After the first Lesser kestrels of the year were registered in the Svilengrad village of Levka, the birds have begun to return from wintering to the species' colony on the outskirts of Stara Zagora. This was announced by the team at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center, where one of the country's four known breeding colonies of the rare birds is located.
The first returning bird was registered just a few days ago by the team of the project "Life for the Lesser kestrel" LIFE19 NAT/BG/001017, implemented by Green Balkans with the support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union. This is a male individual whose tracking ring has code V34. According to conservationists, this is the earliest return from migration of the rare falcons in the region, and a clear trend is observed - each year the birds returning from migration arrive earlier and earlier in their nesting territories.
Although some authors indicate mid-March as the earliest date for the spring migration of Lesser kestrels in our country, modern studies by Green Balkans show that the first birds of this species return to their nesting habitats much earlier.
Shortly after arriving at the colony, V34 also found its partner in the Center's yard – a female Lesser kestrel, ringed N09. For now, the team is closely monitoring the pair of rare birds, providing artificial feeding and other care as needed. The environmental organization recalls that the second largest colony of the species in our country nests in the yard of the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center in Stara Zagora, with over 20 pairs registered in 2025.
For more information – Gradimir Gradev – Project Manager “Life for the Lesser kestrel” LIFE19 NAT/BG/001017, by phone +359885 609 289 or e-mail: ggradev@greenbalkans.org
