The monitoring of the nests for the red-legged kestrel (Falco vespertinus) and the blue tern (Coracias garrulus), which were installed together with EDN North in March and April of this year within the LIFE project "Safe skies for birds in North-Eastern Bulgaria", has ended. A total of 150 nests were placed in the regions of Veliko Tarnovo, Dobrich, Ruse and Silistra. Ninety of them are designed for the bluebird and the rest for the red-legged kestrel.
The results from the monitoring showed that 46% of bluebird nests were occupied by a total of 5 bird species, including 14 pairs of bluebirds. Of interest is the nesting of chirlar, which is observed for the first time in this type of nests in our country.
On the other type of nesting boxes – intended for red-legged kestrels, only one nesting species was registered - the black-backed kestrel.
The monitoring will continue in the following nesting seasons, hoping that the number of occupied nests will increase.
The red-legged kestrel is a small falcon, which in the last twenty years suffered a drastic population decline in our country and reached the critical threshold of only a few known pairs in 2022. This is the reason why the species is included in the Red Book of Bulgaria in the category "Critically Endangered", and in view of its decreasing numbers in Europe - to be part of the World Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The warbler is a protected species that nests in holes in earth slopes, rock niches, stone walls, tree hollows and in cavities of concrete electricity poles. The population of this blue colored bird began to suffer a drastic decline in the 1950s. The use of pesticides in agriculture is the main reason for this.
The project "Safe skies for birds in North-Eastern Bulgaria" will start at the end of 2022 and will last for 5 years. In the coming months, activities will continue with the isolation of electric poles from the EDN North network and the installation of diverters in 28 Natura 2000 project areas and in key corridors between special protected areas. The priority areas for protection were identified during a special field survey conducted in 2023. The scope of the project includes 16 species of endangered birds in Bulgaria, and the main goal is to prevent their unnatural mortality due to electric shock and collision with overhead power lines.
Safe Sky For Birds