SmartBirds
© Vladimir Mladenov
In mid-February, a team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) successfully ringed and tagged with satellite transmitters two Dalmatian pelicans. The birds were tagged in the Burgas Lakes area, Bulgaria.
The transmitters weigh a few grams and are placed on a special section of the pelicans’ wing where they do not cause discomfort. The tagged birds get used to the transmitters very quickly and can carry out their daily activities without any problems.
© Svilen Cheshmedziev
Immediately after the manipulation, the Dalmatian pelicans were released and are currently still in the area, and, together with other pelicans, they most often feed in the Mandra dam and spend the night on the floating platforms located in the oxidation ponds of “LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas” AD. The BSPB team monitors the birds daily.
The placing of transmitters on a Dalmatian pelican is being carried out for the first time in Bulgaria and is a great advance in the research of this rare species. Through ring data and satellite telemetry, we will learn more about the ecology, movements, and threats of the species, which will help us plan and take future conservation measures to protect it.
© Vladimir Mladenov
Both tagged birds are female and will be named Nasi and Desi. Nasi is the first adult Dalmatian pelican tagged with a satellite transmitter in Bulgaria. Desi is a young, almost two-year-old bird. This brings the total number of tagged Dalmatian pelicans in the country to four, but unfortunately the first two birds, Maria and Kali, died.
The study of the species is carried out within the framework of the international project “Pelican Way of LIFE” (LIFE18 NAT/NL/000716) funded by the EU LIFE programme. The project is coordinated by Rewilding Europe, in partnership with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), the Persina Nature Park Directorate – Belene, Rewilding Ukraine and Rewilding Danube Delta.
Soon the data from the transmitter will be uploaded to the project site www.life-pelicans.com and it will be possible to track the movements of the tagged pelican in real-time.
