In May 2013 for the first time for more than 50 years three species out of the four European species of vultures could be seen in Kresna Gorge. The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) was re-introduced by FWFF since 2010 and now more then 20 individuals are regularly present. On 5-th and 6-th of May 2013 the very rare in [...]
The Transhumance Celebration Days Kotel 2013 was held on the 7th May. About two hundred guests and participants have joined the sheep herd of 450 animals going up to the mountain pastures for the summer period. Within the three hours there were organized competitions for the best shepherd dog and the most useful shepherd’s objects [...]
The European Ground Squirrel (Suslik) (Spermophilus citellus) is a Globally threatened species (IUCN Red List) that faced rapid decline in population in XX century. In Kotel Mountain the species disappeared in 1990-ies due to habitat degradation based on lack of grazing. In 2011 the first 57 susliks were translaocated from the area of Sliven to the [...]
The Griffon Vulture first nest in Stara (Balkan) Mountain for the last 50 yearsa and the first ever photographed in Balkan Mountain read more here: http://greenbalkans.org/show.php?language=en_EN&cat_id=35&id=1475&
During the summer several recoveries of Griffon Vultures released by FWFF were reported from FYR of Macedonia, Greece and Eastern Rhodopi in Bulgaria. These are as follows: Griffon Vultures released by FWFF in Kresna Gorge: Red ring G28 – observed in the end of August 2011 at the feeding site Vitachevo in FYR of Macedonia (data [...]
A young Griffon Vulture with wing-tag L02 was observed today (17.10.2011) at the feeding site in Kresna Gorge. Knowing the marking pattern used in the different countries, the bird is most probably marked in Israel. It is first time a Griffon Vulture marked in Israel to be observed in Kresna Gorge. Today in total 7 [...]
Five juvenile Griffon Vultures born in 2011 were observed at feeding site and later on roosting in Kresna Gorge on 15.10.2011. The birds were not marked, but they most probably originate from Serbia or Croatia and use the Kresna Gorge as stepping stone during their migration towards Bosporus. From Bosporus these Griffon Vultures will most probably [...]