SmartBirds
Picture: Alexander Atanasov
People of different ages and professions from across Bulgaria, united by their love of nature, took part in this year’s edition of the bird identification course traditionally organised by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB).
From the Black Sea coast to Bulgaria’s mountains, participants from Sofia, Svishtov, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Dobrich, Varna, Burgas, Haskovo, Stara Zagora and Plovdiv took part in theoretical sessions and field trips. With the guidance of experienced ornithologists, they learned to identify birds by their appearance, songs and behaviour, recognise their characteristic habitats, and discover more about their way of life and conservation.
The field sessions offered numerous fascinating observations and memorable encounters with wildlife. Highlights included observing a family of Long-eared Owls in an urban park, Eurasian Penduline Tits building their distinctive hanging nest, and a dramatic attack by a crow on a Common Kestrel nest. Pelicans, cormorants, herons, eagles, woodpeckers and many other species revealed the diversity of the bird world to the participants.
At the end of August, some of the course participants gathered at Poda Nature Conservation Centre near Burgas for the traditional bird identification competition. There, they had the opportunity to test their newly acquired knowledge and skills, work as a team and share their experiences.
But the most valuable outcome of the course cannot be measured solely by the number of bird species observed. “Close Encounters with Birds” brings together people with shared interests, creates new friendships and encourages participants to become more actively involved in nature conservation. Some members of the 2026 cohort are already taking part in BSPB activities to protect and monitor birds.
For everyone who wants to discover the world of birds and become part of this community, the next edition of “Close Encounters with Birds” will begin in March 2027.
