Photographers of all experience levels are invited to join Pui Hang for this 5-night Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday in Kerkini, Northern Greece. You will spend four days photographing the Dalmatian Pelicans on one of the most important wetlands in Europe.
This trip, scheduled for 13th - 18th January 2024, has an itinerary which transfers you from Thessaloniki to Kerkini Lake to capture images of the Dalmatian Pelicans on Lake Kerkini during winter.
Over the 5-night trip, the locations should provide opportunities to capture images primarily of the Dalmatian Pelican, but other species may be possible.
Throughout this 5-night photography holiday, Pui Hang, a member of the NaturesLens guiding team, will be on hand to guide & lead you; she will provide assistance & advice as needed & helping you develop your skills. Pui Hang will help you capture images of the Dalmatian Pelicans with the impressive backdrop of the lake & surrounding snow-capped mountains.
We've been leading trips to Kerkini Lake National Park since 2014, working with the same boatman since the beginning; this results in him knowing precisely what our photography group requires & where to position the boat for the best images.
About the Pelicans of Lake Kerkini
The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus Crispus) is the biggest pelican species. Adult birds can have a wingspan of 3 – 4 metres, making the Dalmatian Pelican one of the world's larger flying birds. At 11 – 15 kg in weight, the Dalmatian Pelican is also the world's heaviest flying bird.
Male Dalmatian Pelicans are much larger than the females of the species; however, both display bright orange or red gullets throughout the breeding season. After mating completes, these unusual pouches fade to a much more subtle yellow.
The breeding range of the Dalmatian pelican stretches from southeastern Europe to Russia, India & China; the birds prefer shallow lakes & wetlands.
During recent decades, the pelican population experienced a surprising worldwide decline due to habitat loss, disruption & poaching. Protection efforts have been victorious in core areas of their range. Building artificial nesting platforms & removing power lines has seen a distinct upturn in the breeding population.
How many species of pelicans are there on Lake Kerkini?
Lake Kerkini is a renowned bird-watching destination located in Greece. It has been included in the international network of protected wetland sites of Ramsar & several national & international parks. Every year, Lake Kerkini attracts many migratory & local birds, including the majestic pelicans. Two main species of pelicans can be seen on Lake Kerkini, namely the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) & the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus). In addition to these two, a few other rare species have been spotted in the area, such as the Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) & the White-breasted or Eastern White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus). All in all, four known pelican species thrive on Lake Kerkini; but the famed Dalmatian Pelicans are the most common by far.
