We have celebrated the World Wetlands Day with monitoring of wintering geese in the largest wetland complex in Bulgaria – Burgas Lakes.
The monitoring included Atanasovsko, Burgas and Mandra Lakes. Significant decrease of geese numbers was observed for the region of Burgas. In total observed numbers of White-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) was just 2000 and amongst these we manged to detect not more than 10 of globally threatened species Red breasted goose (Branta ruficollis). Feeding geese were together with a mixed flock of 350 swans - Whooper (Cygnus cygnus) and Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus). On the shore of Mandra Lake one more flock of about 170 Whooper swans were feeding accompanied by 70 Great egrets (Ardea alba).
During the field mission relatively bad state of the winter crops was recorded due to continuing drought. We hope that rain and snow forecasts for the second part of the week will be realized.
Contacts:The monitoring included Atanasovsko, Burgas and Mandra Lakes. Significant decrease of geese numbers was observed for the region of Burgas. In total observed numbers of White-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) was just 2000 and amongst these we manged to detect not more than 10 of globally threatened species Red breasted goose (Branta ruficollis). Feeding geese were together with a mixed flock of 350 swans - Whooper (Cygnus cygnus) and Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus). On the shore of Mandra Lake one more flock of about 170 Whooper swans were feeding accompanied by 70 Great egrets (Ardea alba).
During the field mission relatively bad state of the winter crops was recorded due to continuing drought. We hope that rain and snow forecasts for the second part of the week will be realized.
Dimitar Popov - phone number +359885108712, e-mail: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
