Saudi Arabia seems to be one of the most preferred travel destinations for the young vultures from the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria. Two of the equipped with satellite transmitter vultures have spent nearly five months far away from home finally reaching Saudi Arabia.
This summer, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and Elektrorazpredelenie Yug EAD continued the provision of bird-related electrical poles in the Eastern Rhodopes. This important work is expected to continue until the end of the year, resulting in a total of 170 pillars and 150 diverters installed.
Chrysoula – an immature Cinereous Vulture, tagged in 2017 in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park in Greece, made her first trip outside Rhodopes. and it turned to be a long one – 3200 km for 17 days.
During the end of June seven vultures were successfully measured, biologically sampled and tagged with rings and wing tags in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria. The tagging operation will add to the valuable data currently being used to support the recovery and territorial expansion of the birds.
Rewilding Rhodopes team welcomed a newborn bison last week. Both mother and the calf are doing well, with the team monitoring the bison family on a daily basis. At birth, calves are quite small, weighing between 15 and 35 kg.
The camp, held annually in the Rhodope Mountains rewilding area, saw young Bulgarians enjoy a range of conventional and unconventional activities.
The camera will hopefully offer thrilling close-up views of a nesting vulture pair, giving watchers a better understanding of this majestic species and boosting conservation efforts.
Zdravе, the first Bulgarian Griffon Vulture, whose flight we followed all the way to South Sudan in Africa, died. The young traveler had an interesting but unfortunately short life.
With the first anti-poison dog units patrolling the Rhodope Mountains rewilding area from 2016, their counterparts on the Greek side of the border are also carrying out equally valuable work.
The birds, tagged with GPS transmitters in Dadia National Park in Greece, will offer additional insight into black vulture behaviour and movement on and around the Balkan Peninsula. By supporting conservation measures, this will hopefully reinforce the comeback of this magnificent yet endangered species.