A small forest of white willow (Salix alba) has been preserved at the coast of the Danube river, in the area called “The Plane”. On January 15, 2011, 121 Pygmy Cormorants were registered while landing to roost at the white willow forest at sunset. It is assumed that their number is considerably larger, since visibility to the roost was not sufficient. Balkani Wildlife Society will submit a proposal to the Rousse Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters asking it to issue a report on the findings and recommendations, stating that the trees in the vicinity of Silistra, where the birds roost, should be preserved.
The Pygmy Cormorant is a protected species under European and Bulgarian legislation. Devastation of its natural habitats and hunting has lead to its extinction in several important territories. The species is extremely vulnerable not only during the nesting season but also during winter, when thousands of cormorants roost at the same place – usually in reed beds or on trees, often on isolated islands. This behavior protects the pygmy cormorants from their natural enemies but not from man.
Roosts of cormorants can be found in the same places for years, thus conservation of their habitats and prohibiting hunting and disturbing activities around them is vital to the preservation of the species on a regional level. Often, hundreds even thousands of birds feeding during the day within a radius of 30 km and more sleep at such roosting places.
As of 2005 Balkani Wildlife Society (in cooperation with Green Balkans and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds) works on the conservation of the species: http://balkani.org/en/activities/species-conservation/cormorants/. As a result, the roost located on one of the islands along the Maritza River not far from Plovdiv (one of the most important roosting places in Europe) was declared a protected area.
For more information:
Andrey Ralev, Balkani Wildlife Society – (02) 963 14 70
Radoslav Stanchev – Executive Environment Agency – (02) 940 64 73
NEW ROOST OF PYGMY CORMORANT (PHALACROCORAX PYGMEUS) FOUND
