THE RESULTS FROM #IWC2021 IN VLORE, GJIROKASTER AND DIBER

On the 15th and 16th of January, PPNEA together with Birds of Albania, the National Agency of Protected Areas, Inca, as well as RAPA Vlore, Gjirokaster and Diber, successfully conducted the International Waterbirds Census 2021 in the regions of Vlora, Gjirokastra and Diber.

 

Our monitoring scheme, included several important wetlands, such as:

 

In Vlora region → 4 wetlands: Vjose – Narte Protected Landscape, Orikumi Wetland, Butrint National Park and the Nature Monument Blue Eye;

Gjirokastra region → 1 wetland: Bulo Reservoir; and

Diber region → 1 wetland: Ulza Lake.

 

Please, find below the results from our monitoring work.

 

In Vjose – Narte, this year we witnessed a decline in the number of birds compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the actual number was higher than the average number of the last 6 years. Unfortunately, in Orikumi wetland and in the National Park of Butrint, this year were registered the lowest numbers of the last 6 years. While in Blue Eye the numbers were almost identical, in Bulo Reservoir we registered a significant increase compared to the previous year.

 

The reason for these results can be attributed to warm climate conditions that have characterized this month up until the census days. For this reason, it is perfectly normal that less birds have migrated towards the south.

 

The census came also with surprises, such as the observation of the purple heron (Ardea purpurea) in Orikumi wetland, which represents, propably, the first wintering case of this species in Albania.

Furthermore, we observed, after several years of absence, the presence of the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in Butrint National Park, as well as found a white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nest in the same area.

 

Our team is grateful to all the colleagues and volunteers who worked intensively during the implementation of the #IWC2021.