The Albanian Ornithological Society has published the results of their last field-monitoring visit to the mixed colony of herons and cormorants at the Divjaka-Karavasta National Park.
Carried out in conjunction between the AOE and the Regional Administration of Protected Areas Fier, they monitored the breeding activity of several species on-site.
Noting the difficult working conditions due to the location of the colony and the level of water, they used drones and direct observation with binoculars and spotting scopes. The organizations reported that the colony is “booming” with breeding activity since April. Successful reproduction of little egrets, pygmy cormorants, night herons, cattle egrets, glossy ibis, and squacco herons were discovered.
They noticed that most little egrets and pygmy cormorants had hatched their eggs already, while others were continuing to incubate. According to their statement, the colony seemed undisturbed and in good shape.
The colony at Divjaka-Karavasta is the largest in Albania and it is considered an extraordinary asset for biological diversity in Albania. They said that this value should be protected from hydrological changes that could impact the entire habitat.
