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.

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.

In early July 2023, a team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) organized a boat expedition along the Danube River to monitor the populations of rare bird species, including the iconic Dalmatian Pelican. This year’s goal was also to raise awareness among local communities about the conservation of the species and the river, through events held at two nesting sites – Persina Nature Park and the Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Area.

The multi-faceted Living Danube Delta education campaign is bringing young people from three countries closer to the nature and wildlife of the delta, and educating them about the importance and benefits of rewilding.

A Danube Delta-based educational camp held in June saw over 50 participants from four countries come together to learn more about Dalmatian pelicans – and the important role that rewilding can play in recovering populations of this iconic bird across Europe.

The National Ornithology Olympiad 2023 was held by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) in spring, with the final round last Sunday, gathering twenty best students from a total of 117 pupils of 5th to 8th grades from different cities of the country.

In the last days of September, the 4-days Danube volunteer conservation camp took place in the Persina Nature Park in Bulgaria. It was the first educational and practical training, organized for university students by the Park Directorate. 20 volunteers came from Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen and Local High schools from Belene and Svishtov.

The team of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) developed a lovely kit of educational materials to teach Greek pupils about the biology, behavior and features of the Dalmatian pelican, but more importantly, about the threats the species is facing and the need for its protection.

At the end of March the team of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) was in Messolonghi for a series of actions within the initiative Pelican Way of LIFE, financed by the LIFE Program of the European Commission.