Dadia Forest National Park

Dadia protects around 43,000 hectares of forest and open ridge in the low hills of Evros, and its importance is ornithological: this is the last regular breeding site in the Balkans for the black vulture, alongside griffon and Egyptian vultures, and one of the richest raptor areas in Europe, with more than thirty-five breeding birds of prey recorded. An information centre in the village runs a shuttle up to an observatory hide overlooking a supplementary feeding station, where vultures gather in numbers, and marked trails of varying length cross the forest. The landscape is a patchwork of Turkey oak, black pine and clearings that supports the density of prey these birds require, maintained deliberately by the park.

Highlights

• The vulture hide - an observatory overlooking the feeding station.
• The raptors - black, griffon and Egyptian vultures plus eagles and kites.
• The forest trails - marked walks through oak and pine woodland.
• The information centre - displays on the birds and the park's management.

When to go

March to June for breeding activity and migration, September to November for the return passage. Summer is hot and birds are less active in the middle of the day; early morning is always best.

Practical notes

The hide is the only reliable way to see vultures closely and requires the shuttle, which runs at set times. Binoculars or a scope are essential. Sightings depend on when carcasses are placed at the station, so timing matters more than luck.

Nearby

Soufli and its silk museums lie north; the Evros delta is southeast on the coast.