The 44th Mid-winter census of waterfowl was conducted from January 9 to January 12, 2020. The census has been conducted since 1967 in almost all European countries, including Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, it is part of the biodiversity monitoring methodologies in the scope of National Biodiversity Monitoring System (NSMS).
The main objective of the initiative is to determine the status of the European populations of waterfowl and the wetlands where they spent winter. This allows us to monitor the changes in the environment and the consequences for biodiversity, and therefore for our society.
This year as usual Green Balkans experts participted in the census, who monitored Shabla and Durankulak Lakes on January 11 in joint teams with BSPB. Pomorie Lake was counted on January 12. The monitoring included also the coastal marine waters adjacent to the target wetlands.
This year the census was conducted under good weather conditions. The relatively warm winter so far and the associated conditions (good visibility, lack of rainfall and wind), on one hand, favor a more accurate and complete account of the flocks of wintering birds, but on the other hand cause the lack of typical winter inhabitants of our latitudes such as geese, Whooper and Tundra swans and others.
Despite the unusual weather conditions for this period of the year, Green Balkans teams have counted nore than 14 000 individuals from more than 30 species of birds, including 230 White-fronted geese and 4 Whooper swans. The more interesting sightings were of Sandwich terns in Pomorie Lake and Corn buntings in the area of Shabla and Durankulak. These are species that usually leave our country in the winter and spend the unfavorable winter months in the south.
Contacts:
Dimitar Popov - phone number +359885108712, e-mail: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
The main objective of the initiative is to determine the status of the European populations of waterfowl and the wetlands where they spent winter. This allows us to monitor the changes in the environment and the consequences for biodiversity, and therefore for our society.
This year as usual Green Balkans experts participted in the census, who monitored Shabla and Durankulak Lakes on January 11 in joint teams with BSPB. Pomorie Lake was counted on January 12. The monitoring included also the coastal marine waters adjacent to the target wetlands.
This year the census was conducted under good weather conditions. The relatively warm winter so far and the associated conditions (good visibility, lack of rainfall and wind), on one hand, favor a more accurate and complete account of the flocks of wintering birds, but on the other hand cause the lack of typical winter inhabitants of our latitudes such as geese, Whooper and Tundra swans and others.
Despite the unusual weather conditions for this period of the year, Green Balkans teams have counted nore than 14 000 individuals from more than 30 species of birds, including 230 White-fronted geese and 4 Whooper swans. The more interesting sightings were of Sandwich terns in Pomorie Lake and Corn buntings in the area of Shabla and Durankulak. These are species that usually leave our country in the winter and spend the unfavorable winter months in the south.
Contacts:
Dimitar Popov - phone number +359885108712, e-mail: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
