NEWS

Fantastic news!

On February 27, 2026, a young griffon vulture chick successfully hatched on the island of Plavnik, in a nest we have been monitoring for the third consecutive season.

As part of the LIFE SUPport project, Karsterra Ltd., in collaboration with the Public Institution Priroda, developed a remote video monitoring system to observe activities in the griffon vulture nest, as well as the movement of boats in its immediate vicinity. The goal is to study the vultures’ reactions to the presence of tourist boats in the surrounding waters.

This is great news for several reasons:

1. Another chick of this endangered and strictly protected species in Croatia has successfully hatched.

2. The number of active nests varies each year, so it is fortunate that we installed the system on a nest that the vultures have been using for three consecutive seasons.

3. Some pairs begin nesting, but this does not necessarily result in a successful hatching.

4. Installing such systems in remote and hard-to-reach locations, with independent power supply and exposure to extreme conditions such as strong winds, proximity to the sea, and high summer temperatures, always presents numerous technical challenges.

Despite all of this, the cameras successfully captured the hatching of this year’s chick, whose development we will continue to monitor throughout the season.

Best of luck!

Cold air from the north has brought winter to the Kvarner region over the past few days. Snow covered the griffon vulture feeding site at Strganac, and our cameras, installed in cooperation with the Public Institution "Priroda", captured these quiet mornings.

At the same time, while we stare at the snow and put on yet another layer of clothing, a mother vulture on the island of Plavnik stoically braves the freezing wind, calmly lying on her egg - yet another proof that nature doesn't check the weather forecast.

Scenes like these, watched from the comfort of our living room, are a great reminder of why we love combining fieldwork with technology: because life doesn't happen when it's convenient, but all the time. Projects that make this possible, such as the LIFE SUPport project by the Biom Association, Public Institution "Priroda", and other partners, are becoming an invaluable source of data crucial for understanding the Kvarner population of Griffon vultures.

We set up the cameras but nature is the real director. 🎥

In the last few weeks, we ventured into some of the most remote corners of Croatia to service our camera locations and inspect several caves that will soon be fully surveyed - weather permitting.

These field trips are more than just adventure - they’re crucial for understanding wildlife, mapping underground water systems, and collecting data that helps governments and companies make informed, responsible decisions about land and nature.

We can’t wait to return and uncover more hidden stories beneath the surface!