Our Important “Millennium” Our Petition to preserve the thirteen year old hunting ban on Tilos for the protection of our 26 resident and migratory bird species officially recognized as endangered by Bird Life International and the European Union (E.U.) has already received more than 1,050 signatures. Thank you for this special “millennium” gift! Your support of our conservation efforts means the world to us. The European Union is home to 150 mammal species, 520 bird species, 180 reptile/amphibian species, 150 fish species, 10,000 plant species and 100,000 invertebrate species. Today, one half of the mammal species and one third of the bird, reptile and fish species are endangered. In spite of this and E.U. environmental protection laws for certain areas that are rich in bird life, lifting the twelve year old hunting ban on Tilos continues to be on the priority agenda of the General Secretary of the Southern Aegean Region (Periphery). Tilos is a Greek Environment Ministry and E.U. registered Natura 2000 site and a Special Protection Area for the Birds (SPA). The Ornis Scientific Committee of the European Union has documented the rapidly declining European bird populations resulting from inadvertently harmful but reversible human activities such as industrial pollution, over-hunting and fishing, reduced forest and agricultural areas, chemical poisoning by fertilizers, etc. The General Secretary’s political problem of satisfying recreational hunters, (most of whom do not reside on Tilos but desire to come to the island, kill certain wildlife, and then leave the broken flora and injured animals on the island) is an issue of significant scientific, legal, and most importantly ethical and moral implications. By taking immediate and decisive action, our organization was able to keep the hunting ban in place for the hunting season that is now coming to an end. The contradictory and misleading statements and press releases that have been issued by the General Secretary’s office of the Southern Aegean Region together with information that we receive that the hunting clubs are preparing a new pressure campaign for lifting the ban for the upcoming hunting season which starts on September 15, 2005, show us clearly that our fight to save our endangered birds on Tilos is far from over. We need all the support we can get as we take on the powerful hunting lobby and the regional government in this fight. Our fight has Europe-wide implications as reflected in the E.U.’s Birds Directive: “Whereas, the species of wild birds naturally occurring in the European Territory of the Member States are mainly migratory species; such species constitute a common heritage and effective bird protection is typically a trans-frontier environment problem entailing common responsibilities”. If you have not yet done so, please, consider signing our Petition to the General Secretary of the Southern Aegean Region (Periphery) at: http://www.petitiononline.com/proact02/petition.html Take a Walk on the Wild Side!
Holiday packages including hotel accommodations, breakfast and dinner, island tours and festivities for one week as well as modern round-trip transportation on the 70 minute high-speed catamaran “Sea Star” from Rhodes to Tilos (and back) start at only €350 depending upon individual or group travel. So please come spend a week, or just a few days, with us here on Tilos as we celebrate the island’s launch of a new era of ecotourism together with the beginning of our Life-Nature program designed to protect our endangered bird species. Visit us this spring and we’ll be glad to show you how much there is to enjoy in our little corner of the world. What a difference a day makes!
If you are itching to walk barefoot along the sand after a cold winter season of heavy shoes, if you long to let your skin breathe after being buried under layers of sweaters in front of a dry, artificial heating system, come spend a few days with us on the island and feel the warm sun melt away your cares. Allow us to serve you with what we are privileged to live with every day of the year. Fresh food from our farms, island honey, a view of the blue Aegean with beautiful migratory birds visiting us from Africa on their journey north. We are already embarking upon the preparation of culinary feasts, special guided walking and bus tours, bird watching, visits to our museum and ancient monastery, olive oil tasting and culinary seminars, beach activities, celebratory music and much more. The island beauty speaks for itself at this time of year with zesty orange and lemon tree blossoms, canopies of pink flowers draping the almond trees, wild red poppies and yellow marguerites dotting the countryside, freshly planted agricultural fields against a backdrop of rugged mountains and blue sky, azure blue seas, sunny days and star-filled nights.
That same afternoon, a Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) landed next to our first aid cages for injured wildlife and quite methodically searched to find a way to get inside. This magnificent bird of prey was attracted to one cage in particular due to the presence of a Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) which is still recovering from an accident with a car a month ago. The Eagle quickly learned that our first aid station is a prohibited area as it was chased by our on site volunteers and continued its search for prey in the skies above Eristos valley. To add to the excitement of the day, a European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) was also sighted diving and fishing along the entire stretch of Eristos beach. But what really topped the cake was the discovery of a small puppy curled up inside the protection of a wooden crate during our daily surveillance tours. This lost soul was given food and water by our staff and, after rewarding us all with wet kisses and renewed energy, he was reunited with his happy owner who claimed him after an announcement about our precious find was circulated around the island. Spring seems to have arrived early on Tilos this year with the almond trees in full bloom since February and the fields filling up with the vibrant colours of wildflowers and flowering herbs. 
On the afternoon of February 24, in the midst of clear skies and a warm sun, the first swallows were sighted flying over Tilos. These wonderful seasonal residents of our island arrived earlier than ever this year to reward us with their presence and graceful flight.
Please, consider becoming a Member of the Tilos Park Association. Your membership will add strength to our voice in the preservation of the natural heritage of Tilos. To receive a membership application package, please send an
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