10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2015

Twenty years ago, flocks consisting of a thousand European Turtle Doves were a common sight in Serbia in spring. Turtle Doves have been declining in Europe since the 1970s, and in this century alone, the continent has lost 40% of its population of the species. Ten years ago, those flocks were reduced to a few hundred birds.

Serbia 270

Serbia Slaughter Slaughtered Turtles 270

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Out of just under 200 bird species I observed this year in SE Europe, there are 6 threatened species. point to just one problem source, one over-abundant and highly invasive species – Homo sapiens. point to just one problem source, one over-abundant and highly invasive species – Homo sapiens.

Serbia 202

Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 202

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2022

On the second day of that visit, the wardens suggested to try the “Forgotten” Road, once the main road to Romania, but today, after a dozen tunnels and a new riverbank road were constructed four decades ago, merely a track of a derelict and crumbling tarmac winding over a mountain pass. Other species include Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit.

Serbia 250

Serbia Birds Woodpeckers Romania 250

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2017

Shallows provide an ideal spawning ground for almost 50 fish species and submerged islands breeding ground for more than 100 bird species. Until about a decade ago, this warmth-loving species lived only in the south, but then it quickly spread much further, even north of the Danube. Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos.

Romania 124

Romania Serbia Turtles Blackbirds 124

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2016

Two hundred metres further, I have a similar situation: a Turtle Dove walking, one sparrow-like bird next to her and something bigger dusting itself in the background. Cover photo: Ortolan Bunting in the Danube Delta, Romania, by Andrej Chudy – Wikimedia Commons. It actually makes perfect sense.

Romania 137

Romania Sparrows Battery Turtles 137

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2014

The national park ranges some 100 km in length along the right bank of the Danube (the left bank is in Romania), where the river varies in width from 5 km / 3 mi to only 150 m / 500 ft and the mountains rise up to 800 m / 2600 ft a.s.l. The Woodchat Shrike, Boljetin, June 2014.

Serbia 194

Serbia Turtles Birds Eagles 194