Slovak ornithologists have sighted an unusual species at Senianske ponds, an important migration stop for many birds in Europe located in the Kosice region, eastern Slovakia. The unusual guest to this location was a great white pelican, also known as a rosy pelican. Experts, however, cannot grasp the reason for the bird’s visit, as its nearest natural habitat lies in the Danube delta in Romania, several hundred kilometres away from the ponds. "We’ve no clue what it’s doing here. It probably strayed during its autumn migration. It’s an aquatic bird, so it could have followed the Danube, then the Tisza and Latorica, and ultimately come to the Senianske ponds via the Uzh and Laborec rivers," ornithologist Matej Repel told TASR. As he explained, as plenty of fish fill the ponds at this time of the year, large numbers of birds are attracted to the area, which might have caught the attention of the pelican. Given the abundance of food and assuming favourable weather conditions, ornithologists expect the pelican to remain at the ponds for several weeks. "If it stays safe and healthy, it will eventually head back south," remarked Repel.
Source: TASR
