BirdsBELT

Challenge

Along the Balkan Green Belt, some of Europe’s rarest birds were silently disappearing. Ancient nesting trees were vanishing, fires scorched vast habitats, and power lines claimed young eagles before they ever soared free. Without urgent action, the Lesser Kestrel and the Eastern Imperial Eagle risked losing the last safe edges of their world.

Objective

The project aimed to secure stable and growing populations of the Eastern Imperial Eagle and the Lesser Kestrel along the Balkan Green Belt. Through improved nesting habitats, satellite tracking, threat reduction, and strong cross-border cooperation, the goal was to ensure safer breeding sites, higher juvenile survival, and lasting capacity for conservation in Bulgaria and Türkiye.

Approach

To achieve the project goals, the following activities were implemented:

• Restoring nesting habitats through tree planting and artificial nests
• Installing nest boxes for Lesser Kestrels in key Green Belt areas
• Tagging eagles and kestrels with satellite transmitters to identify threats
• Strengthening cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and Türkiye
• Building local capacity through trainings, workshops and youth engagement

Achieved Results

The project brought significant progress for two flagship species along the Balkan Green Belt. Five Imperial Eagles and five Lesser Kestrels were tracked, revealing migration routes and key threats such as electrocution and predation. Forty nest boxes were installed, seven already in use, and two artificial nests were occupied by eagle pairs. Cross-border cooperation, capacity building, and public outreach expanded greatly, leaving the region better equipped to protect its rare birds.