Volunteers rescue trapped waterfowl in Kastoria Lake

"We have already saved 17 big birds such as swans, pelicans and herons that remain in the water during the night but when it freezes the birds' feet are stuck on the ice," Nikos Panagiotopoulos, member of the society, explained to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

Additionally, more waterfowl are facing problems in the Lake where they are wintering as their wet feet stick on the ice and are facing the risk of dying from hunger or the threat of carnivores that are seeking for food.

"We have also rescued coots, moorhens and ducks that are malnourished or worn out and we keep them for a couple of days at the centre," said Panagiotopoulos.

"If the fowl is close to the bank, it is easy to be reached and rescued but if it is far away then we use inflatable sea mattresses to reach them in case the ice breaks and we find ourselves in the water," he added.