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.

At the beginning of July 2024, the Danube Delta Rewilders Camp, organized by Rewilding Ukraine and Rewilding Romania, welcomed 30 enthusiastic secondary school children from the local communities of the delta. The camp took place in Jurilovca, a charming village on the Romanian side of the delta.

This year has been favorable for the Dalmatian pelicans nesting in Persina Nature Park and the “Kalimok-Brushlen” Protected Area. The primary reason for this success is the relatively high water level of the Danube river from February to June, which is crucial for the condition of the river’s wetlands and the nesting waterfowl species.

Romania’s fish-eating birds, including cormorants and pelicans, are finding themselves at the center of a fascinating dialogue on human-wildlife coexistence. A recent technical report by the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR) prepared within Pelican Way of LIFE initiative sheds light on the attitudes of fishery operators and managers towards these birds, and offers a glimmer of hope for more harmonious future interactions.

The seventh international pelican census was conducted at the very beginning of June in the Balkan countries. The census aims to collect data on the population and distribution of Dalmatian and Great white pelicans in the study area. The event was organized within the initiative “Pelican Way of LIFE” and was coordinated by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS).

At the end of February, one of the six Dalmatian pelicans fitted with a satellite transmitter late last year was detected transmitting data from the same spot for several days.

Artificial nesting platforms are supporting the ongoing recovery of European Dalmatian pelican populations in the Danube Delta and beyond.