Local school visits environmental centre

On 17 May, 5th and 6th graders from Daphia School (near Skala Kallonis) were taken on a field trip birdwatching with local birder and environmentalist Eleni Galinou along the Christou/Kamares River, followed by a visit to the new Kalloni Environmental Centre in Skala Kallonis. The children also took part in a beach cleanup (applauded by several birders who witnessed it!) along the Skala Kallonis beach which was followed by a free lunch at the Kalloni Bay Hotel.

The organisers hope that this will attract visits to the centre from other schools on the island and that these projects will increase the appreciation of the local people of their local natural environment and will increase the willingness of local people to support local environmental issues such as the restoration of the Skala Kallonis Pool.

Photos © Georgios Sakalis

Kalloni Environmental Centre opens

Regular visitors may have noticed an unfinished building on the outskirts of Skala Kallonis with a sign outside advertising it as an 'environmental centre'. Well, the Kalloni Environmental Centre has recently been opened and will be fully open to visitors for the coming tourist season between 0900 – 1300h and 1800 – 2100h.

The centre is situated along the street that runs down the side of the bakers near the mini soccer pitch on the northern side of the village. Go down the side of the bakers, along the track with the channel on your left and houses on your right and the centre is the last building before you reach the Tsiknias River/Village track (its a pink building - you can't miss it!)

The centre will be staffed by three researchers including local birder and Lesvos Bird Records Committee member Eleni Galinou (plus a geographer and a a marine biologist. The centre provides a base for these three researchers to undertake their various environmental studies from (manning the centre is just part of their duties during the tourist season).

The centre will host environmental and natural history displays, a lecture room (as yet no specific lectures planned for the birding season - see the Lesvos Birding website for any news on this), offices for the research staff and visiting researchers, a library for visiting researchers. A shop (inc. bookshop) is planned but may not be operational by the spring. The centre will also host a Lesvos Birding bird log for you to share your sightings (for those unable to get to one of the hotel logs). It is hoped that staff will allow birders access to the the Lesvos Birding website for news from previous days (I'll keep you informed about this - if not just ask the centre staff when you're there).

It is hoped a website for the centre will be up and running by the spring. I’ll provide a link from the Lesvos Birding website when it is.

The centre staff will also hold the keys for the hides at the Kalloni Saltpans. They will ensure the hides are open, but if you find them locked, pop in to the centre and let them know.