A new scheme for patrolling the territory of Persina Nature Park was launched in April, organized by Persina National Park and with the participation of experts from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB). The purpose of the patrol is to monitor the level of disturbance and behavior of Dalmatian pelicans along the section of the Danube adjacent to the park.
In the period from April to July, the area around the marshes on Persin Island was monitored, and the goals and efforts of the experts were aimed at ensuring minimal concern for the already nesting two colonies of Dalmatian pelicans on the island.
To expand the scope of observation of pelicans along the Danube, a water patrol was conducted in September around the Nikopol Island Group and the Belene Islands Complex. The inspection was attended by experts from DPP “Persina” and BSPB, following a standard methodology for assessing the status of the species and the factors of concern, developed under “The Pelican Way of Life” project.
A total of 243 Dalmatian and 119 pink pelicans were identified during the water patrol. Violations were not registered.
The patrolling is a part of the activities of the Persina National Park to assess the condition of Dalmatian pelicans and to register the degree of disturbance of the species under “The Pelican Way of Life” project. In the coming months, the patrol scheme will be supplemented by an upgraded video surveillance system on Persin Island.
The patrolling is carried out in the framework of the project “Pelican Way of Life” (LIFE18 NAT/NL/000716), coordinated by Rewilding Europe, funded by the LIFE Program of the European Commission and Arcadia Fund. The work carried out in Bulgaria is also supported by Whitley Fund for Nature.