Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Common crane returns to Bulgaria after 66-year absence

Photo: Zeynel Cebeci/ Wikimedia commons

The Common Crane (Grus grus) has returned to nest in Bulgaria after a 66-year absence. The birds have chosen the Dragoman marsh as their home. This was announced by the Wild Nature Association “Balkans” after a series of observations by the association and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

In the summer of 2022, a family group of two adults and two nestlings was observed. The birds returned in the spring of 2023. In May, the juveniles disappeared and the adults became less easy to spot, which is normal when the pair are guarding their nest, eggs and chicks. On 11 June this year, experts documented the first newly hatched common crane chick in Bulgaria since 1957. The reason for the species' disappearance from the country's fauna is the destruction of wetlands, which provide the right conditions for feeding and raising their young.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian scientists at the Antarctic base greet the New Year several times

Bulgarian scientists in Antarctica traditionally celebrate the New Year several times, depending on the presence of foreigners in the base, the head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, Prof. Dr Christo Pimpirev, told BNR Burgas. One of the..

published on 12/26/24 5:32 PM

43% of Bulgarians are optimistic about 2025 on a personal level

Bulgarians' assessments of the past year in personal terms differ sharply from their views on the situation in the country and the world , according to a nationally representative survey conducted by polling agency Alpha Research between December 1 and..

published on 12/26/24 4:47 PM

Sofia scupltures adorned with gifts on Christmas

For the fifth consecutive year, the Sketches of Sofia initiative have delighted Sofia's residents with gifts placed at the city's statues . Every year, photographer Ivan Shishiev and his wife buy books for Sofia residents, wrap them up and place them at..

published on 12/25/24 5:05 PM