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BG035
Burgasko Lake
Location Bulgaria, Burgas
Central coordinates 27o 23.30' East  42o 29.97' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 3,092 ha
Altitude 2 - 19m
Year of IBA assessment 2005

Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds



Ornithological information The complex is important for wintering and migrating waterbirds, especially for wildfowl such as geese (Anser albifrons and the globally threatened Branta ruficollis) and ducks (e.g. Aythya spp. and the globally threatened Oxyura leucocephala). Pelicans Pelecanus also rest here in notable numbers. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Pelecanus crispus (max. 10 in winter and on passage), Aythya nyroca (breeding).

Site description A shallow, brackish, coastal lake just to the west of, and bordering, the town of Burgas, and connected to the Black Sea by a canal with a sluice. Reedbeds of Phragmites and Typha fringe most of the shoreline, where salt-tolerant vegetation is dominated by Puccinellia.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons winter  2001  12,127 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis winter  1997  7-1,975 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Endangered 
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus winter  1997  20-174 individuals  good  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Common Pochard Aythya ferina winter  1996  355-25,500 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula winter  1997  250-15,807 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala winter  2000  958 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Endangered 
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala passage  1997  19-43 individuals  good  A1, C1  Endangered 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  1998  30 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus passage  1998  2,074 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus winter  1998  132 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus winter  1999  5,100 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Least Concern 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus passage  1996  9-92 individuals  medium  A1, C1  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo winter  2000  6,122 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis winter  1998  1,500 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  -  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Burgasko ezero - BG0000273 Birds Directive 3,092 is identical to site 3,092  
Vaya Protected Landscape 397 protected area contained by site 397  
Vaya Lake Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 2,900 protected area contained by site 2,900  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish and salt water; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture 80%
hunting 50%
agriculture 5%
urban/industrial/transport 50%

Management considerations The IBA and surroundings suffer from high levels of industrial and chemical pollution, and the continued construction of industrial and residential districts also poses a threat. The lake is monitored by BSPB under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.

Protection status National Partial International None397 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Vaya, 397 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Burgasko Lake. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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