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.
The breeding season has been exceptionally successful for the colony of Dalmatian pelicans in the “Kalimok-Brushlen” Protected Area near the town of Tutrakan in Bulgaria. Here, the birds successfully occupied the two artificial wooden platforms, and several pairs built nests on fallen trees in the wetland.
This year, 92 pairs successfully raised 120 pelican chicks, setting a new record! All the young pelicans flew away in early July, though they still stay close to the platforms and the sandy spits along the Danube river in the area. It is worth recalling that in April 2021, a new breeding colony of the species was formed in the “Kalimok-Brushlen” Protected Area, with three pairs successfully raising four chicks. In 2022, 30 pairs successfully raised 30 chicks, and in 2023, 79 pairs successfully raised 107 chicks. This is a tremendous conservation success and another significant step in protecting this majestic species.
For the ninth consecutive year, Dalmatian pelicans nested in Persina Nature Park. In 2024, the pelicans occupied two wooden platforms built for them in the marshes of Persin Island. The platform in Peschina Marsh was occupied by 28 pairs of Dalmatian pelicans, which successfully raised 35 chicks. On the other hand, the platform in Dead Swamp was occupied by 12 pairs of pelicans, which raised 15 chicks. All the young pelicans flew away in late June, and they currently stay in the marshes of Persin Island and nearby sandy spits along the Danube. In summary, 40 pairs of Dalmatian pelicans nested in Persina Nature Park in 2024, raising 50 chicks.
It is also interesting to note that for another year, the marshes of Persin Island attracted around two hundred of Great white pelicans during the breeding season, which also used the wooden platforms, but only as resting and roosting sites. The two marshes are part of the Persina Marshes Managed Reserve, located on the island, which also includes Old Marsh and Dulya Bara.
This year, 14 pairs of Dalmatian pelicans nested in Lake Srebarna, successfully raising 19 chicks. In summary, a total of 146 pairs of Dalmatian pelicans nested in Bulgaria in 2024, raising 189 chicks. This is the second strongest year for this species in the country since targeted studies began.
The actions on species conservation are carried out within the framework of the “Pelican Way of LIFE“ initiative (LIFE18/NAT/NL/000716), coordinated by Rewilding Europe and funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Arcadia Foundation, and with the assistance in Bulgaria of the Whitley Fund for Nature.