Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the Air
Birdwatchers have a field day in Greece as the country is on many north-south migratory
paths. Lesvos (Mytilini) in particular draws a regular following of birders from all over
Europe who come to spot some of more than 279 recorded species that stop off at the is-
land annually. Storks are more visible visitors, arriving in early spring from Africa and
returning to the same nests year after year. These are built on electricity poles, chimney
tops and church towers, and can weigh up to 50kg; keep an eye out for them in northern
Greece, especially in Thrace in Macedonia. Thrace has the richest colony of fish-eating
birds in Europe, including species such as egrets, herons, cormorants and ibises, as well
as the rare Dalmatian pelican - Turkey and Greece are now the only countries in Europe
where this large bird is found. The wetlands at the mouth of the Evros River, close to the
border with Turkey, are home to two easily identifiable wading birds - the avocet, which
has a long curving beak, and the black-winged stilt, which has extremely long pink legs.
Upstream on the Evros River in Thrace, the dense forests and rocky outcrops of the
72-sq-km Dadia Forest Reserve play host to the largest range of birds of prey in Europe.
Thirty-six of the 38 European species can be seen here, and it is a breeding ground for 23
of them. Permanent residents include the giant black vulture, whose wingspan reaches
3m, the griffon vulture and the golden eagle. Europe's last 15 pairs of royal eagle nest on
the river delta.
About 350 pairs of the rare Eleonora's falcon (60% of the world's population) nest on
the island of Piperi in the Sporades and on Tilos, which is also home to the very rare
Bonelli's eagle and the shy, cormorant-like Mediterranean shag.
The Greek Orthodox Church is the second-largest landowner in Greece.
Under the Sea
As Europe's most endangered marine mammal, the monk seal
(Monachus monachus)
ekes out an extremely precarious existence in Greece. Approximately 200 to 250 monk
seals, about 50% of the world's population, are found in both the Ionian and Aegean
Seas. Small colonies also live on the island of Alonnisos and there have been reported
sightings on Tilos. Pervasive habitat encroachment is the main culprit for their dimin-
ished numbers, along with hunting by fishermen competing for declining fish stocks.
Loggerhead turtle hatchlings use the journey from the nest to the sea to build up their
strength. Helping the baby turtles to the sea can actually lower their chances of survival.
