Book: Discovering Pikrodaphne

November 21st 2012

During a public meeting at the Agios Dimitrios City Hall - the Mayor presented us with a richly illustrated book on the Pikrodaphne Stream - a unique album full of wildlife 96 pages long, a hardcover monument to the stream.. 

Title: Discovering Pikrodaphne: A tour of the nature of Pikrodaphne Stream (in Greek).

The text is by well-known naturalist Martin Gaetlich - a man with a passion for urban wildlife issues and by the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios (The Mayor and her staff helped also). 

The work is edited by expert book-creator Nikos Petrou, president of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature - http://www.eepf.gr/en/about

It was designed by Aris Vidalis with photographs by M. Agiazmatzi, A.Vidalis, M.Vlachou, Ch.Vlachos, M.Gaetlich, M.Kotsakis, Ch.Belias, N. Paterakas and N. Petrou. (Photos were given freely by the photographers for the cause). Unfortunately the book is not available in book-stores and one must probably have to talk to the Municipality to get a copy. Soon in will be out-of-print. Try to find a copy!

Mayor M. Androutsou talked fondly of the book during the  recent public meeting on Pikrodaphne Stream.  The cover of the book features an Olivaceous Warbler on an Oleander bush (Pikrodaphne= Oleander in Greek).

Martin Gaetlich, writer of Pikrodaphne, now living in Ireland. I first met Martin back in 1984 when he was one of the most passionate activists in the Hellenic Ornithological Society. We worked on several projects together. I hope he will continue to have a conservation presence in Greece.

Meetings: Pikrodaphne Stream Public Meeting

November 21st 2012

Once in a while we have a public audience. In this case at Agios Dimitrios City Hall. During the last few months my friend and co-worker at HCMR, Elias Dimitriou, has been heading a project to study and protect Pikrodaphne Stream. In this case the synergy is high, the local municipality of Agios Dimitrios is really involved, as are NGOs. The idea is to help save the urban stream from ridiculous and expensive plans to practically channelize it all with rip-rap and gabbion. The plans are being supported by the superior government at the level of the Periphery of Attika - so the conflict is not going to be easy.

In the pics below we see the Municipality's mayor Mrs. Maria Androutsou and her team hosting speakers from HCMR, Univ. Athens, Polytechnic of Athens, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, the Hellenic Ornithological Society and local environmentalists. What a gathering!

(Most of the photos that follow were taken by expert flash-photographer and behind-the-scenes hero, Aris Vidalis)

If you can read Greek have a look at Elias' project website: http://www.remapikrodafnis.gr

At center, Ch.Belias with the Mayor (in red), a strong force for the Environment within the Municipality's initiative.

Ch. Anagnostou (HCMR) - Stream degradation and impacts on the Coastal Zone.

E. Dimitriou, S. Zogaris (HCMR) - taking questions.

A. Argyraki (Univ.Athens) - Geochemistry of Attika Basin Streams.

N. Mamasis (National Polytech.Athens) - Flood risk and mitigation with reference to the Philothei Stream.

E.Dimitriou (HCMR) - Results of a four month study of the Pikrodaphne Stream.

M. Theodorakopoulos (Intermunicipal Initiative for Pikrodaphne Stream) - Conservation history.

M. Tzali (Hellenic Ornithological Society) - Wetlands of Attika.

Ministry of Environment Representative (Green Fund) - Funding the Pikrodaphne initiative.

M. Androutsou (Mayor, Agios Dimitrios Municipality) - Introduction.

M. Androutsou (Mayor, Agios Dimitrios Municipality) - supporting the project and promising future participation.

Y. Karaouzas (HCMR) - Macrobenthos indicators and the urban stream syndrome. 

N. Petrou (Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature-HSPN) - a positive illustrated end-show.

N. Petrou (Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature-HSPN) - biodiversity in the city of Athens.

About 80 members of the public were present in the audience  - but they were interested.

