Turkish Conglomerate Threatens Albanian (!) Pelicans

The world’s largest pelicans have survived many threats, but in Albania a planned airport construction could finally do them in. The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is listed as ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN.

Dalmatian pelicans are big!

They grow to be about six feet long with a wingspan close to 12 feet and usually weigh at least 25 pounds. They are among the heaviest birds that can get airborne.

It is especially galling that the big bird is up against it in Albania, because conservation efforts here over the past 30 years or so have saved the pelicans from annihilation. One of those efforts in 1996 was to establish a protected area surrounding Narta lagoon, which is both prime pelican habitat – and the proposed site for the airport.

“It will reduce the birds’ ability to move around and to feed, and, as a consequence, their potential to increase in number or expand their habitat,” Aleksandër Trajçe, head of Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, told the Guardian.

The airport would disrupt more than pelicans, as it would sit in the path of the migration route for many birds between northern Europe and Africa.

“Albania has lagoons scattered along its coast,” says Trajçe. “Migratory birds use those to rest and feed. Building an airport right in the middle would interrupt bird movements that have been happening for thousands of years.”

Four conservation groups, so far, plan to go to court to block the airport project, but they are up against some big players: A consortium of three companies, including a Turkish conglomerate with ties to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s party. 

The developers say the pelicans will be fine because they won’t work on construction during the breeding season and eventually the operating airport will reroute flights during spring and autumn migrations. 

And if you believe that I have a bridge for sale in Tirana.

 Photo credit: Reuters / Alamy