Bird count starts, illegal hunting alert issued

BELGRADE - The Bird Study and Protection Society of Serbia has announced that the waterbird count - part of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), one of the longest-running wildlife monitoring programmes - has begun.

Ornithologists hope to conduct the count of cormorant, duck, goose, swan, charadriiforme and gull populations, as well as other waterbird populations, on over 500 locations across the country.

The census started on January 10 and ends on January 30, and will involve over 150 volunteers.

Also providing significant assistance will be the Directorate for Inland Waterways of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the Vojvodinasume public enterprise, two nature conservation institutes, operators of many protected areas, managements of fishponds, public enterprises in charge of natural resources and other partner organisations.

Even though the ample task requires knowledge and skills associated with identifying waterbirds, as well as patience and stamina in winter conditions, ornithologist Marko Sciban, the coordinator of the count, notes that the data gathered has a very wide range of applications.

Depending on weather conditions, up to 400,000 waterbirds, representing nearly 120 species, spend the winter in Serbia, the Society says.

During the winter count, the Society's volunteers are on the lookout for illegal bird hunting, a widespread activity that poses a greater danger to waterbirds than any other human activity.

Incessant firing at formations of wintering birds leads to constant and exhausting bird movement.

The birds become tired and susceptible to cold and disease. Because of this, many are unable to prepare for the spring migration to nesting places...