Overhead power lines pose a severe threat to birds, especially large species, often leading to fatal collisions. To reduce this risk, conservation efforts, such as installing diverters, have proven effective; for instance, the team of the Romanian Ornithological Society recently added diverters to high-risk lines to protect bird populations.

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.

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.

Over the past two months, two Dalmatian pelicans tagged with GPS transmitters have died. At the end of January, the young female pelican Stella was found dead in the area of Lake Mandrа near Burgas in Bulgaria, and a few weeks later, in the area of Lake Golovița in Romania, located north of the city of Constanța, the body of the adult female pelican Plamena was discovered. In both cases, the cause of death was entanglement in fishing nets, likely followed by drowning of the birds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

An international census of wintering Dalmatian pelicans, which also took place in Romania at the end of 2022, shows encouraging results for the species population in the area.

Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR) launched a vote for a Bird of the Year 2023. The campaign, held in November and December, highlights three species, the Dalmatian pelican among them, listed in the newly published Red List of Romanian bird species.