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close| Location | Bulgaria, Haskovo |
| Central coordinates | 26o 11.13' East 42o 15.88' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, C1, C2, C3, C4 |
| Area | 4,304 ha |
| Altitude | 139 - 225m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information Important in winter for fish-eating birds (Phalacrocorax spp., Pelecanus crispus) and for Anser albifrons. The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on a regular basis.
Site description A dam on the Ovtcharitza river, surrounded by low hills with arable land (mainly winter wheat). The reservoir is used for cooling an electric power-station at the site (`Other' land-use, below), and therefore the water does not freeze in winter. Human activities include hunting, fishing and irrigation.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | winter | 1997 | 200-34,755 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Great Egret Casmerodius albus | winter | 2001 | 168 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C2 | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | winter | 1997 | 8-211 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Vulnerable |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | 2001 | 677 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Least Concern |
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | winter | 1997 | 6,635-8,020 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis | winter | 1992 | 1,400 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | 1997 | - | unknown | A4iii, C4 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ovtcharitsa Reservoir - BG0002023 | Birds Directive | 4,304 | is identical to site | 4,304 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 3% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater | 81% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 11% |
| Unknown | 5% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 20% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 80% |
| hunting | 100% |
| urban/industrial/transport | 5% |
| other | 80% |
Management considerations Uncontrolled hunting of waterbirds is a serious threat. The reservoir is proposed as a protected area.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Ovtcharitsa Reservoir. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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