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Family PELECANIDAE, pelicans

Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus

This very large pelican has a discontinuous breeding range from the Balkan Peninsula to Mongolia. Since the last century its western populations have undergone a dramatic decrease and its distribution has considerably contracted. The population of northern Greece, currently the only breeding population of the European Union, is estimated at about 220 breeding pairs, about 50% of the total European population. It seems stable (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds).

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White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus

This pelican inhabits Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. Its European populations are migratory, but their exact winter quarters are unknown. Since the second half of last century this species is undergoing a strong decrease and its breeding area is contracting. The Greek colony of Micra Prespa, the only one in the European Union, is totalling 40-100 breeding pairs, which represents 1-3% of the total European population (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds). Currently the populations of this species seem stable, but they remain vulnerable.

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Family PHALACROCORACIDAE, cormorants

Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii

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Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis

This cormorant has a wide distribution along the Atlantic coasts of Europe, from the Balkan Peninsula to India and China, in Africa, Australia and north-eastern North America. The continental race sinensis inhabits the lowlands along the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, central and Eastern Europe. This population had been reduced to 3000-5000 individuals during the first half of the twentieth century, but after the 1970’s it increased rapidly. The total population of the European Union is now estimated at 55000 breeding pairs and the total European population at 160.000 breeding pairs (EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds). The comeback of this species seems to be linked to the increase of fish stocks following large-scale eutrophication of water bodies and to the increase of fishponds.

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Pygmy Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pygmeus

This cormorant is breeding from the Balkan Peninsula to the wetlands of Iraq and Central Asia. Its European populations have undergone a dramatic decline since the end of last century, and the species has disappeared from many regions in Central Europe and in the area of the Eastern Mediterranean. The Greek population, the only one in the European Union, amounts to 300-400 breeding pairs, which represents currently about 5% of the total European population. In some areas it is still declining; in other areas it is increasing, and its total population seems to be more or less stable. Its decline was due mainly to reclamation of wetlands and direct persecution (Tucker & Heath).

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Last update : 06/10/06