Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

A colony of the endangered Dalmatian pelican has settled near Burgas

Photo: Vladimir Mladenov/ BSPB

After almost 80 years, a new breeding colony of the endangered Dalmatian pelican has appeared in Bulgaria. The birds have settled on artificial islands built by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) in the Mandra-Poda Complex, a Natura 2000 site near Burgas. 

This is the fourth breeding site for the species in Bulgaria, along with those at Lake Srebarna, Persin Island (Belene) and the Kalimok-Brashlen nature reserve.

At the end of 2021, as part of the international project 'The Life of the Pelican', BSPB experts and volunteers built two 40 square metre floating platforms in the oxidation lakes of the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery, within the boundaries of the Mandra-Poda complex. The aim was to attract birds to nest in the area. 


These ponds are among the most preferred resting and nesting sites for the Dalmatian Pelican in the Burgas Lakes region, as human disturbance is kept to a minimum, which is extremely important for this species. As a result, these man-made islands have become favourite places for Dalmatian and White Pelicans.

To date, 23 nests have been found and the birds continue to build more.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Experts prepare standards for quality and assessment of education in kindergartens and nursery groups

The topic of quality in preschool and school education is of great importance for Bulgaria, but there is no quality standard in the Pre-school and School Education Act. Its creation is a task of the Ministry of Science and Education..

published on 1/13/25 12:56 PM

Simitli hosts Bulgaria's biggest kukeri festival for the 21st year in a row

For the 21st consecutive year, Simitli is hosting one of the largest masquerade festivals in Bulgaria. Originally a local entertainment, "Simitli - The Ancient Land of Kukeri" has become one of the most important kukeri events in the country. Over the..

published on 1/11/25 7:35 AM
Sebastian Burduja

Balkan Developments

Romania becomes the largest natural gas producer in the EU Romania was the largest natural gas producer in the EU in 2024 and in 2027 the country will double its production thanks to the Neptun Deep project. This was..

published on 1/10/25 3:55 PM