As part of the Pelican Way of Life initiative, an educational campaign is being implemented by Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) in Messolonghi, Greece, aiming at raising awareness among students about the importance of wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability. The campaign comprises three main components, including school visits, online meetings, and field visits, all designed to engage students actively in learning about environmental issues and conservation efforts.

The winter monitoring of Dalmatian pelicans occurred in December as part of the Pelican Way of LIFE initiative. Coordinated by the Romanian Ornithological Society, the monitoring in Romania engaged 13 teams, covering the wintering areas utilized by Dalmatian pelicans.

In late December, a joint team of experts and volunteers from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and a representative of the Tutrakan Tourism Development Association carried out activities to enhance nesting conditions for the protected Dalmatian Pelican in the Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Area.

A collaborative effort involving the Danube Delta National Research and Development Institute (INCDDD), the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (ARBDD) successfully fitted six Dalmatian pelicans with GPS-GSM satellite transmitters during late November and early December.

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the triumphs and challenges that the European Dalmatian pelican population encountered in 2023. Being a symbol of thriving and interconnected wetlands in Europe, this keystone species remains reliant on dedicated conservation efforts.

In a strategic move, Persina Nature Park has initiated the construction of a new nesting platform for Dalmatian pelicans in Peschina marsh on Persin Island. The decision follows the destruction of two existing platforms during autumn, attributed to adverse weather conditions.

In November, the team from the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR) visited schools in Giurgiu and Turnu Măgurele, delivering engaging sessions on birds, with a focus on the Dalmatian pelican. Nature education forms an important component of the Pelican Way of LIFE initiative.

An international census of wintering Dalmatian pelicans took place on the Balkan Peninsula in late November and mid-December. The purpose was to collect data on the number and distribution of endangered Dalmatian pelicans in the region.

At the end of November and the beginning of December, a team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) captured and successfully ringed four Dalmatian pelicans, placing satellite transmitters on three of them. The birds were tagged in the Burgas Lakes area.

In late November, the team of experts and volunteers from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) successfully executed various activities aimed at enhancing the nesting conditions for the protected Dalmatian Pelican within the “Mandra – Poda” Special Protection Area (BG0000271).