site.btaMid-Winter Census Counts 700,000 Water Birds

Mid-Winter Census Counts 700,000 Water Birds

Silistra, on the Danube, January 18 (BTA) - Preliminary data from the 41st mid-winter census of water birds conducted from January 13 to 15 revealed some of the highest numbers registered in recent years. Over 400,000 large white-fronted geese and about 44,000 of the worldwide endangered red-breasted geese have been counted, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds said on its site. The last such major congregation of wintering geese was registered in 2013, with a record 54,000 red-breasted geese, nearly the entire world population of the species. About 80 per cent of the data have been processed to date, with 686,762 birds of over 150 species registered.

The census included 41 teams of experts and volunteers of the society, the Environment Executive Agency, the regional environment inspectorates, hunting associations and representatives of other NGOs. They succeeded in inspecting and collecting data from over 200 wet zones in Bulgaria. Over 80 per cent of the teams used the SmartBirdsPro mobile application developed by the society for the collection of biodiversity data.

Interesting observations include the large congregation of wintering wild geese in the region of Bourgas (on the Black Sea), including the rare for Bulgaria small white-fronted geese and one barnacle goose, observations of pink flamingo in the Eastern Rhodopes and a record number of white-headed duck at an unusual for the species location, Rozov Kladenets Dam. More interesting species observed included Dalmatian pelican, sea eagles, tundra swans, long-eared grebes, red- and ferruginous duck, crested cormorants, great black-headed gull, great bittern and many others.

The census of wintering waterfowl has been conducted worldwide since 1967 and is one of the most popular events in the field of nature conservation, which include more than 15,000 people. This year it was held for the 51st time. It is performed simultaneously and synchronized across Europe and North Africa to maximize accurate census of waterfowl.