The annual educational seminar of the IBA Caretaker Network was completed on November 14th-15th with the greatest participation ever, within the framework of the Life+ Programme for protecting the lesser white-fronted goose. There were involved 36 new volunteers out of a total of 65 participants, from 37 IBA from all over Greece! The seminar took place in the Environmental Education Centre of Poroia, with the collaboration of the Environmental Education Center (E.E.C.) of Poroia and the Management Body of Kerkini Lake.
The weather was unexpectedly good, something that perhaps… hindered the intensive Saturday programme, during which the new IBA Caretakers attended presentations regarding the recording of the avifauna, the habitats and the threats in their natural area as well as the institutional framework that regulates the protected areas. On Sunday though, they were rewarded! During the standard visit at the bird observation domain and the filling-in protocols training, they enjoyed from the Kerkini Lake bank the view of a record number of 116 lesser white-fronted geese grazing at an extremely small distance! Of course, Kerkini Lake left nobody dissatisfied… Cranes, Bewick’s swans, spotted eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, black storks, little ducks, egrets, Dalmatian pelicans, pygmy cormorants, grebes, lapwings, woodpigeons and many other aquatics and little birds were there.
We wish a great new start to the volunteers of the Network and a good continuation to the rest!
If you wish to participate in the IBA Caretakers Network, you can visit our webpage: www.ornithologiki.gr/caretakers
Kerkini Lake is one of the natural areas where the LIFE+ Programme actions of “Conservation of the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose population in important staging and wintering sites along the European migratory route” is implemented during the 2011-2016 period.