10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 24, 2015

Worried by the lack of appropriate action by the authorities (as described in the previous post ), this year I invited two more wildlife protection organisations to take part in the annual census of Pygmy Cormorants in Belgrade. “The Pygmy Cormorant is a strictly protected bird species in Serbia, as well as in the European Union.

Serbia 189

Serbia Protection Europe 2007 189

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2018

Our destination lies further west, along the Drina River, which marks the border between Serbia and Bosnia. Due to mass wolf poisonings in the 1960s and the 1970s, Griffon Vultures in Serbia suffered a dramatic population crash. Povlen, a quick stop filled with a song that sounds familiar, but I haven’t heard it since last year.

Serbia 120

Serbia Herzegovina Bosnia Sheep 120

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2014

Consequently, my first local patch becomes a largish Danube River floodzone opposite to Belgrade (Serbia) city centre (cover photo: April 1992). It is a winter trap for rare gulls and that is where I found the 4th Great Black-backed Gull for Serbia this winter, as well as the 6th Pallas’s Gull two winters ago.

Serbia 247

Serbia Stray Dog Botswana Protection 247

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2015

I am parked at the bridge over the Reva Pond in the suburb of Belgrade, Serbia, mere 150 metres away from the nearest buildings behind me, but facing the fascinating undeveloped 1.2 The Reva is not protected. Birding Europe Mammals otters Serbia' kilometres / 0.7 miles towards the Danube River ahead of me.

Otters 208

Otters Serbia Fish Mammals 208

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

The world record holder is the town of Kikinda, further north, with 700 birds in their town square which has recently become an officially protected owl habitat – a small, urban nature reserve. Birding city birds Europe owls Serbia' And the citizens of Kikinda are justly proud of it. Long-eared Owls are irresistibly cute.

Serbia 247

Serbia Owls Rodents India 247

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2020

Part of the Labudovo okno Ramsar Wetland and protected within the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve , this section of the Danube, downriver from Belgrade, Serbia, is unique for its wide shallows, before the river narrows downstream from the village of Ram.

Mali 264

Mali Serbia Eagles Turtles 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2018

We were heading to the Djerdap (Iron Gates) Gorge National Park, stretching along the south bank of the Danube in eastern Serbia, to do the 400 km / 250 mi bird tour interconnecting possibly the very best sites around Belgrade reachable within a day. Michael’s summer birding along the Danube in Serbia appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

Serbia 131

Serbia Woodpeckers Bears Birds 131

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2015

Still, six years ago I nominated that central Belgrade zone for an Important Bird Area – some parts of it should become protected any time soon and all the data that can further strengthen that protection is welcome. Birding eBird Serbia spring' Just a few more days… Cover photo: Northern Lapwing (c) Snezana Panjkovic.

Serbia 246

Serbia ALA Protection Collecting 246

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

I used to live in Botswana, where there are about 450 bird species in an area a few dozen miles from the capital; then somewhat naively moved back to Serbia with mere 250 species around the capital. So, the perfect country to move to needs to have at least twice as many species as Serbia. And it shows.

Sri Lanka 257

Sri Lanka Botswana Africa Serbia 257

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2013

During my lifetime, this species was rare in my native Serbia, too. In 2010, a joint expedition by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Sudanese Wildlife Society (SWS) found a further 17 electrocuted Egyptian Vultures. Up to now there have been almost 80 confirmed electrocuted Egyptian Vultures in that area.

Sudan 251

Sudan Macedonia Botswana Serbia 251

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2015

The city of Belgrade, Serbia, has about 1.7 Less than two years ago, I wrote here how I found the 4th GBBG for Serbia. Organisations involved in the research: Bird Study and Protection Society of Serbia, League for Ornithological Action and the Birds of Prey Protection Fund. Birds city birds Europe gulls Serbia'

Serbia 169

Serbia Ukraine Europe Birds 169

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2014

Even among the protected areas of Serbia, the Iron Gates National Park (in Serbian: Djerdap) stands out as better preserved. Serbia, the Bradt Travel Guide by Laurence Mitchell, 4th edition, 2013 (offers extensive coverage of birding sites by yours truly). Trips birdfinder Europe Serbia' Milovanovic and M.

