10 Sep 2019
The results of our long-standing collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in regards to the ecology of Dalmatian pelicans, were published in IBIS last June. As mentioned in the article, we fitted GPS/GSM transmitters on 14 Dalmatian pelicans. The transmitters help us collect information about the pelicans’ geographical position, their flight height, the air temperature, and the direction and speed of their movements. During the operation of the transmitters, which ranged from a few weeks to over 3 years, the tagged pelicans moved to 15 different wetlands, from Prespa Lakes to the Evros River Delta.
We observed that during winter, pelicans do not perform long distance movements which are more energy demanding, but restrict themselves to movements within the wetland they choose for wintering. During spring and summer pelicans fly at larger heights and generally in a way that requires more energy consumption. Our basic conclusions were that their energy consumption varies significantly throughout the year, a fact related to their needs during the different phases of their life cycle, as well as the meteorological conditions at various parts of their journey.
Read the article here: http://bit.ly/2m2yLcW