E. Dimitriou (HCMR) - Thanking the Green Fund and the Municipalities for supporting the cause.

A beautiful photographic interpretive display at the City Hall , reads "Discovering Pikrodaphne". The same title was given to a wonderful book produced by HSPN for the Municipality (designed by A. Vidalis). The fascinating well-written and superbly illustrated account (96 pp.) was  launched on the day of this meeting also. 

Beasts of the Sea: A tuna in the Evvoikos Gulf

November 2012

And without the wildlife a wilderness seems totally dead. And what good is a mega-fish like a huge tuna? Why protect a fish? Should we factor in the utilitarian and ecosystemic values? Or should we go straight to our moral obligations to protect all wild living species? What value is a rarity to us - and this is RARE.... It is our lack of understanding and sensitivity that has caused a catastrophic population crash in the first place.....Finally, a photograph sensitizes: the beasts are still here! And the sea is our last wilderness....

In the southern Evvoikos Gulf just east of Athens. An anonymous photographer took the picture.  I have seen  various tuna species before - but most just caught in nets. Once I saw a very large one from the ferry. Is it because we do not see these beasts in the wild that we don't care for them?

This is the original frame. Could it be just luck - that you capture a tuna like this? Anyway I would like to ask the photographer to please come out and claim the photo - it was found by a friend of mine on the Internet. I know the location due to the scarred Attika landscape in the background.  

Expedition: Pavliani Valley and Tziros Pond on Mount Iti

Mid November 2012

Sometimes you find something remarkable, especially when you never thought such a thing could ever exist - in context. My followers know that I love to explore new places, to map the waters of Greece,  often with the help of rather interesting locals. Last weekend I was invited to a seminar at one of Greece's Environmental Education Centers at the village of Ypati near Mount Iti (near Lamia- 3 hours north of Athens). So after the seminar I took advantage of the situation and did some electrofishing - and work - exploring the streams of Mount Iti National Park (this will be show-cased in an upcoming blurb, maybe...). Anyway, on the last day of the expedition on Mount Iti we actually descended a bit to the rather well-known village of Pavliani (at 850 m.elevation - this is about 2 hours northwest of Athens). Here I had heard talk of a "lake". Well, we found both the pond and the man who is behind an ingenious ecotouristic venture. Vangellis, a local artist, became our friend and guide. His dream is to "open-up" the Pavliani Valley to nature-loving visitors - and I think he also really loves to bring out a laugh or two. He is behind the creation of special wooden structures and trail-signs that really lend "colour" to this beautiful place. Local people donate petty-cash and he builds and clears trails etc etc. So you can follow his trail down the Pavliani Valley to a spring-fed pond and marsh - wow!!! Most lakes or ponds on mountain sides in Greece are artificial, so I expected a tiny artificial pool where goats are watered etc. No way - this is extra special....natural!....and with jungle-like riparian woods all around - fantastic. And inside the lake we electrofished and found a species of Pelasgus (a kind of rare minnow). What a discovery! 

Tziros Pond, at about 760 m. asl. is a natural spring-fed wetland!

My guides. Vangellis on left is local artist-nature lover who create's inspirational signage and tree-house structures in the Pavliani Valley. Stelios is leader of the Environmental Education Center at Ypati and Stylida (near Lamia). 

A happy explorer with local activist Thanassis who spends most of his time trying to protect the wider Mount Iti area.  Thanassis is a great photographer and eco-reporter and I will show-off some of his photos next blog. 

Typical signage by Vangellis - he has created about 100 such signs -some are really quite humorous - this one reads: "The Amazon Jungle" and it leads to a secret spot in the Tziros Pond.

These are the sort of signs Vangellis does. Some are hand-written by him, others by visiting schools and volunteers. Do you like it?

Close-up of Myriophylum and Potemogeton in Tziros Pond. The pond was alive with wildlife - Alpine newts, huge medicinal leaches, etc. But locals say no Eels reach here.

