Last Saturday passed in the spirit of some concrete nature conservation action carried out by volunteers of DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia. Sand Martins are on the way to their breeding grounds along the river Drava, so it was time to prepare the steep sandy river banks for their arrival. In the village of Dolane 19 volunteers gathered and in just three hours cleared more than 70 meters of steep river banks. In the previous year 64 pairs of Sand Martins bred here for the first time. During works kingfisher was spotted nearby. These measures don’t create suitable breeding structures just for Sand Martin, but for Kingfisher aswell.

Many thanks to all volunters who devoted their time and energy for this great cause. We believe Sand Martins will return this year aswell and we will monitor their success really closely.

Voluntary action was organized as a part of a project LIVEDRAVA, Riparian Ecosystem Restoration of the Lower Drava River in Slovenia (LIFE11 NAT/SI/882).

Last Saturday passed in the spirit of some concrete nature conservation action carried out by volunteers of DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia. Sand Martins are on the way to their breeding grounds along the river Drava, so it was time to prepare the steep sandy river banks for their arrival. More

After decades of winter waterfowl hunting at Ormož Lake the guns were silent in the seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16. Will this period of peace hold out in winter 2016/17?

In the past winter waterfowl hunt was something of tradition. It was carried out from Slovenian, but mostly from Croatian side of the lake. In 2012 DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia reported illegal hunting at Ormož Lake. In 2014 resulting from our report, the hunting family Zelendvor was fined 15.000 Kn and the hunter 5.000 Kn by Čakovec court.

Our collagues at BIOM (BirdLife partner in Croatia) reported illegal hunting activities at Ormož Lake to all responsible institutions in 2014. Nature protection inspection reaction was swift and HEP (Croatian National Energy Company) removed all illegal hunting hides from the lake in the fall of the same year. In comming winters there was no hunting on the lake and it seemed like it was abolished forever.

A week ago a suprise awaited our ornithologist on the field. Between 12^th and 13^th of December 2016 new hunting hide was erected on the Croatian side of the Ormož Lake, just a few meters from the embankment. BIOM again reacted immediately and hunting hide was removed by HEP on 16^th of December 2016. Safe and undisturbed wintering for water birds was again established thanks to immediate reaction of all involved.

We will continue to closely monitor for any hunting activities on the lake and in case of any, react appropriately.

Photo: Tilen Basle

After decades of winter waterfowl hunting at Ormož Lake the guns were silent in the seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16. Will this period of peace hold out in winter 2016/17? More

On 14. of Octobre 2016 an opening ceremony of new ornitological observation tower was held at Ptuj Lake and it was organized together with Manucipality Ptuj. A keynote speakers at an event were Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Ms. Irena Majcen, Mayor of Manucipality Ptuj, Mr. Miran Senčar, president of DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia, Mr. Rudolf Tekavčič and project LIVEDRAVA coordinator and CEO of DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia, Mr. Damijan Denac. Event was organized as a part of a project LIVEDRAVA, Riparian Ecosystem Restoration of the Lower Drava River in Slovenia (LIFE11 NAT/SI/882).

DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia and Manucipality Ptuj both agree, that new infrastracture is important contribution to local turist offer and has a big education potential.

On 14. of Octobre 2016 an opening ceremony of new ornitological observation tower was held at Ptuj Lake and it was organized together with Manucipality Ptuj. A keynote speakers at an event were Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Ms. Irena Majcen, Mayor of Manucipality Ptuj, Mr. Miran Senčar, president of DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia, Mr. Rudolf Tekavčič and project LIVEDRAVA coordinator and CEO of DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia, Mr. Damijan Denac. Event was organized as a part of a project LIVEDRAVA, Riparian Ecosystem Restoration of the Lower Drava River in Slovenia (LIFE11 NAT/SI/882). More

A very first screening of our short documentary entitled »Drava River – Nature’s Gift for Every Generation« happened in town od Maribor. Documentary tells the story of Drava river as it is remembered by our encestors till this day. It show the struggle of many organisations and induviduals to conserve and sustainable manage this fragile river ecosystem.

Documentary was filmed as a part of a project LIVEDRAVA, Riparian Ecosystem Restoration of the Lower Drava River in Slovenia (LIFE11 NAT/SI/882). Filming begun shortly after the project started back in 2012 and was finished in spring 2016. The premiere screening was held on Friday, 16th of September 2016 at GT22 in Maribor with audience of more than 60 people.

For those who missed the event we uploaded the movie and can be seen on LIVEDRAVA website. We invite you to watch, share and especialy enjoy it!

Photo: Tilen Basle
More than 60 people attended the event.

A very first screening of our short documentary entitled »Drava River – Nature’s Gift for Every Generation« happened in town od Maribor. Documentary tells the story of Drava river as it is remembered by our encestors till this day. It show the struggle of many organisations and induviduals to conserve and sustainable manage this fragile river ecosystem. More

This spring, as for many before we organized several voluntary actions of managing river sandbanks along river Drava. Managing of sandbanks on river Drava is crucial for the populations od Sand martin and Kingfisher. Without continuous help of many volunteers, both species would probably disappear from this area.

Below we invite you to watch a short video clip from this years voluntary action of managing sandy riverbanks along river Drava. Part of a video clip was filmed on 10. april 2016 near village Mala vas, where 15 volunteers cleared and prepared riverbank for this breeding season. Were they successful? See it for yourself!

This spring, as for many before we organized several voluntary actions of managing river sandbanks along river Drava. Managing of sandbanks on river Drava is crucial for the populations od Sand martin and Kingfisher. Without continuous help of many volunteers, both species would probably disappear from this area. More