Wintering birds are numerous in Evros Delta and the fact was confirmed during the Midwinter Counts of January 24th.

Midwinter Counts are being conducted all over Greece and in many countries in order to estimate total bird species populations and possible pressures on them.

In brief, more than 83.000 birds were counted. Ducks were the most numerous, with 39.000 Mallards and 30.000 Teals.

1500 White-fronted Geese were also observed, as well as 237 Greylag Geese.

Delta hosts increasing numbers of swans. 2110 Bewick’s, 1280 Mute and 175 Whoopers were present during Midwinter.

36 Spotted – Eagles winter in Evros Delta, together with many rare species like the Pygmy Cormorant, the Dalmatian Pelican, the Eider, the Smew.

The counting was also made in the Turkish part of the delta (Meric Deltasi), in a very important co-operation with Turkish colleagues, which helps us understand the behavior of birds in the wider deltaic ecosystem of Evros Delta.

We are thankful to the Hellenic Ornithological Society that co-ordinated the counts and to Katsadorakis Georgios, Gioume Tatiana, Voslamber Berend and Beekman Jan that voluntary helped to the counting.

Eleni Makrigianni.