Amazingly harmonic look-out house created by Vangellis overlooking the Tziros Pond. The guy is an amazing carpenter - reminding me of tree-house experts featured in the books of Richard Louv. Check it out....

What would a pond be without a look-out? I love wilderness and being alone- but in this case Vangellis really helps the youth go out  to discover such wonders. To live the peace.

In the Pavliani Valley about 50' downstream - it is beautiful and wild - inspiring a feeling of being in the motion-pic AVATAR. Perhaps a little over-done here - but that's Vangellis.

Campaign: Pikrodaphne Stream has Eels!

Grey Wagtail in the Pikrodaphne Stream

October 9th 2012

A really great birder, Michalis Kotsakis found a huge Eel slithering upriver near the river-mouth of Pikrodaphne -  a small urban stream here in Metropolitan Athens. So I went over to investigate the situation - alone. Early morning before work at the office - and I was busy - so I just took the S-R L24 (expensive electrofishing devise), a dip-net, that's all. The water is really polluted here - our HCMR team is monitoring this.... So when you know how bad it is, you don't really want to step in. But Eels!

I caught 7 individuals while electrofishing a stretch of about 150 meters. The polluted water's conductivity was high, so I used low voltage (about 300 volts) and low frequency - about 30 hz. The Eels were hiding in the deeper waters, under rocks and cement undercuts, below bridges (always in water deeper than 25 cm). Eels are IMPORTANT - a migratory fish that is now characterized as Critically Endangered! So finding them in the middle of the city is no small thing..........

There were grey-mullet downstream but I caught only one of those. Anyway, I now see this dirty small stream with new eyes - it is alive! BUT something needs to be done. My best pic. here is the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), I took it while lugging the electrofisher, nets, etc - thanks!

Secret Lake near Athens

November 3rd 2012

About 40 Kms from the great city of Athens is an old reservoir created by a dam. Constructed in the '30s for drinking-water storage it is off-limits to the public - and that is good and proper. Well.. it's no natural lake, nor is it some sort of protected landscape, yet it's really one of Attika's landscape jewels! Fortunately not many people know this so we are not disclosing the place's name.

DZ and I did an ichthylogical survey of the northern shores of the lake today. Of course I knew how to rapidly descend from the road near the dam without being seen (and nearly got us killed sliding down a steep rocky cliff).  The lake is patrolled by guards so one must be really careful. Anyway, my teenage son and I pulled it off Ok...We were in a trance - really looking forward to see the sparkling clear waters, mesmerized by the wetland fringes - it was so so silent!

Unfortunately, the "protection" of this place seriously needs to be re-planned, re-evaluated. Firstly, it is a source-reservoir for part of Athens' drinking water so it must be protected....hunting (we heard shots), fishing (un-regulated), and dirt-bike riding should be better "controlled". However, the most important detail is that due to the drinking-water protection incentive here - we may be able to protect both lake and landscape if we think carefully about this issue.

So, please don't go around talking about this lake as a "destination". Its a secret worth sharing mainly among naturalists and conservationists. I think some kind of action plan or study to protect the surrounding landscape should be drafted ASAP. I mean a no-building, no-roading - that kind of protection (landscape protection - practically unheard of here in Attika...).

Oh! I almost forgot. We caught no fish angling (sampling...). But some kind-hearted Albanians showed us their meagre catch. I have photos: the specimens look like Yliki Roach, Greek Rudd, Greek Barbel  (I think these fish are all from nearby Lake Yliki - they are all vulnerable protected endemic species distinctive of the Western Aegean Ecoregion). Now, are these to be considered Non-Indigenous Aliens to this artificial lake near Athens???

