The first Dalmatian Pelican of this season hatched a few days ago in the protected area Kalimok - Brushlen near the Danube town of Tutrakan, reports the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds "BirdLife Bulgaria". The parents are taking active care of it, watching the new member of the family with great excitement, at the same time keeping an eye on their other eggs. Ornithologists expect more pelican chicks to hatch in the coming days, which is a positive sign for the colony in the area.

The happy moment of the young family was filmed by the cameras of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds:

Kalimok - Brushlen is one of the few places in Bulgaria where the endangered Dalmatian pelican breeds. Europe's largest migratory birds nest on isolated islands in the shallow water of the Danube. Hatching lasts about a month, with both parents taking turns to warm the egg. Once hatched, the chicks are completely dependent on the care of the adults, and a few months later they are ready for their first flights. In 2024, 92 families nested in the region of Tutrakan, resulting in a record population increase of 120 chicks.