Free film screenings, lectures and games for the International Vulture Awareness Day

02.09.2013

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• Free film screenings, lectures and games for the International Vulture Awareness Day

This Saturday (07.09) the world is going to celebrate the International vulture awareness day. This year Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/Birdlife Bulgaria will take part in the initiative giving opportunity for many people to get in touch with the exciting and fascinating world of vultures. On the 7th September at 10 o`clock Nature and Conservation center “Eastern Rhodopes” in Madzharovo will open its gates for all visitors. During the whole day breathtaking movies and interesting lectures about the life of vultures will be presented. With telescopes and binoculars everyone can observe these incredible creatures into the wild - flying over the spectacular cliffs in Arda valley. We have prepared surprises for the children – educational games, drawing contest and a lot of prizes. The exhibition room of the center will surprise the visitors with its newest acquisition – realistic artificial cliff and pine tree presenting the nests of the four European vulture species. The cliff is made especially for the center and is unique for Bulgaria.
Vultures have lived close by mankind from the beginnings of history. It is celebrated in many tales and legends, and is considered sacred in many cultures. Tireless natural cleaners and loving parents, vultures have always inspired people, but today they are facing extinction. The aim of the Vulture awareness day is to open people’s eyes about the role of the vultures in nature, threats that they are facing and the need for vulture conservation. BSPB/Birdlife Bulgaria is working for vulture conservation since its founding in 1988. Thanks to the implemented conservation activities and the support from the local people the colony of the Griffon vulture has increased from 10 pairs in 1991 to 67 pairs in 2013. Nowadays the only wild colony of Griffon vultures in Bulgaria is in Eastern Rhodopes, the region is also of main importance for the protection of the Endangered Egyptian vulture.
The celebration is organised within the project “Promoting the Nature Information and Conservation Center in Madzharovo and increasing awareness of the wildlife heritage in the Eastern Rhodopes” with the support of “New Thracian Gold” project in collaboration  with the project “The Return of the Neophron” (LIFE 10 NAT/BG/000152).

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