My opinion: these fish are living within the realm of the identical Freshwater Ecoregion asYliki Lake (80 kms north of this artificial Lake), so they are adapting to a similar natural-looking lacustrine system with similar "geo-ecosystemic structure".  So the concept of the biogeographic ecoregion boundaries helpful here for conservation planning - it may guide us. If you follow my thinking, this means that we have resident "translocated" populations of outstanding rare-and-unique fish species worthy of protecting in this artificial lake.....(think about it a bit). Also, one of the photos below shows a really heavy monster Greek Rudd swimming slowly at the lake's surface- the Albanian fishermen said that some of these endemic fishes may reach 9 Kilos (perhaps they were also referring to Greek Barbel also). So the fishes in the lake are surviving well and getting old too. Now Greek Rudd is found naturally only in the Lake Yliki-Paralimni system so the discovery of the species at our Secret Lake is of some conservation significance.

So DZ and I came back with good photos and had a really good bonding experience - we also enjoyed talking with the Albanians.

I hesitate in showing these snapshots; but I think this blog is such an obscure unknown thing they shouldn't threatened the silence of this place. We're not sooooooo famous yet (despite all these amazing ichthyological discoveries published in this blog...). Anyway, to those who know what I'm talking about...Secret Lake and its landscape...please, Lets help PROTECT IT.

A mega-fire swept through the landscape in 2009 and back then I was really sadened by the burn of the riparian area. Its bouncing back really nice now - not so much pine, lots of evergreen sclerophylls -  including lots of strawberry trees (tasty fruit this season!).

Couple of Common Buzzards, lots of birds around today by the way.  Lots of Gulls - huge flocks gather in the lake - I think to wash-up. Also you see and hear a lot of small passerines easy here. And we heard Water Rails and Coot in the reeds today.

This is November 3rd in the Mediterreanean country of Greece. The lake is clear (5 m. visibility). So it looks like a mesotrophic system? It looks almost Swedish to me. Beautiful water.

DZ saying....How to descend into the lake? I was his age when I used to scramble down here with friends Ph. Dragoumis and M. Ganoti  (back in 1985...).

Reedbed fringe. The lake is rather stable - water levels were lowish. It  looked really natural along the riparian. 

Greek Rudd. This is the biggest I have ever seen in my life. (Press on the photo to enlarge - or better yet copy-paste it to examine head, scales - its omg HUGE...)

Greek Rudd.

Greek Barbel.

Yliki Roach. (Now the fish names I give need some work - the species must be collected and carefully identified because Greek populations of these fish have recently been split or are being split by the taxonomists...so the naming here is provisional).

The Dam from a distance  Guards house on Right. Its impossible to enter just by waking in past the Dam itself without being stopped. Please don't tell anybody negligent about waking through the bush and down the cliff... 

DZ angling. No luck. This spot is deep- great for big fish. We could see the really huge Greek Barbels come in.  Then a few Roach by the reeds. It was really quiet for fishing at mid day. Surprised that no Pelasgus minnows, or Mosquitofish present. Ok.

This is part of an artificial reservoir!!! What do those "conservative" bio-conservationists have to say about this! The issue of "artificial" versus natural is not black-and-white!

However, I think this is "rich"and natural-looking because its an unusual "stable"drinking-water lake (unlike hydro-electric dams!!!). And there's not much  un-natural acting water-level fluctuations and the riparian shores are sloping gradually and the lake is low-elevation. Trust me it is very natural-feeling....

Walking back to the Car. I was surprised again: The landscape is more beautiful after the fire!!! Why is everything so controversial in conservation science?

This is a beautiful Valonia Oak. One of the very few in the area - the secondary pine woods once smothered  (like carpets) the entire landscape before it was burt. Trees like this need to make a come-back. 

Albanian fisherman. He didn't know how to fish but he gave us some really nice info on the lake's fauna.

DZ trying out various spools and "spinning" things. Didn't work.

Big Oriental Planes in a tiny creek entering the north side of the lake. There were a few fish in this gin-clear pool below also. Frogs too. It was like being somewhere 1000 kms away from Athens. 

I love taking photos of intimidating signs. "Beware - Danger of Drowning - Leave the Lake Area. Its FORBIDDEN to...."