28 Feb 2018
The influence of climate change is strongly affecting the wetlands, as important bird species are abandoning their nests. The most important reason for this is the shrinking size of their feeding grounds, which is directly related to lower levels of water in the lake.
The great white egret (Ardea alba) is a clear example of this phenomenon, as could be seen from data collected by drone in 2017, when this species underwent a 50% reduction in its breeding success, almost certainly due to the exceptionally dry spring that year and the consequent lack of areas with shallow water, without reeds, around Lesser Prespa Lake, where the birds usually feed. Due to this absence of suitable feeding grounds, half the species’ nests were abandoned, while even those pairs which did manage to raise chicks still had a low rate of breeding success.
The aim of the LIFE Prespa Waterbirds project is not only to protect the great white egret, but also eight other species which nest in the reedbeds of Lesser Prespa lake, undertaking appropriate management measures in order to lessen the impacts of climate change on the wetland.
