Project Report, "Give Injured Waterfowl Another Chance to Live"

Funded September 2004 by an Anonymous donor to the Virtual Foundation; completed January 2005.

We are happy to report that the Green Balkans’ project “Give Injured Waterfowl Another Chance to Live” was completed this January 2005 with unexpected benefits and results.

The project donation was used for a water pump and its installation in the Water Fowl Pond at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center www.greenbalkans.org. This water pump pipes in clean and fresh water to a pond designed for a variety of rare water fowl species at the Green Balkans Wildlife Center including the Red-breasted Goose (Branta Ruficolis), Ruddy Shelduck (tadorna ferruginea), and the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca). The water pump, graciously provided by the Virtual Foundation, will bring in clean and fresh water to the vulture baths (seen below) as well.

The pond was built with the help of Green Balkans Volunteers and the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers. More recently, volunteers from Green Balkans completed a large outdoor aviary with the cooperation of the Black Vulture Conservation Foundation and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. It took volunteers over 1400 man-hours to complete this final phase of the project. The large aviary, complete with breeding platforms, will be used for conservation projects of the various vulture populations in Bulgarian and ultimately for the breeding of the symbol of Bulgarian Nature Conservation, the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus).

We are also happy to report the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center was designated Bulgaria’s National CITES Center for birds this past year. It was founded in 1995 solely through the initiative of Green Balkans Volunteers and a grant from REC. The center's main areas of activity include the rehabilitation of birds in distress, the breeding of rare species, and the education of the community about the unique natural heritage and biodiversity of the Balkan Peninsula. We have treated over 500 birds including Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca), Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus), and Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo).

We would like to thank all the donors to the Virtual Foundation and look forward to greater cooperation in the future.