Migration time is always a season that brings interesting sightings of rare birds in the Kalohori area. Last weekend (3 and 4 of December) we were lucky to observe many rare bird species, most important of which were the White headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala and the Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus.

Two young French bikers, Agnes and Henri, biked all the way from Serajevo to Thessaloniki. Towards the end of their trip they visited the National Park of Axios and decided to donate their well travelled bikes to the Park. The bikes will be in Nea Agathoupoli Observation Kiosk, waiting for visitors to take them to a nice ride. We thank them very much!

A curlew sandpiper that we observed on 26 July in the coastal area of Gallikos - Axios was the first sign that the autumnal migration has already begun for this year.

Between the interesting observations of the day was the flock of around thirty white pelicans feeding in the estuaries of Gallikos river, along with the same number of –mainly young- dalmatian pelicans.

Although herons are common species in the area, it was very impressive to observe this day large numbers of little egrets, grey herons and squacco herons, along the coast line.

Finally, we were very happy to track down a new colony of collared pratincole -characterization species for the National Park. Previously the big colonies in the fields around Aliakmonas river had disappeared, probably due to disturbance by the farmers.

The Axios – Loudias – Aliakmonas Management Authority participated in the British Birdwatchig Fair that took place from 19 -21 of August in Leicester, Great Britain.
We were there together with the othe management authorities of the National Parks of Central Macedonia: Kerkiki Lake, Koronia & Volvi Lakes and Mount Olympus.
The British Birdwatching Fair is one of the most important of the world, with thousands of visitors every year. The personnel of the four Management Authorities came back very enthusiastic with the experience.

A program for the count of European souslik Spermophilus citellus was initiated recently by the Axios – Loudias – Aliakmonas Management Authority in cooperation with the Department of Biology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This is the first effort of counting this species in Greece, which is classified as “vulnerable” in the red book.