The National Parks and protected areas of northern Greece were presented at the Global Birdfair 2022, in Oakham, UK. As reported by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), the exhibition presented the Prespes, Axios Delta, Korenia, Kerkini, Nestos-Vistonida, Evros Delta and Dadia Forest National Parks, all areas that offer excellent opportunities for bird watching, with rare species and important bird populations. 

The Forest of Dadia is home to the only blackbird colony in the Balkans; Prespes has the largest colony of silver pelicans in the world; the Evros Delta offers a spectacle of thousands of birds, especially in winter, while every other area offers something unique for anyone who wants to visit it for birdwatching.

“Lake Kerkini is already a well-known birdwatching destination in Britain, and abroad in general, as it’s home to more than 300 species of birds and offers the opportunity to easily observe them up close, in a beautiful landscape with Mount Beles as a backdrop.

“The purpose of our presence at the Global Birdfair was to enhance the promotion of Kerkini, but also to make other destinations known, while educating birdwatchers about the possibility of combining different areas – as they are all within walking distance – to get the best possible travel experience”, said N.E.C.C.A.’s communications manager Lia Papadraga.

Apart from the Protected Areas of Central Macedonia (Nestos Delta – Vistonida – Ismarida and Rodopi National Parks, Evros Delta, Dadia and Eastern Thrace National Parks and Protected Areas, Prespes National Park and Protected Areas of Western Macedonia), the N.E.C.C.A. kiosk also hosted the Department of Tourism of Serres of the  central Macedonia Region and the Association of Tourism Enterprises of Prespes.

Meanwhile, the Greek Ornithological Society and the Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos also participated in the exhibition.

It’s interesting to note that Britain is the country with the longest birdwatching tradition, while thousands of bird lovers travel every year to destinations around the world to see and photograph new species of birds. This year’s Global Birdfair attracted 250 exhibitors from 40 countries, with around 12,000 participants attending, although numbers were down considerably this year due to the pandemic and expected heatwave.

[AMNA]