Ifrom the Center for the Protection and Study of Birds said that the curly pelican still nests on Lake Skadar. They visited the most important places for the curly pelican in Montenegro: Skadar Lake, Ulcinj Salt Lake and Šasko Lake, in as part of the sixth international pelican census, which is carried out in the countries of Greece, Albania and Montenegro.
This is stated on the CZIP website.
"The goal of the census is to accurately determine the number of Western populations on the Balkan Peninsula, which is shared by the mentioned countries. "The previous year was catastrophic for this species, which, after decades of efforts to preserve it and the success that accompanied the story, was even completely driven from its nests twice due to harassment, and later suffering from bird flu," said the CZIP.
Preparations for this year's census, they added, hinted that the tour of the field would be marked by anguish and concern for this species.
"Pelicans did not nest on the set platforms for two years, which they accepted back in 2014 and which were maintained and expanded, which ensured the growth of the population," it is stated on the CZIP website.
Friday, as they said, brought optimism and joy when it comes to this species because CZIP ornithologists, together with representatives of the protection service of the Skadar Lake National Park, recorded two locations where this bird nests.
"One is traditional - Pančeva oko, on a naturally floating island called "arbunos", where 5 nests are located. The second, much larger colony was discovered on the southern side of the lake on the rocky island of Mali Moračnik, where no nesting has been recorded so far," he says. from CZIP.
The fact, they said, is gratifying that this is still a successful year, although the number of young is almost twice as low as in 2021. A very good circumstance is that they nest on natural islands, which reduces dependence on humans.
"Nevertheless, it is a sensitive species in a sensitive place whose protection does not allow relaxation and whose status obliges us to put more focus on this species - one of the most important and sensitive in Montenegro. We would like to praise this year's efforts of the protection service within the Skadar National Park lake, which in a very engaged and dedicated manner suppressed illegal activities on the lake, which are one of the biggest problems, both for the lake and for the pelicans," they announced.
According to them, most of the birds were registered on the newly discovered colony with 17 nests in which there are young birds from this year, and which are of different ages.
"We found birds and juveniles, ranging from 10-15 days old to over two months old, indicating that the colony had been at this site for some time! Pelicans, unlike the platforms where were nesting alone, they share this island with the great cormorant, which also has a colony in this location," added CZIP.
The result of yesterday's census is, as they stated, 165 adults and 32 birds from this year, while all the birds were counted on Lake Skadar, which does not diminish the importance of Lake Šaski and Ulcinj Salt Flats, which this species uses more in the autumn period, i.e. before they start nesting, in the only place in Montenegro for now - Lake Skadar.
Bonus video:
