Birds In Bulgaria

 Bulgaria occupies a very favorable location - the migratory paths of many birds pass through the country. Bulgaria is one of the countries in Europe with the greatest biodiversity, especially regarding birds, and it is one of the countries with the highest bird concentration. So far in Bulgaria are registered and recorded 397 bird species, 59 of which were seen for the first time in the last 50 years. Two of the main migration bird routes - Via Pontica (Black Sea coast) and Via Aristotelis (along the Struma River Valley) pass through our country. There are 90 important ornithological areas in Bulgaria. 57 of them are wetlands. The easily accessible ornithologically important areas are frequently visited and are included in each bird monitoring program. There are about 40 such places in the country. Some the most important places are the lake Srebarna, the Danube wetlands, the Burgas lakes - Vaya, Atanasovsko lake, the area Poda, the Pomorie lake, Kamchia and Ropotamo reserves, Alepu swamp, the Black Sea cape Kaliakra, the Shabla and Durankulak lakes, the area near the town of Madzharovo in the eastern Rhodope mountain and many others. Most of these places have visitor centers and special facilities for bird observation. In Bulgaria, Natura 2000 (general European network of protected territories) includes 114 protected areas for wild birds preservation, covering 20.3% of the territory of the country.

Biosphere Reserve “Srebarna”

The lake Srebarna is located near the Danube River, 16 kilometers west of Silistra. Due to its high biodiversity, the lake was declared a reserve.In Srebarna Reserve, which is under the aegis of UNESCO, lives a colony of over 200 Dalmatian pelicans (the largest colony in Europe). Srebarna is one of the most important nesting places in the country for the little bittern, the black crowned night heron, the squacco heron, the glossy ibis and the Eurasian spoonbills. Some of the birds, which spend the winter at this reserve, are the globally endangered pygmy cormorants and the red-breasted goose. During the winter season, there is a significant concentration of greater white-fronted gooses, grey gooses and fieldfares at the reserve.

Natural Park “Persina”

The natural park “Persina” is located at the northern border of Republic of Bulgaria, along the river valley of the Danube river. It covers all Bulgarian Danube islands in this part of the Danube river. One of the greatest wealths of the park is birds – more than 200 species have been described. The Belene island complex was determined as one of the five most important habitats in the region for the large cormorant (Phalacrokorax carbo), small cormorant (Palacrocorax pygumeus), nocturnal heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), sandwich heron (Ardeola ralloides), etc. Five nests of sea eagle (Haliaetus albicill) have been registered on the territory of the park, as well as two couples of these bird species. The park offers specified eco routes with places for relaxation, as well as shelters for bird watching.

Atanasovsko Lake

Atanasovsko lake is located northeast of Bourgas. It is home to over 300 registered bird species.  14 of them are globally endangered: the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), the Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), the Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis), the lesser white-fronted goose (Ansererythropus), Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), the Corncrake (Crex crex), the Ferruginous Duck (Aythyanyroca). The migration route Via Pontica passes over the lake. Atanasovsko lake does not freeze in winter, which makes it a preferred wintering place for waterfowl birds. In summer the lake is populated by winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus), Pied avocets (Recurvirostraavosetta) and other birds.

Poda Area

The protected area Poda is located four kilometers south of Burgas at the left side of the main road from Burgas to Istanbul. It is managed by the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds. It is one of the richest ornithological sites in Europe and is home to 265 bird species, such as the only mixed colony of white spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) , glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), night, red, gray, Squacco and Little Egret (Ardea) at the Black Sea coast. 46 of the species are nesting, and the most attractive among them are the river terns (Sterna hirundo), large cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), various species of diving ducks (Aythya) and ducks (Anatidae), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and others.

Burgas Lake (Vaya)

The Burgas lake is located in the heart of Burgas, between two of its residential sections -Upper and Lower Ezerovo. It is also known as Lake Vaya. It is the largest natural lake in the country. During the various seasons, here visitors can see about 260 bird species. Many of them are rare in the country and Europe, and nine species are globally endangered. There are few places in Bulgaria where one can observe a gathering of nesting colonies of Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) and Squacco herons (Ardeolaralloides). In winter here gather small cormorants (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus), red-breasted geeses (Branta ruficollis), stiff-tailed ducks (Oxyura), pochards (Aythya ferina) and hooded ducks (Aythya fuligula).

 

Pomorie Lake

The Pomorie lake is located at a distance of 25 kilometers from Burgas and 2 kilometers north of Pomorie. The bird migration route Via Pontica passes above it. This is the reason for its wide variety of birds - a total of 269 species (nesting, wintering, migratory). 57 bird species nest in the region, such as Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Black winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), common tern (Sterna hirrundo), Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and others. The only Museum of Salt in Bulgaria is located at the veryshore of Pomorie lake.

Alepu Swamp

Alepu swamp is located about 7 kilometers south of Sozopol. The area is habitat for many rare animal and plant species. The swamp is habitat and wintering place for the pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), various species of herons, ducks and swans. The area is one of the few nesting sites of the sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) at the Black Sea coast. 

Ropotamo Reserve

Ropotamo Reserve is located about 50 kilometers south of Burgas, at both sides of the Ropotamo river. The area is home to 260 bird species, including white stork (C. Ciconia), sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata), various types of herons, ducks, pygmy cormorants (Ph. Pygmeus).

Kamchia

The Kamchia Reserve covers the lower valley of Kamchia river, 25 kilometers south of Varna. 258 bird species are registered in the area, which is about 66% of the species diversity in Bulgaria. Kamchia reserve is a nesting area for several rare for Bulgaria and Europe bird species such as the black stork (Ciconia nigra), the small spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), the Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), and others. Here passes the migration route Via Pontica.

Cape Kaliakra

Cape Kaliakra is situated 80 kilometers north of Varna, 12 kilometers east of Kavarna and 4 kilometers from village of Balgarevo. Every autumn from August to October, considerable number of migratory birds cross the territory over cape Kaliakra - more than 29,000 storks, pelicans and cranes, and over 3,000 raptors, including the globally endangered species Pallid Harrier (Circusmacrourus), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) and Imperial Eagle(Aquila heliaca).

Shabla Lake

The protected area Shabla lake is located in northeastern Bulgaria, about 5 kilometers

from Shabla and 18 kilometers from the border between Bulgaria and Romania. 247 species of birds have been identified on the territory of the locality. 137 bird species are of European importance. Shabla lake is a nesting area for endangered species such as the corncrake (Crex crex) and the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca). During autumn and winter visitors can see the White headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus). 80-90% of the world population of the Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) winters in the area of Shabla lake.

Durankulak Lake

Durankulak Lake is located 15 kilometers north of Shabla. Here passes the migratory route Via Pontica. 256 bird species have been registered in the area, 92 of them are nesting. The lake is a nesting place for the Small bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Lesser grey Shrike (Lanius minor), Ferruginous Duck (Aythyanyroca), sea plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and others. The lake is a wintering place for the populations of three species of waterfowl birds - large whitefronted goose, red breasted goose, green-headed goose.

Madzharovo

In the Eastern Rhodope, 10 kilometers northeast of the town of Madzharovo, lies the village of Borislavtsi, and the area between the two towns is one of the most popular destinations for ornithological tourism in the country. 174 bird species are registered, 78 of which are of European conservation concern. Among the interesting species are Spanish Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica), the large olive warbler (Hippolais olivetorum), the Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans), the small Black-headed Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala), the rock nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) and Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), black stork (Ciconia nigra).