What is the IWC? The International Waterbird Census (IWC) is a site-based counting scheme for monitoring waterbird numbers, organized since 1967 by Wetlands International, formerly the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB). The Census operates at a global level, and the former division into four separate continental-scale surveys was superseded in 2003 by a …

At the beginning of December 2019, during the monitoring visits in National Park Divjaka-Karavasta, like every year AOS team recognized that Dalmatian Pelican’s breeding season was approaching. Orange-red pouch, curly feathers and the presence of several specimens in the pelican island – warned us that the breeding season is approaching, where our actions for the …

Last week (December 13-14), AOS organized “Ornithological Friday and Vultures in Drino Valley”, a two-day visit focused on the importance of the area for the Egyptian Vulture and other species of migratory birds (Lesser kestrel). During the two-day visit, following the tradition of “Ornithological Friday”, AOS visited Eqrem Cabej University and Azim Zeneli high school …

THE HARDER THE BATTLE, THE SWEETER THE VICTORY! The wetland complex of Divjaka Karavasta National Park (DKNP), located in the western part of Albania, is a designated: 📌Ramsar site  📌Important Bird Area (IBA), 📌Candidate Emerald Site,  📌Natura 2000 Pilot site. Its ecological integrity is such that it supplies resources and habitats to more than 250 …

Illegal killing and taking of birds are among the major factors endangering the population of various species, many of which are part of the red list. Illegal killing is reported to be widespread among Mediterranean species. According to BirdLife International, 67% of bird species regularly present in at least one Mediterranean country are impacted in …