Bird conservation news

Hunting ban because of snow and frost

Freeze and heavy snowfall claimed a high number of victims among water birds on the Balkans. On top of that, hunting is putting huge pressure on the birds. Now Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Greece responded to this situation by temporarily suspending hunting.

Better protection against electrocution

From this summer, Lesser Kestrels and other large birds are much less likely to fall victim to electrocution in the Sakar Mountains in Bulgaria. More than 200 power line poles have been rendered safe by applying insulating bird protection caps.

One, two, many – Workshop on the waterbird census

In January 2017 the midwinter International Waterbird Census will take place again. In order to make this possible representatives from nine different EuroNatur partner organisations were trained in a three-day practice orientated workshop in Mekovic in the Neretva-Delta in Croatia.

Privatisation plans threaten Montenegro’s national parks

The Montenegrin government plans to privatise the country’s national parks - thereby open the floodgates to overexploitation and destruction of very valuable areas such as Lake Skadar National Park. In an open letter, EuroNatur urgently calls on the prime minister of Montenegro to keep the national park administrations under public control.

Meeting of Experts for the Lesser Kestrel

What is the situation of the population of Lesser kestrels in the Balkans and in other European countries, and how can these elegant birds of prey be effectively protected? At the beginning of October, 54 experts from 11 countries met to exchange ideas at a Workshop in Bulgarian Plovdiv, which was organized by EuroNatur partner Green Balkans.

Film tip: Endangered treasure on the Adriatic Sea

Three years ago the Ulcinj Salt Works in Montenegro ceased production and as a result of that, one of the most important resting grounds for migrant birds in Europe may stop to exist. The short film “The Endangered Treasure of Ulcinj” appeals with impressive pictures for the protection of this unique natural and cultural heritage site.

Mystery Adriatic Flyway

What exactly is the Adriatic flyway? What threats migratory birds are facing on their journey along the Eastern Adriatic and why it is so important to preserve the valuable wetlands there as resting grounds for cranes, ferruginous ducks and others?

See the film “Adriatic Flyway” to learn more

Birds and natural paradise Lake Skadar

Lush riparian forests and extensive shallow water zones: Lake Skadar is a perfect habitat for thousands of birds, including rare Dalmatian pelicans. The short film “Skadar” explores the impressive scenery and unique beauty of the lake and its surroundings in the borderland of Montenegro and Albania.

The Return of Ibis and Spoonbill

They were missing for more than 20 years. Now the spoonbill and the glossy ibis are back to the Serbian nature reserve Obedska Bara – a wetland complex around the largest oxbow along the Sava River. In the course of a monitoring tour in early June, staff of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina province and Secretariat of Urbal Planning and Environmental Protection of the Province found four breeding pairs of ibises and six to eight pairs of spoonbills.

More room for our storks

From 29 June to 3 July 2016, all life revolved around the white stork in the Hungarian village of Nagybajom. More than 60 representatives of "European Stork Villages" from 13 different European countries converged on this little town of just three and a half thousand inhabitants in southwest Hungary.