SmartBirds
Photo: © Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
On September 6, 2025, the Nature Conservation Center of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) “Eastern Rhodopes” in Madzharovo turned into a hub for birds and wild adventures. The event, marking the International Vulture Awareness Day, attracted nearly 200 nature lovers and guests of the town.
The program offered a wide variety of activities for both children and adults. Thanks to specially organized birdwatching walks, visitors had the chance to observe Griffon, Egyptian, and Cinereous Vultures in the wild and to learn fascinating facts about them and their irreplaceable role in the ecosystem. Through “Wild Selfie” sessions in nature, participants also discovered how camera traps are used and why they are an important tool in conservation work.
Photo: © Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
One of the most attractive and colorful activities of the day was the “Make Your Own Vulture” workshop by HB Studio, in which more than 30 children took part, creating beautiful vulture masks. The play “The Hare and the Hedgehog: The Race”, prepared by the Little Theatre Company, captivated not only the youngest but also the adult fans of performing arts.
Photo: © Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
The adventure game “In Search of the Vultures” engaged young explorers to find hidden vulture models in the wilderness around the Center while learning curious facts about these birds.
Photo: © Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
For the first time, the exhibition “The Return of the Cinereous Vulture to the Rhodopes” was officially presented, illustrating the efforts to restore the population of this endangered species within a LIFE program project. The exhibition drew attention and contributed to a deeper understanding of the importance of this conservation initiative.
Photo: © Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
The festive day concluded with concerts by local performers and the Madzharovo band “Kartal” (meaning “Vulture”), as well as Ivan Shopov with Trigayda. The artist is part of the BSPB art residency organized within the project “From Iron Curtain to Green Belt.”
Photo: © Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
The event is part of the project “The Return of the Cinereous Vultures to the Rhodopes” (project No. 101148254 – LIFE23-NAT-BG-LIFE Rhodope Vulture), co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme and Rewilding Europe, and implemented by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) in partnership with the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation. The event was also supported by the project “Green Belt of Southeastern Bulgaria”, funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme.
The festival is part of the project “Restoration of the Cinereous vulture population and trophic chain in the Bulgarian-Greek cross-border region,” (Project No. 101148254 — LIFE23-NAT-BG-LIFE Rhodope Vulture), co-financed by the LIFE program of the European Union and Rewilding Europe, and implemented by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) in partnership with the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation. The celebration is also supported by the project “From Iron Curtain to Green Belt: Restoring Ecological Networks in Southeast Bulgaria”, financed under the Endangered Landscapes Programme (ELSP).
The Vulture Awareness Day in Madzharovo has been organized once again with the kind support of the Municipality of Madzharovo.
