The distribution range of the Common Goosander (Mergus merganser) is primarily confined to the tundra and taiga zones, as well as the Alps, where it resides during the breeding season. Northern populations typically winter in Southern and Southeastern Europe. One of the rare populations south of the Alps that remains in its habitat year-round—throughout both the breeding and wintering seasons—is the Ohrid-Prespa population of the Common Goosander, a glacial relic that represents a remnant of the much larger population that existed during the Ice Age.
The Common Goosander breeding population in the southern Balkans, particularly around the Ohrid and Prespa Lakes, is small and isolated, marking the southernmost extent of its breeding range in the Western Palearctic. Previous surveys conducted from 2011 to 2015 indicated that there were between 15 and 25 breeding pairs across the two lakes. Given that this isolated population may have undergone divergent genetic evolution, it is essential to monitor population trends to support local conservation efforts. Moreover, it is vital to assess how the rapid changes resulting from declining water levels and shoreline retreat on Greater Prespa Lake will affect the number of breeding pairs.
This species is part of the long-term monitoring program by the Public Institution Galicica National Park, which is integrated into the annual nature protection initiatives. Since 2023, this activity has been implemented trilaterally, encompassing the entire ecosystem of Lake Prespa. In collaboration with members of Prespa Net (MES – North Macedonia, SPP – Greece, and PPNEA – Albania), a census of this species is conducted several times during the breeding season. Three teams perform counts from boats that navigate slowly along the coastline. Each boat typically accommodates at least three observers: two monitor the area in front, while the third records data on the observed individuals (including sex, age, and behavior) and logs the locations of the sightings. Additionally, the size of the chicks is noted in relation to nearby females.
Preliminary results from the 2024 census indicated that there are between 18 and 32 breeding pairs on Greater Prespa Lake, as well as between 10 and 15 pairs on the Macedonian shore of Ohrid Lake. The trilateral efforts to monitor the Common Goosander will continue in 2025!
By: Kliment Nanev, Public Institution Galicica National Park (PIGNP)
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