Karpathos is suitable for bird tourism as it is the last destination of migratory birds before they fly to Africa. This is a real “oasis of refueling” for migratory birds passing through their journey between Europe and Africa. Indeed, on the island is a unique kind of eagle, that of the Thalassopetrites.
It is a great place for bird watching and features those features that can make it an important bird-friendly destination.
The main advantages of the region can be summarized as follows:
(a) a wide variety of birds (small birds, raptors, seabirds)
(b) rare species such as Spizaetos, Aegean Gull, Maupropetris and many migratory species
(c) easy bird watching and photographing, particularly during the migration period (e.g. observation of large raptors using the migratory corridor passing through Karpathos for their trip to Africa)
(d) important habitat types supporting the presence of different bird species
(e) rich cultural and folklore interest with local traditions and many forms of folk art surviving to date and
(f) the protected area of Karpathos, Saria and Astakidonision, which has been included in the NATURA 2000 European Network of Protected Areas, protected and managed by the Management Authority of Karpathos – Saria.
