Checkout

Category: EV New LIFE

  • International Vulture Awareness Day in the Skopje ZOO

    International Vulture Awareness Day in the Skopje ZOO

    On September 7th the Macedonian Ecological Society in collaboration with the Biology Students’ Research Society held a celebration for the International Vulture Awareness Day in the Skopje ZOO. The event was held under the “Egyptian Vulture New Life” project. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and educate the public about the European Vultures and the efforts made to protect them.

    The visitors had an opportunity, through participatory activities meant for all ages, to learn play games and test their knowledge about vultures. Our youngest guests expressed the most enthusiasm. The event went with lots of games and laughter, and most important, with new friendships made.

    (LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874)

  • World Migratory Bird Day in the Land of the Egyptian Vultures

    World Migratory Bird Day in the Land of the Egyptian Vultures

    On 12 May (Sunday), the Macedonian Ecological Society together with the Biology Students’ Research Society celebrated the World Migratory Bird Day under the Egyptian Vulture New Life Project. Around 40 participants, mainly biology students and bird enthusiasts, had a unique opportunity to visit the land of the Egyptian vulture in the central part of North Macedonia, near the city of Veles. During this field trip, the participants visited an Egyptian vulture territory and were able to see the pair of this long distant migrant flying around the nest as well as incubating.

     

     

     

     

    The field trip served both scientific and educational purposes as students and experts worked together in gathering data on all aspects of biodiversity.

     

     

     

     

    The Egyptian vulture team from the Macedonian Ecological Society had a short presentation on the ecology, threats and distribution of the species in the country. Besides the Egyptian vulture, the students had the chance of seeing many other attractive migratory bird species such as: imperial eagles, black storks, honey buzzards, short-toed eagles, etc.

    We hope that during this excursion we succeeded in raising awareness about the Egyptian vultures and maybe even gained people who will help us in our quest of protecting this magnificent bird.

    (LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874)

  • Egyptian Vultures numbers still dropping in Macedonia

    Egyptian Vultures numbers still dropping in Macedonia

    The intensive monitoring activities of the known Egyptian Vulture’s territories were restarted this year by the Macedonian Ecological society within the project “Egyptian Vulture new LIFE” financed by the LIFE program from the European Union (LIFE16 NAT/BG/000874).

    Sadly, our expectation was confirmed. The results from this year’s monitoring suggest that the population of the Egyptian Vulture in Macedonia is still in decline. This year marks the all-time low, with 13-14 pairs recorded throughout the whole country. This result clearly states that the numbers are constantly dropping having in mind that only in 2014 we counted 18-20 pairs while in 2013 there were 20-21 pairs.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Egyptian Vulture is a globally endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is strictly protected by the Bern and Bonn International Conventions, as well as by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In our legislation it is on the list of strictly protected species. The Republic of Macedonia is one of the last countries in the Balkan where the species can still be observed. In the past it’s presence was a common sight, but now their numbers are estimated to be less than 90 pairs in the Balkan. The reason for the vulture population decline is mainly the anthropogenic influence like illegal use of poison, poaching, disturbance, habitat loss, electrocution, wind-farm generator collision and lack of food due to abandonment of traditional farming practices. Having this in mind, the Macedonian Ecological Society will put efforts in the following period in mitigating these threats within the “Egyptian Vulture New LIFE” and the Balkan Anti Poison Project.