Serbia 226

Serbia Turtles Romania Eagles 226

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2016

Oddly, in 1936 this mountain was declared a national park, the first in Serbia, but in 1946 it was stripped of its title and got a lower protection status, further confirmed in 2007. Arctic Loon), Lesser Black-backed Gull , Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest should easily make 190, although the pecker is a bit uncertain.

Woodpeckers 257

Woodpeckers Serbia 2007 Ducks 257

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2021

Not just mine, but all the most active birders of Belgrade, Serbia, were visiting this site at least 2-3 times a month: it is so conveniently close to the city, and even reachable by the city bus 108. Reva Pond was my favourite local patch until, a few years back, construction works started there.

Otters 264

Otters Protest Protesting Protesters 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 26, 2020

LABUDOVO OKNO Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area represents a section of the Danube floodplain downriver from Belgrade, Serbia, and situated in the south of the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve. Dubovacki Rit (Dubovac Wetland) is a part of the Labudovo okno Ramsar Wetland and protected within the Deliblato Sands Reserve.

Turtles 206

Turtles 2002 Serbia Eagles 206

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2015

No, I took a paddle and discovered the Danube backwaters (cover photo: 1995), the very same area I am fighting to protect now, but the Government, it seems, has an interested investor… Seeing the most valuable habitats disappearing in front of our eyes, environmentalists are quite prone to depression, but that is another story.

Serbia 190

Serbia Bosnia Lions Horses 190

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2023

Why should something so unimaginable in Germany be possible in Serbia? Ecka Fish Farm by Mileta Cekovic Soon we reached the Ecka Fish Farm, a part of the wider Carska Bara Important Bird Area (yet, not a part of the protected Carska Bara Reserve). Protest indeed!

Protest 228

Protest Protesting Protesters Germany 228

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2021

Clearly, European Breeding Bird Atlas 2 is primarily intended for scientists and policy makers to protect and save these species, but how about an ordinary birder? Many species have moved their ranges northward by an average of 28 km / 17.4 mi (ca 1 km per year) in response to the climate changes.

Europe 264

Europe Denmark Breeding Russia 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2018

As you know, I started to bird from a canoe, exploring the Danube backwaters in Belgrade, Serbia. Nowadays this species is declining in Serbia and the biggest number I ever saw at once was 6 and that area most likely has the highest population density – 3 pairs – anywhere in the country.

Beavers 153

Beavers Serbia Hungary Eagles 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2016

The gamekeeper drives by, I wave my greetings but do not mention the jackals I am observing at the moment: this animal is not protected in Serbia and is allowed for killing year-round (one may say “hunting” instead, but I am having problems trying to spot the difference).

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Sheep Serbia Eagles Mammals 167

10,000 Birds

JULY 29, 2021

The very best wetland birding around Belgrade, Serbia, is not to be found in the locally famous and tourist-promoted Obedska or Carska Bara Ramsar areas, but at Beljarica Backwaters and the fish farm triangle of Centa, Baranda and Sakule villages, in the Tamis River floodplain.

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Farming Fish Birds Boars 264

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2019

The next specialty was the Great Bustard at the Pastures of Great Bustard Nature Reserve in the north of Serbia: “The Association for the Protection of the Great Bustard had just about enough counters to cover the reserve and the neighbouring areas (birds often spend the winter in arable fields outside the reserve).

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2018 Serbia Greece Falcons 125

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2018

I am preparing for the new census of one of the rarest birds of Serbia, the globally threatened Great Bustard , taking place two days from now. Not the strictly protected bustards, but Red Foxes, Brown Hares, Pheasants , as well as Hooded Crows and Rooks. m–8 ft 10 in).

Serbia 114

Serbia Romania Hungary Hunting 114

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

And used the opportunity to send an open letter to the City Mayor, enquiring about his still-unfulfilled promise of this particular area finally becoming protected. I usually forget about the World Wetland Day, 2nd of February, but this year I remembered.

Otters 264

Otters Croatia Eagles Protection 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2014

A range of hills protects the cove from the eastern wind, yet, the bushes are swaying in the rythm of it. As air carriers, to Athens and back from Syros to Athens I used the Aegean Airlines and later, from Thessaloniki, Air Serbia. Still, we are sailing out of the marina soon and I should have some coffee before that.

