The rapid evolution of the phenomenon of its spread bird flu with their mass mortality silver pelicansespecially in Little Prespaworries scientists about the future of its reproductive population that mainly nests in Prespa and moves in search of food in neighboring lakes such as Kerkini, Heimaditida, Zazari, Kastoria and Lake Polyphytos in Kozani.
According to its current data Prespa Protection Company, from a newer count made by drone, the dead silver pelicans in Mikri Prespa reached 1,000. In Lake Heimaditida, located 60 km south and near Amynteos, 60 dead silver pelicans were recorded and in the neighboring Zazari 12. Also according to the information from a network of volunteers and collaborators of Kastoria, the dead silver pelicans ascend to the nearby lake in 52 Lake Kerkini at 33.
Myrsini Malakou, head of the Prespa Protection Company, on the occasion of rapid rise of mortality of of birds, expressed its concern for the future of the Prespa silver pelican colony which communicates daily with neighboring lake ecosystems. For example, pelicans that nest in Prespa travel daily to feed on wetlands such as Kerkini, which is 180 km away, or to nearby ones, such as Zazari and Heimaditida, which are 60 km away.
“The rapid collection and proper management of dead birds is the immediate measure to prevent the spread of the infection to other aquatic birds and predators,” said Ms Malakou. “This is a difficult task as large birds need to be collected. which are found dead in reeds in the middle of the lake “. An additional reason that the collection operation must be done quickly, says Ms. Malakou, is that “the spread of the virus in the lake, which is preparing to receive the second wave of migrants, aquatic and predators that arrive in the area in a month” must be minimized. According to Ms. Malakou, it seems that the bird flu virus was transmitted to Prespa by ducks and geese that arrive in mid-November from the northern lakes, spend the winter in Prespa and emigrate again in March.
Finally, Ms. Malakou assesses as a positive development that the colonies of silver pelicans in the Amvrakikos Gulf and Messolonghi have not been affected by the bird flu that affects Prespa and this is due to the fact that “the colonies in these lake ecosystems do not communicate with those in the area. of Prespa “.
The vice-governor Florina, Sotiris Vosdou, stated to APE BPE that “today, tomorrow Sunday, an on-site search will be carried out in Mikri Prespa by the company that will undertake the bird collection” and expressed the hope that “the bird collection will start in the middle of next week” . He stated that the company, after an inspection, “brings all the certificates that are necessary for the execution of the specific project”.
In Kastoria The collection of dead birds has already started by the voluntary groups for the protection of the lake in collaboration with the Veterinary Service of the Kastoria Regional Government and, according to the responsible person Nikos Panagiotopoulos, their collection is done in compliance with all biosafety protocols. “The birds are collected in special infectious bags, kept in low-cooling areas and then transported to a certified incinerator operating in the area,” he said.
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