site.btaFirst Lesser Kestrel Returns to Bulgaria from Wintering Grounds

The first lesser kestrel to return to Bulgaria this season from its wintering grounds has been spotted in the village of Kliment near Karlovo (Central Bulgaria), the Green Balkans conservation organization said Friday. The sighting is an encouraging sign for the colony’s growth and the successful recovery of this rare falcon's population in Bulgaria. 

The colony near Kliment is the third established by the conservation organization in the country. It is also the newest, which is why it remains the smallest and still vulnerable for now. Nevertheless, the early return of birds from wintering grounds gives cause for optimism that the colony is gradually stabilizing and has the potential to grow in the coming years, Green Balkans explained.

The module for the adaptation and release of lesser kestrels in Kliment was built as part of Green Balkans’ LIFE for Lesser Kestrel project, funded by the EU’s LIFE programme. The establishment of the colony is part of efforts to restore the population of one of the rarest falcon species in Bulgaria. In the past, this small falcon was widespread in the country, but by the end of the 20th century, it had disappeared as a breeding species in Bulgaria. Thanks to targeted conservation efforts in recent years, it is gradually returning to some regions of the country.

In addition to Kliment, the other two breeding colonies are in the Sakar protected area with over 20 pairs, and in an area along the Black Sea coast with three to five pairs, shows information on the LIFE programme's database. The most likely reason for the decline of the lesser kestrel in Bulgaria is habitat deterioration as a result of land use changes, intensification of agriculture and the use of pesticides, because the species is highly dependent on human activity not only for foraging areas but also in terms of available nesting sites.