Conservation of the Dalmatian pelican along the Black-Sea Mediterranean Flyway project (“Pelican Way of LIFE”) is the principal conservation project for the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in Europe and at global scale. It aims to reduce the threats to the birds and improve their habitat at 27 sites in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Ukraine. It will also support capacity building and research in Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
Acronym:
Pelican Way of LIFE
Reference Code:
LIFE18 NAT/NL/000716
Duration:
5 years 7 months.
Start date: 01-09-2019.
End date: 31-03-2025
Total budget:
€ 1,773,676
EU contribution:
€ 1,330,255
This Project is co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Union.
Coordinating beneficiary:
The Dalmatian pelican is a globally threatened species. Extremely vulnerable across its entire geographical range, it is classified as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. The global population of the species has suffered a dramatic decline over recent decades, with the principal causes including collisions with power lines, habitat decline, disturbance, direct persecution by fishermen and a lack of awareness amongst local communities. These threats, combined with a lack of scientific data, make the future of the Dalmatian pelican heavily reliant on conservation action.
The global population of the Dalmatian pelican, which numbers around 20,000 individuals, is distributed across three areas. The Mediterranean-Black Sea flyway population, on which this project focuses, accounts for around half of the global total (more than 8000 breeding pairs).
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To improve knowledge of specific threats, sites and migration ecology, thereby enabling better management and conservation action decision making.
To involve local stakeholders in a set of conservation measures to reduce illegal killing and disturbance at key sites along the fly way.
To improve nesting conditions through habitat improvement actions and patrols.
To reduce direct mortality from collisions with power lines.
To boost community pride and support for the conservation of the Dalmatian pelican and associated Nature 2000 sites.
To raise awareness of local populations about the species, and to increase the engagement of stakeholders in its conservation.
With a wingspan of almost three meters and weighing in at over 10 kg, the Dalmatian pelican is one of the most impressive breeding birds in Europe. The sight of a group of these massive fish eaters taking to the air is an awe-inspiring avian spectacle.
In order to breed Dalmatian pelicans need access to still, fish-filled waters undisturbed by human activity, with extensive flooded and shallow water areas. They usually return to traditional breeding sites, which may contain anything from a single nest to more than 250 (they are less social than other pelican species). Their nests are crude heaps of vegetation, placed on islands or dense mats of vegetation. The bird lays between one and six eggs, chicks are born naked, but soon sprout white down feathers. Offspring fledge at around 85 days, and become fully independent soon after.
The Dalmatian pelican acts as an ambassador for a rich and interconnected wetland system in Europe. As an iconic indicator species, supporting the comeback of the Dalmatian pelican can indirectly help to restore vast swathes of wetland, lake and marshy habitat that is likely to have a positive ripple effect on a multitude of other species. The Dalmatian pelican continues to show signs of recovery within their range in southeast Europe, including the Danube Delta rewilding area. Yet, their fragmented populations pose a problem for the species’ long-term stability.
Finding new ways to boost its numbers can reinvigorate an ecosystem, and shine a light on the need for more formal protection of these habitats, the benefits of large-scale wetland restoration, and the value of natural processes. As well as underlining the necessity of healthy fish populations, which leads to rivers being restored and rewilded. The Dalmatian pelican can do all of this, while taking on an ambassadorial role in promoting the need for well-connected, rewilded wetlands across Europe.