As 2024 concludes, the Pelican Way of LIFE project celebrates significant milestones in the conservation of the Dalmatian pelican across Europe.

An international census of wintering Dalmatian pelicans on the Balkan Peninsula took place at the end of this year. The census aimed to collect data on the population size and distribution of the endangered Dalmatian pelican in the surveyed area.

At the end of October, a team of experts and volunteers from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) carried out several activities to improve nesting conditions for the protected Dalmatian pelican in the “Kalimok-Brushlen” Protected Area.

Overhead power lines pose a severe threat to birds, especially large species, often leading to fatal collisions. To reduce this risk, conservation efforts, such as installing diverters, have proven effective; for instance, the team of the Romanian Ornithological Society recently added diverters to high-risk lines to protect bird populations.

The third edition of the volunteer conservation camp organized by the Directorate of Persina Nature Park under the “Pelican Way of LIFE” initiative recently took place.

It has been three years since the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) started tracking the journeys and adventures of the Great white pelican named Vaya. On September 15, 2021, the team successfully captured and tagged a female Great white pelican with a satellite transmitter in the area of Lake Burgas. This is the first Great white pelican tagged with a transmitter in Bulgaria.

On September 17, a one-day seminar focused on activities for the conservation of the Dalmatian pelican in Bulgaria took place in Ruse.

An exhibition dedicated to the birds of the Danube and their habitats is on display in the Sea Garden in Varna in Bulgaria until September 22. The symbol of the exhibition is the Dalmatian pelican.

A volunteer conservation brigade, organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) in the area of Burgas, brought together nearly 60 volunteers from August 24 to September 1 to help protect nature and birds.

Rewilding Europe caught up with illustrator Jeroen Helmer to learn more about the background, workflow, and motivations of this uniquely gifted artist and committed rewilder. One of his works is dedicated to the Dalmatian pelican and its habitat.