at Axios!

 

After the great success of the raft for Common Terns at Lake Kerkini, a new tern raft has been put in place at the Axios Delta near Thessaloniki. After only a week or so of being in place, birds are already adopting it! Many thanks for your donations which paid for this new raft. Read more in the next newsletter, due out shortly.

 

 

 

  

The future

Many of the sites are under threat. Continued land reclamation, drainage, illegal building, over-grazing and a serious lack of political will towards the environment all continue to have damaging effects. In addition, at certain sites, like the Evros Delta, hunting pressure is intense.

WE NEED TO BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR FOR THEIR PROTECTION NOW!!!

The aims of Birdwing are:

• to raise awareness of issues affecting birds in Northern Greece
• to raise money for direct habitat improvement to help birds whose habitats are at risk
• to build a membership with a collective voice on conservation issues
• If you care, join us today - or make a donation - to help make a difference.