BRT5 Bird Census of the Sava River in Slovenia
Whitewater kayaker and ornithology expert, Bor Mihelič, was a part of the BRT5 crew for the entire descent of the Sava, performing a bird survey in the nesting season of the entire 258 km of Sava River in Slovenia – the first continuous survery of this kind. His data and findings were a base for his diploma thesis and they now provide a base of data which local conservation groups can use to further protect stretches of the Sava.
Bor has been an active member of DOPPS since he was a child, and recently he has been involved and specialized in several surveys of cryptic and difficult bird species as Capercaillie, Black grouse, Hazel grouse, Corncrake and especially water birds, specifically regularly monitoring Kingfishers, a Natura 2000 species in Slovenia. Every year he participates in the International Midwinter water bird count (IWC).
BRT5 provided a unique opportunity to monitor the entire stretch of Sava in Slovenia for waterfowl in the nesting period in one go, by a kayak. Along the way he recorded each water bird and its location. He was especially focusing on the following Natura 2000 species:
Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis
White-throated dipper – Cinclus cinclus
Lesser spotted eagle – Clanga pomarina
Purple heron – Ardea purpurea
Great egret – Ardea alba
Little egret – Egretta garzetta
Little bittern – Ixobrychus minutus
Squacco heron – Ardeola ralloides
Ferruginous duck – Aythya nyroca
Black stork- Ciconia nigra
Night heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
Pygmy cormorant – Microcarbo pygmeus
Glossy ibis – Plegadis falcinellus
Common tern – Sterna hirundo
Little tern – Sterna albifrons
The gathered data, analyzed in his diploma Celosten popis gnezdilk reke Save s pomočjo kajaka (Comprehensive inventory of nesting birds of the Sava River with the help of a kayak), are very important for future research and comparisons, since many parts of the river are not accessible to the fieldworkers from the banks. We looked into the density and species diversity of birds in the various parts of the Sava and of course the impact of HPPs on birds.
Entire diploma with results available HERE.
