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close| Location | Bulgaria, Varna |
| Central coordinates | 28o 33.93' East 43o 34.45' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6 |
| Area | 3,195 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 40m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information The complex is very important in winter for the globally threatened Branta ruficollis and for Anser albifrons, which both occur in huge numbers, as well as for other wintering and migrating waterbirds such as Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Cygnus cygnus, Anas platyrhynchos and Aythya nyroca (one pair sometimes remains to breed). The site is also a notable migratory bottleneck site in autumn, when up to 6,500 Ciconia ciconia have been counted passing overhead (the site may qualify under the A4iv criterion but more counts are needed). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus (1 or 2 on passage and in winter). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Tadorna ferruginea.
Site description A complex of three lakes in north-eastern Bulgaria, 5 km north-east from the village of Shabla. Two lakes are connected by an artificial canal and separated from the Black Sea by a sandbar; both have indented shorelines fringed with reedbeds of Phragmites, Typha and Carex. There is a hyper-saline lake (Shablenska tuzla) just to the south. There are planted trees and bushes of Elaeagnus, Syringa, Ligustrum, Cotinus and Crataegus in the former state residence, and forestry plantations to the north (Robinia, Fraxinus) and south (Populus) of the lake.
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 | 61,900-177,335 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus | winter | 1998 | 15-50 individuals | poor | A1, C1 | Vulnerable |
| Greylag Goose Anser anser | winter | 2003 | 3,273 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis | winter | 1997 | 20,000-55,845 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Endangered |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | winter | 1997 | 162-261 individuals | medium | B1i, C2 | Least Concern |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | winter | 1997 | 3,045-62,210 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | passage | 1996 | 10-88 individuals | good | A1, C1 | Near Threatened |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | 2001 | 286 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Least Concern |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | passage | 1997 | 5-392 individuals | good | A1, C1 | Least Concern |
| Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus | breeding | 1995 | 8-16 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Near Threatened |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | breeding | 1996 | 5-9 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | breeding | 1996 | 10-14 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola | breeding | 1996 | 4-10 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Mew Gull Larus canus | winter | 1999 | 285 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Little Tern Sterna albifrons | breeding | 1996 | 6-8 breeding pairs | good | C6 | 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ezero Shabla - Ezeretz - BG0000621 | Habitats Directive | 2,624 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,444 | |
| Lake Shabla | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 404 | protected area contained by site | 403 |
|
| Shabla Lake | Protected Landscape | 511 | protected area contained by site | 511 | |
| Shabla Lake Complex - BG0000156 | Birds Directive | 3,195 | is identical to site | 3,195 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Mesophile grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 6% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Sea | Open Sea | 13% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Forestry plantations; Other urban and industrial areas | 62% |
| Coastline | Sand dunes & beaches | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| water management | 68% |
| agriculture | 32% |
| hunting | 30% |
| tourism/recreation | 1% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
Management considerations The main problem is illegal hunting, including international hunting tourism. Illegal net-fishing and cattle-grazing cause disturbance to birds using the site. The management plan for Durankulak lake was prepared by Ministry of Environment under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
Protection status National Partial International Partial511 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Shabla lake, 511 ha). 403 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Shabla lake, 403 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Shabla Lake Complex. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
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