Tagging Avian Travelers: The Montenegro Bird Conservation Spectacle

Every September, ornithologists and volunteers gather at a former salt lake in southeastern Montenegro to tag and identify migrating birds. The site, near Ulcinj, ceased salt production in 2013 and is crucial for birds preparing for their migration to Africa. This practice, known as bird ringing, helps track and study bird species.

Every year in September, ornithologists and volunteers converge on a former salt lake in southeastern Montenegro, a pivotal feeding point in the Adriatic for birds migrating to Africa, to tag and identify various species. This site, situated near Ulcinj and close to the Albanian border, began salt production in the 1930s and ceased operations in 2013. Now, it is covered by grass, salt-loving vegetation, and reeds.

'The entire stretch of the coast is bordered by high mountains, except for one part along the Bojana River here. This saltworks location and ecology make it the best choice for attracting birds and feeding them in preparation for their migration,' said Nikola Novovic, a bird conservation expert.

Volunteers capture birds in a net and attach a ring to their legs, a process known as bird ringing. 'To the human eye, birds look very similar within the same species, making it difficult to distinguish individual birds,' explained Oto Sekeres, a biologist from Subotica, Serbia. 'Bird ringing and tagging them with special numbers give each bird a unique identity.'

A volunteer was seen holding a bird in his palm and blowing its feathers after placing a ring on its leg while his colleagues identified the species from books, Reuters footage showed. 'Trust me, that touch with birds, that touch with nature is incredible,' said Biljana Dejanovic, a biology student. 'You don't have to be a biology student; even an ordinary person will find an incredible love and connection with nature when touching that little creature.'

(With inputs from agencies.)