site.btaWintering Waterbird Census Will Take Place Jan. 16-19

The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds and the Executive Environmental Agency will organize a census of wintering waterfowl in Bulgaria between January 16 and 19, the society said on Tuesday.

More than 100 volunteers and members of the Society and participating partners will join forces, with more than 40 teams expected to cover more than 200 wetlands - the Danube and Black Sea coasts, all dams, ponds and rivers in the interior of the country where waterfowl winter.

The aim of the census is to collect accurate information to assess changes in the status of the populations of the bird species monitored. The data are particularly important and relevant in the context of the climate change issue, the society added.

Bulgaria is a preferred wintering site for a number of waterfowl, including species included in the World Red List – horned grebe, red-breasted goose, lesser white-fronted goose, white-headed duck, long-tailed duck, velvet scoter and common pochard.

The Wintering Waterbird Census has been conducted internationally since 1967 and is one of the most massive conservation events involving nearly 15,000 experts and volunteers. The census takes place in more than 100 countries and covers some 25,000 wetlands.

Partners in the bird census in Bulgaria are the Executive Environmental Agency, NGOs, while the Ministry of Environment and Water provides vehicles and experts. The experts are supposed to check for violations of the Hunting and Game Conservation Act.