Thassos
Island Greece Birdlife
Due
to its biotopes variety and its position opposite Nestos hydro biotope,
Thassos offer hospitality to: Falcons,
Marsh Harriers, Sparrow hawks, two
brace of Bonelli’s eagles (threaten specie), short – toed eagles,
hawks, peregrines, Eleonora's falcons. In winder you can see very rare
species us sea eagle and imperial eagle. Lesser – spotted eagles,
spotted eagle and black kestrels are passing by Thassos on their migration.
As it regards the nocturnal predators there have bin listed scops owls,
long – eared owls, tawny owls, little owls, barn owls and eagle owls.
On the steep upright of Castro the Byzantine settlement it is saying
that during the winter time “wall creepers” are seen, a rare bird
with a small grey body and red feathers that looks extremely as a butterfly!
Ducks, harriers and herons make their appearance from time to time in
to Prinos. During the winter there we have see Caribbean flamingos, swans,
and ducks all over the island.
In the sea Yellkouan Shearwater and Aristotelis are common in the south
part of the island. About 500 of Phalacrocorax Aristotelis (Shag) leaves
all year in Panagia Island and about 1000 (+ - 200) of Yellkouan Shearwater
we have
count
in spring time round the same place. Copy’s shearwaters, cormorants
and seagulls are also hosted to Thassopoula Island.
Mammals and reptiles
A large number of ferret, hare and hedgehop population are living in
Thassos. The last ones though, apart from the stable threat of toxic
agents, often
became victims of careless road hogs. As it concerns the reptiles a
remarkable increase of their population has been noticed since the
forest fires.
Bonelli’s
Eagle, the
eagle of the Mediterranean
Based on evidences, two or at least one brace of Bonelli’s eagles
nest on the south part of Thassos. Still we have not see them this year.
There are only a few hundreds of brace in Europe of this eagle. It is
mainly
seen
in
warm,
rocky and
bushy
areas.
Each brace makes many nests, which successively uses them. With the years
passed these nests become huge and can reach two meters high and diameter.
It feeds on small mammals and birds, mainly with rabbits, hares and partridges.
The myth however that it attacks to domestic animals has lead in many
areas its extermination by the cattle- breeders. The bonelli’s
eagle is also threatened by the illegal hunting and the destroy of Mediterranean
biotopes, where it leaves.
Eleonora’s
falcon.
Two colonies of this falcon with the characteristic long wings are seen
at south part of Thassos. We will try to check this information this
September. The Eleonora’s falcon are are mainly
spending the winter in Madagascar and since the middle of spring they
come back and nest on islets all around Mediterranean. Our country seems
to give hospitality to 75% at least of the world population. Therefore
apart of its numerous presences in Greece we have the largest part of
responsibility for this specie preservation.
The protection of the Eleonora’s falcon depends on biotopes, isolation
where it nests. With the spreading of tourism and the galore of private
speedboats, such an asylum is violated. The hunters furthermore are a serious
threat because this specie nests on autumn during the hunting period.
HAVE A LOOK TO SOME OF THE BIRDS THAT YOU
FIND IN THASSOS GREECE>>>>>
MORE
PHOTOS OF THASSIAN BIRDS AT "NATUR" GALLERY>>>>>
THE
SEABIRDS IN PANAGIA ISLAND>>>>
SHAG (PHALACROCORAX ARISTOTELIS)
YELKOUAN SHEARWATER ( PUFFINUS YELKOUAN)
YELLOW-LEGGET GULL
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