For the 9th year, the winter bird species census has been conducted throughout the country.
Lake of Shkodra is known throughout the country for the high number of birds, but this year it seems that their migration to Albania has been few. According to the census, there is a decrease of about 40% in the number of birds in the lake.
“The region of Shkodra, mainly the lake, has mainly had a very high number of individuals, over 30 thousand individuals in the past years. This year there has been a decrease of 40% in the presence of individuals”, said Tonin Macaj – head of the management sector ADZM (National Protected Areas Agency) of Shkodra.
But what is the reason for such a high decline in the number of birds?
Biodiversity specialist, Miriam Topi, attributes this decrease mainly to climate changes, but again says that the census analysis should be more detailed and not be satisfied only with the basic results.
“There has been a very strong fall in number, in the lake of Shkodra. This is related, in my opinion, to several causes, and one of them is obviously climate change. Now the winters have softened and the birds do not need to come to the south to find a suitable environment to stay, but this should not be said to be a priori.
There is something here, we collect data within the census, but unfortunately these data are not analyzed properly. So it’s the same as sowing a grain surface and not harvesting it”, said Miriam Topi – biodiversity specialist.
Despite the decrease in the number, the fact that there is an increase in the species of birds living in the Shkodra lake ecosystem is hopeful.
“If last year there were once 12-13 species, this year there was a higher number of species somewhere around 15 species, so it would mean that there is a higher biological diversity in the lake of Shkodra.
From the monitoring carried out these days, the a kind of bird has also been observed, which if it is present would mean that there is food, there is peace, there is security…”, said Tonin Macaj – head of the management sector ADZM of Shkodra.
The census was conducted in 33 wetlands of Albania and included 91 specialists of the National Agency of Protected Areas, together with 11 bird experts, part of non-governmental organizations.
