Theoretical and practical field training of volunteers will be held in four sessions over four different seasons and includes building skills to recognize and record rare and endangered plants and birds typical of the areas of the European ecological network Natura 2000 “Kamchia” and “The Flocks” (Yatata).

The first part – The wonder world of KAMCHIYA: Birds and Plants – took place on July 11, 2015 in special protected area (SPA) “Kamchia”. The training attracted great interest from both the more experienced and new participants. We paid particular attention to the sand dunes, which are among the rarest habitats in Bulgaria, and the sand-attached plants growing on them are among the most threatened plants on a European scale. With the help of expert botanist we learned how to recognize the most characteristic plants for three dune habitats – emerging (embryonic) dunes, mobile (white) and stabilized dunes (gray) dunes. We discussed the bird species which are indicative of the state of the environment. In “Kamchia” SPA such birds are the hollow-nesting Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Gray-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper. Finally, we looked at the main habitat of the complex – the dense riverine forest of common ash, oak pedunculiflora, field elm, field maple and black alder, with undergrowth of common hawthorn, Cornus mas and dogwood.

Besides the training of volunteers, the project includes field work for data collection for the National System for Biodiversity Monitoring, participation in public events and educational initiatives aimed at promoting the idea of protecting the biodiversity.

The next field training is focused on migratory birds along the Black Sea migratory route, the Via Pontica, and is scheduled for the end of September 2015 Anyone interested can join by writing a info@wildlifeconservation.bg

The project “Enhancing the capacity of volunteers in northeastern Bulgaria for the implementation of biological monitoring,” briefly “Volunteers for Nature”, is funded under the program BG03 in Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009 – 2014.

This document was created with financial support of the BG03 Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. The sole responsibility for the content of this document is borne by the Wildlife Conservation Society and under no circumstances can be assumed that this document reflects the official opinion of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Operator Program – the Ministry of Environment and Water ( www.BG03.moew.government.bg)