Great cormorants and Mallards are the most numerous, shows Midwinter Waterfowl Census near the Central Balkan National Park
21 January 2020
Three teams of Central Balkan National Park staff - one south of the mountain and two north, participated in this year's Midwinter Waterfowl Census. On January 11 and 12, the southern team - three employees of the Park Directorate, and representatives of the Green Balkans NGO and BSPB, traversed the Koprinka Dam (part of the Tundzha River basin) and the fish farms to the town of Nikolaevo. A total of 6 472 birds of 73 species were observed for the two days.
On January 10, one of the northern crews monitored the Sopot Dam and the basin of the Osam River from the village of Slivek to the town of Troyan. In the dam, about 900 birds of 15 species were found. The Osam River is mostly frozen, which is why only 14 birds of 8 species have been observed.
The second northern team on January 11 visited few areas, for which no data is available in recent years. About 350 waterfowl of 7 species have been observed in the Krapets Dam. Among them, the most numerous are mallards - about 190 birds and about 100 great cormorants seen.
The Midwinter Waterfowl Census has been conducted internationally since 1967 and is one of the largest conservation events in the world, involving nearly 15,000 experts and volunteers. It assesses the status of waterfowl populations and the state of their habitats, many of which are part of the Natura 2000 ecological network. The census is conducted in more than 100 countries and includes about 25,000 wetlands. In Bulgaria it is organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), the Executive Environmental Agency (EEA) and a number of partner organizations and was held from 9 to 12 January.
On January 10, one of the northern crews monitored the Sopot Dam and the basin of the Osam River from the village of Slivek to the town of Troyan. In the dam, about 900 birds of 15 species were found. The Osam River is mostly frozen, which is why only 14 birds of 8 species have been observed.
The second northern team on January 11 visited few areas, for which no data is available in recent years. About 350 waterfowl of 7 species have been observed in the Krapets Dam. Among them, the most numerous are mallards - about 190 birds and about 100 great cormorants seen.
The Midwinter Waterfowl Census has been conducted internationally since 1967 and is one of the largest conservation events in the world, involving nearly 15,000 experts and volunteers. It assesses the status of waterfowl populations and the state of their habitats, many of which are part of the Natura 2000 ecological network. The census is conducted in more than 100 countries and includes about 25,000 wetlands. In Bulgaria it is organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), the Executive Environmental Agency (EEA) and a number of partner organizations and was held from 9 to 12 January.