Greece 252

Greece Malta Croatia Italy 252

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2017

Beside several well-showing Red-backed Shrikes , the highlight was one uncommon Lesser Grey Shrike (highly localized ** , with only 700 to 1000 breeding pairs in Serbia). Not a falcon, but a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk , drying its soaked feathers after the rain that was falling while we were protected by the trees.

Romania 153

Romania Serbia Turtles Blackbirds 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2017

Yet, I was there with journalists every other day, the site was in the media almost every day and the first effect of the Save the Belgrade Amazon campaign is now visible: quite unusual for Serbia, the rules are strictly applied. Basically, I managed to cut myself off my favourite birding area.

Rights 144

Rights Serbia Abandon Abandoning 144

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2016

I know that you believe that Serbia is a land-locked country, but Belgrade city was actually built on an island in the sea. The next tract of rolling sand dunes grassland is to be found at the eastern edge of the Sands, in the recently protected Karas-Nera nature reserve (cover photo). But first, where did all that sand came from?

Sheep 158

Sheep Turtles Squirrels Europe 158

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2016

The proposal was accepted and the new Confluence of the Sava and the Danube Rivers IBA was recognised: Fourth: Try to protect as much of it. The tricky part of the IBA process is trying to protect it. Protected areas and those officially proposed for protection: Fifth: Stay alerted.

Protection 153

Protection Eagles Jamaica Farming 153

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2017

Status: Proposed for protection , but threatened by plans for a large scale development. Status: Veliko Ratno Island is a protected nature reserve, while Kozara is proposed for protection. +. km / 3 mi of asphalt road before one reaches the embankment). The sixth area doesn’t quite reach the 100 birds mark on its own.

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Birds Eagles 2017 Otters 214

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2017

A narrow bluff-top buffer zone is also protected. They are declining in Serbia and in these lowlands, they are nowadays commonly spotted only on migration, but have mostly retreated from the plains (except some steppe pastures) and in the breeding season are common in the mountains above the upper forest line.

Serbia 147

Serbia Breeding Woodpeckers Feral 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

My best bird of the weekend was a Great Black-backed Gull , a rarity in a land-locked Serbia, with less than 10 observations so far. It works well with the naked scope, but over time, I dressed mine into a protective sleeve, which somewhat restricts the finger movements (but not much).

Greece 174

Greece Battery Serbia India 174

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2019

It is part of the international ecological corridor and the “Confluence of the Sava and the Danube Rivers” Important Bird Area (IBA), already proposed for a nature reserve by the Government’s Institute for the Protection of Nature of Serbia. All in the name of progress. Hashtags : #Beljarica #spasimobeogradskuamazoniju.

Serbia 246

Serbia Otters Boars Hunters 246

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2015

Twenty years ago, flocks consisting of a thousand European Turtle Doves were a common sight in Serbia in spring. As we speak, in Serbia these birds are still hunted in August and September. In all European Union countries to the north and east of Serbia (except Romania), Turtle Doves are strictly protected.

Serbia 270

Serbia Slaughter Slaughtered Turtles 270

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

For example, I simply cannot comprehend how such seemingly common species such as the Common Pochard (yes, for the third time, the common), still allowed for shooting in Serbia and many other countries, found its way into the Red List of Threatened Species. There are many reasons for their decrease and yet, all of them (but one?)

Montenegro 203

Montenegro Serbia Greece Bulgaria 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Wigeons are only migrants and not a breeding species in Serbia and August is a bit too early for any longer distance duck movements. Among them are 3 to 4 breeding pairs of White-tailed Eagles, the largest density per square mile anywhere in Serbia. Only two years ago, in the spring 2014, Serbia had catastrophic floods.

Serbia 189

Serbia Eagles Protection Ducks 189

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2018

Have you heard of a small town in Serbia graced by the presence of its 700 communally roosting Long-eared Owls ? Rightfully, this town centre doubles as a nature reserve – an officially protected owl habitat. Actually, the numbers are even higher. The best decorated single tree had 145 owls in its crown.

Owls 230

Owls Protest Protesting Protesters 230