Environmental protection

Offers and prices:

A. One-day program (8 hours)

During the day, you will have the opportunity to visit several places on the northern part of the island and to learn more about the avian world of the island of Cres and to get acquainted with some of the bird species that make this island a secret place for birdwatchers, such as: the Griffon Vulture, the Short-toed eagle, the Subalpine Warbler and wheatears.

The price for 5-12 person groups: EUR 60.00 per person.
The price of EUR 200.00 is payable for groups under 5 persons.

B. One-week program (6 days)

The one-week program offers the possibility of detailed bird observation at the various places on island. The birds which you can watch within this program are listed below.

Day 1: Watching the birds close to Sis, the highest peak of the island. After that, a visit to the eco-centre with a presentation on the centre's activities aimed at island protection and the protection of Griffon Vultures in particular. Visiting the exhibition, as well as the Griffon Vulture territory.

Day 2: Bird-watching in Tramuntana, at the northern part of the island (old oak forests and pistachio plantations).

Day 3: Bird-watching tour in the central part of the island.

Day 4: Excursion by boat along the eastern coast of the northern half of the island and to the KRUNA Ornithological Reserve.

Day 5: Excursion by boat along the eastern coast of the southern half of the island and to the PODOKLADI Ornithological Reserve.

Day 6: Bird-watching at the southern part of the island.

The price for 5-12 person groups: EUR 350.00 per person.
The price of EUR 1400.00 is payable for groups under 5 persons.

C. Individual program

If there is an interest in watching movies or pictures of wild birds (i.e. Griffon Vultures eating, vultures flying), observing specific species (i.e. the Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Wheatear, Nightjar), or combining bird-watching with tours or cultural sightseeing, we will gladly tailor-make an individual program for you.

In addition, half day programs and boat tours are also available.

Included:

• free entrance to the exhibition and to the Griffon Vulture territory
• German-speaking ornithologist

Necessary equipment: good quality shoes, all-weather clothing, binoculars.

Area: The mountainous island of Cres is situated in the western Kvarner Archipelago. It is the largest island in the Adriatic, and ecologically unique due to the largest number of different plants (1500); among them there are many endemic or relict plants, which are residues of earlier flora remaining from the tertiary period or Ice Age. Nowadays, Cres is the least populated Adriatic island, with fewer then 3000 inhabitants who live mainly from sheep breeding, planting of olive trees, fishing, and only recently from tourism.

So far 215 bird species have been identified on the island of Cres, including 100 species of nesting birds. The Island is especially known among ornithologists due to Griffon Vultures which nest on the cliffs above the sea along the eastern side of the island (70 pairs). Some nests of Griffon vultures are only 10 m above the sea surface. An unusual variety of amphibians and reptiles (7 amphibian, 10 snake, 11 lizard and 2 turtle species) provide optimal living conditions for the population of Short-toed Eagles, Golden Eagles, Buzzards, Honey Buzzards, Kestrels and Owls. Deep canyons and caves are safe places for the nests of Peregrines, Owls, big black Ravens, Blue Rock Thrush and other birds.

On open pebbly beaches and pastures with blueberry bushes there are Chukars, Wheatears, Black-eared Wheatears, Subalpine Warbler, various different sorts of Shrikes and Skylarks. You can see and hear all three types of Swifts throughout the island, while the Sicklebill which is like the Hobby is the most impressive phenomenon.

On the mountain ridge on the northern part of the island (Tramuntana), which is covered in oak trees, there are numerous sorts of song-birds, including various types of Blackcaps, Tits, Chaffinches, Reed buntings, Great Woodpeckers, Golden Orioles, Wrynecks and Hoopoes. In addition, numerous Fallow deer inhabit the island. They can be seen regularly on meadows, while flocks of dolphins can be seen from the shore.

The birds which you can see are listed below: Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus), Marsh Harrier * (Circus aeruginosus), Montagu`s Harrier * (Circus pygargus), Osprey * (Pandion haliaetus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Raven (Corvus corax), Hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix), Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), Yellow-legged Gall (Larus cachinnans), Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Whryneck (Jynx torquilla), Great sp.Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), Cirl Bunting (Emberiza zirlus), Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), Alpine Swift (Apus melba), Pallid Swift (Apus palidus), Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantilans), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), European Roller (Coracias garrulus), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor).

* only during bird migration!!