The workshop “Protection of Birds of Prey – Cooperation with Local Stakeholders” was held on 13 March 2026 in Belgrade as part of the international AVIATOR project, organised by the Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia. The workshop aimed to bring together representatives of different institutions and organisations involved in nature protection, animal health, and wildlife monitoring to exchange knowledge and experiences and improve cooperation in the field of birds of prey protection. The workshop was held at the Crystal Hotel in Belgrade, and the programme included expert presentations and an interactive discussion on key challenges in the protection of these species.
The workshop was attended by a large number of participants from different sectors, including biologists, ornithologists, veterinarians, epizootiologists, veterinary inspectors, representatives of national parks and nature protection institutions, falconers, representatives of non-governmental organisations, as well as professors and associates from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade. The high turnout and diversity of participants contributed to a valuable exchange of knowledge and experiences, as well as an open discussion on the challenges in protecting birds of prey in Serbia. In the opening part of the workshop, the participants were welcomed by Dr Vesna Milićević, the AVIATOR project leader, who presented the objectives of the project and emphasised the importance of involving different relevant stakeholders in activities aimed at protecting birds of prey. Particular attention was devoted to the legislative framework and procedures for the protection of these species, presented by Dr Miloš Radaković from the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, who highlighted the importance of implementing regulations in practice and strengthening cooperation between institutions. The following part of the programme focused on the health aspects of birds of prey protection. Prof. Dr Milica Kovačević from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, spoke about the impact of diseases and pollution on the health of these birds, while Dr Dimitrije Glišić, AVIATOR Science Coordinator, presented the methodological approach to collecting and sharing data on their health in the Danube region. A special part of the workshop was dedicated to identifying models for the prevention and control of diseases in birds of prey, presented by Dr vet. Sofija Šolaja, AVIATOR Stakeholder Communication Coordinator.
During the interactive discussion, participants had the opportunity to share practical experiences and highlight key challenges in the monitoring, diagnostics, and protection of birds of prey in Serbia. Participants emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between veterinary institutions, nature protection organisations, scientific institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, as well as the need to improve systematic data collection and sharing on the health status of birds of prey, including information on diseases, poisoning, and other risk factors. It was also highlighted that birds of prey represent an important bioindicator of ecosystem health, and that monitoring their health can contribute to the early detection of environmental problems, such as pollution or the emergence of new diseases. Participants agreed that it is necessary to further develop and harmonise methodological approaches for sample collection, diagnostics, and data exchange between institutions in the Danube region in order to ensure comparability of results and more efficient surveillance. The importance of involving local stakeholders in the monitoring and protection of birds of prey was particularly emphasised, as their field experience and timely reporting of cases can significantly contribute to more effective responses and the implementation of protective measures.
The workshop organisers thank all participants for their great interest and active participation. We are very encouraged by the strong response from experts from different sectors and the constructive discussion, which demonstrated a strong willingness for further cooperation in this field. We hope that the contacts and ideas generated during the workshop will contribute to the development of future joint activities and the strengthening of cooperation networks aimed at better protection of birds of prey in Serbia and the region.
The AVIATOR project has a total budget of €2.16 million, including €1.73 million in EU grant funding. Launched in 2025, the project will run until 2027.
Follow AVIATOR on the Interreg Danube Region Program website, as well as on social media:
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