Pelican Population Grows in Albania During Pandemic
2021-07-05
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1The pandemic has brought one good thing to western Albania's Divjaka-Karavasta Lagoon: peace and quiet for rare pelicans.
2It is this calm that the birds need to mate - which has led to their population growth.
3Area environmental officials say nesting pairs have increased from 68 in 2019 to 85 this year.
4At the same time, the number of human visitors has dropped by 50 percent.
5The Divjaka-Karavasta National Park is near the Mediterranean Sea and covers around 22,000 hectares.
6That includes a long sandy beach, a saltwater lagoon with small islands and an area of pine forest.
7The park is 90 kilometers southwest of the capital, Tirana, and is home to 260 kinds of birds.
8But the national park is best known for the giant Dalmatian pelicans on Pelican Island.
9They spend the months of December to June there.
10It is their only nesting colony in Albania.
11Pelicans are huge birds that reach close to two meters in length.
12The birds' wings can measure three meters across.
13They also are an endangered animal in Albania, where their numbers fell to 19 nesting pairs about 20 years ago.
14"Peace and quiet during the pandemic has helped us a lot in the preservation of Pelican Island," said Adrian Koci.
15He leads an agency that works to protect the environment.
16In 2014, Koci and fewer than 24 of his workers started to take care of the small island.
17People in boats were banned from going closer than 180 meters.
18And a 24-hour guard was put to work in a small building across the water to protect the birds.
19Small wooden fences along parts of the waterways prevent coastal damage.
20Koci observes the island with a drone from January to June during the mating period.
21"We have freed the island of the fishermen who disturbed the pelicans," he said.
22This group also has raised the birds' nest to protect them from the water.
23But intensive fishing has still "reduced the number of fish the pelicans eat," he explained.
24Koci is an animal doctor who also cares for other injured birds in neighboring Kosovo and Montenegro.
25A few years ago, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) helped him launch Albania's first bird recovery center.
26A rare vulture bird found injured in Montenegro was treated for two months there and then let free to continue its trip toward Africa.
27Two Dalmatian pelicans, named Johnny and Vlashi, have called the center home for the past three years.
28Johnny cannot fly because of a damaged wing.
29But Vlashi can, and both are calm with visitors.
30Workers think of the birds as part of their family and often buy fish to feed them.
31Since the early UNDP support, the center has had little financial help.
32Now, it gets money from donors, a small volunteer money-collecting box, and even donations from its workers.
33The place is becoming increasingly popular with visitors.
34But that is not always a good thing with birds that need calm to reproduce.
35Visitor numbers rose from 1,300 in 2014 to 550,000 in 2019.
36Last year, however, that number was cut in half because of the pandemic.
37But workers said it would be better if the visitors returned because donations are needed.
38Koci is urging local officials to replace the engines of the five boats used by visitors with electric ones, or to put in more solar power.
39Limya Eltayeb is a UNDP representative.
40She said the organization is supporting Albania in using "nature-based solutions" in Divjaka and other places.
41She said the UNDP is also helping the center become more independent beyond the small state financing and private donations.
42Klara Perinova, who is 28 years old, came from Prague to spend two weeks in Albania with her boyfriend.
43She praised Divjaka's "undiscovered beauty."
44"We're here (because) you have a very beautiful nature...not the same nature you can see in other parts of Albania," she said.
45I'm Alice Bryant.
1The pandemic has brought one good thing to western Albania's Divjaka-Karavasta Lagoon: peace and quiet for rare pelicans. It is this calm that the birds need to mate - which has led to their population growth. 2Area environmental officials say nesting pairs have increased from 68 in 2019 to 85 this year. At the same time, the number of human visitors has dropped by 50 percent. 3The Divjaka-Karavasta National Park is near the Mediterranean Sea and covers around 22,000 hectares. That includes a long sandy beach, a saltwater lagoon with small islands and an area of pine forest. The park is 90 kilometers southwest of the capital, Tirana, and is home to 260 kinds of birds. 4But the national park is best known for the giant Dalmatian pelicans on Pelican Island. They spend the months of December to June there. It is their only nesting colony in Albania. 5Pelicans are huge birds that reach close to two meters in length. The birds' wings can measure three meters across. They also are an endangered animal in Albania, where their numbers fell to 19 nesting pairs about 20 years ago. 6"Peace and quiet during the pandemic has helped us a lot in the preservation of Pelican Island," said Adrian Koci. He leads an agency that works to protect the environment. 7In 2014, Koci and fewer than 24 of his workers started to take care of the small island. 8People in boats were banned from going closer than 180 meters. And a 24-hour guard was put to work in a small building across the water to protect the birds. Small wooden fences along parts of the waterways prevent coastal damage. 9Koci observes the island with a drone from January to June during the mating period. 10"We have freed the island of the fishermen who disturbed the pelicans," he said. This group also has raised the birds' nest to protect them from the water. But intensive fishing has still "reduced the number of fish the pelicans eat," he explained. 11Koci is an animal doctor who also cares for other injured birds in neighboring Kosovo and Montenegro. A few years ago, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) helped him launch Albania's first bird recovery center. 12A rare vulture bird found injured in Montenegro was treated for two months there and then let free to continue its trip toward Africa. 13Two Dalmatian pelicans, named Johnny and Vlashi, have called the center home for the past three years. Johnny cannot fly because of a damaged wing. But Vlashi can, and both are calm with visitors. Workers think of the birds as part of their family and often buy fish to feed them. 14Since the early UNDP support, the center has had little financial help. Now, it gets money from donors, a small volunteer money-collecting box, and even donations from its workers. 15The place is becoming increasingly popular with visitors. But that is not always a good thing with birds that need calm to reproduce. Visitor numbers rose from 1,300 in 2014 to 550,000 in 2019. Last year, however, that number was cut in half because of the pandemic. But workers said it would be better if the visitors returned because donations are needed. 16Koci is urging local officials to replace the engines of the five boats used by visitors with electric ones, or to put in more solar power. 17Limya Eltayeb is a UNDP representative. She said the organization is supporting Albania in using "nature-based solutions" in Divjaka and other places. She said the UNDP is also helping the center become more independent beyond the small state financing and private donations. 18Klara Perinova, who is 28 years old, came from Prague to spend two weeks in Albania with her boyfriend. She praised Divjaka's "undiscovered beauty." 19"We're here (because) you have a very beautiful nature...not the same nature you can see in other parts of Albania," she said. 20I'm Alice Bryant. 21The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 22______________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24lagoon -n. an area of sea water that is separated from the sea by an area of sand or a reef 25nesting pair -n. a female and male bird that begin to prepare a nest to have eggs and raise young 26wing -n. the part of an animal's body used to fly 27preservation -n. the act of taking care of something to keep it in good condition 28drone -n. a kind of small aircraft that flies without a pilot in it 29disturb -v. to worry or cause to be upset 30solar -adj. using the sun's light or heat