David Grabovac

guide

David is an ornithologist and licensed bird ringer with over 20 years of field experience. His primary focus is on the monitoring of Great Bustard (Otis tarda) in Serbia, and owl research.

Since 2009, David has been involved in the monitoring of Great Bustard populations in Serbia, conducting field surveys during breeding and display periods. They manage and maintain the project’s GIS database, integrating spatial data for habitat use, nest site fidelity, and population trends. Specialising in the ringing of nocturnal species—particularly Barn, Long-eared, and Tawny Owls—he contributes to long-term studies on migration, juvenile dispersal, and breeding success.

His work supports national conservation strategies and cross-border species action plans, and follows EURING standards and national protocols. He collaborates with academic researchers, conservation NGOs, and government agencies on both research and policy implementation. He’s also involved in data reporting, public bird monitoring programs, and training initiatives for new bird ringers and field researchers.

Irina Barabanova

apprentice

Irina is a birdwatcher and a nature enthusiast. She loved animals and nature overall since early childhood, but had been working in IT for almost all her life until 2022.

After arriving in Serbia, she got into birdwatching and bird photography, and started a blog about birds. In 2024, she began volunteering at the Ludaš bird ringing camp and got so drawn in that she decided to carry on with various avian-related activities from that moment.