THE DALMATIAN PELICAN RETURNS TO THE NERETVA DELTA, CROATIA

At the mouth of the Neretva River, in Croatia, about two years ago, ornithologists spotted Dalmatian Pelican, which is considered an important event not only for the Neretva region, but also for entire Croatia, because this massive bird has almost become extinct in Croatia over last century, owing to very intense bird hunting and fishing as well as the extensive land reclamation. The State Institute for Nature Protection, said that in Croatia today five species of nesting birds have got extinct, and one of them is the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus). Therefore, the members of the Croatian Ornithological Society were immensely happy about the fact that one individual pelican suddenly appeared at the mouth of the Neretva River. Since waterfowl hunting and poaching was put under control in the Neretva Valley about five years ago, in this region the bird life has slowly and gradually become richer. The number, length of retention and diversity of species increases rapidly, and the Neretva again is becoming a bird paradise with various species of ducks, grebes, Lisak, herons, spoonbill .... We are particularly glad that this apparent progress and recovery of bird species in the Neretva valley was crowned by the return of Dalmatian pelican and we hope that in the near future it will become more regular and more numerous. Description of Dalmatian pelican Dalmatian pelican has curly nape feathers, gray legs and silvery-white plumage. In winter, adult pelicans of this species go from silvery-gray to a dingier brownish-gray cream colour. In the breeding season it has an orange-red lower mandible and pouch against a yellow upper mandible. In winter, the whole bill is a somewhat dull yellow. This pelican feeds almost entirely on fish. Preferred prey species can include Common carp, European perch, Common rudd, eels, catfish, mullet and Northern pike. The Dalmatian Pelican is found in lakes, rivers, deltas and estuaries. It will nest in suitable wetlands at many elevations and usually returns to a traditional breeding site year after year unless it becomes completely unsuitable. During the winter, Dalmatian Pelicans usually stay on ice-free lakes in Europe or jheels (seasonal lakes) in India. They also visit, typically during winter, inshore areas along sheltered coasts for feeding.[8]