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close| Location | Bulgaria, Varna |
| Central coordinates | 28o 32.87' East 43o 39.88' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6 |
| Area | 3,356 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 46m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information The site is of global importance for wintering Branta ruficollis, Anser albifrons and Phalacrocorax pygmeus, and also important for some other wintering or migrating waterbirds, e.g. Cygnus olor. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus (max. 5 on passage and in winter).
Site description A natural firth on the Black Sea coast in north-western Bulgaria, near the Romanian border. The water is fringed with reedbeds of Phragmites, Typha and Schoenoplectus, and is surrounded by arable land and plantations of Populus, Fraxinus and Prunus. The water-level varies widely, due to demand for irrigation and household-consumption in summer. There are some groups of Salix trees around the lake, and scrub to the south-west is dominated by Paliurus, Crataegus and Rosa.
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 | 5,657-73,531 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 | 2004 | 311 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis | winter | 1997 | 3,020-39,233 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Endangered |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | winter | 2001 | 67 individuals | unknown | A1, C1 | Near Threatened |
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | winter | 2003 | 16 individuals | good | A1, C1 | Endangered |
| Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus | breeding | 1996 | 14-17 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | breeding | 1998 | 4-6 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | winter | 2002 | 200 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Vulnerable |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | passage | 1996 | 47-228 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Least Concern |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | - | 4-356 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Least Concern |
| Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus | breeding | 1998 | 5 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Near Threatened |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | resident | 1996 | 4 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Crake Porzana parva | breeding | 1998 | 5-7 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | breeding | 1996 | 8-17 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola | breeding | 1996 | 2-14 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Mew Gull Larus canus | winter | 2001 | 330 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Little Tern Sterna albifrons | breeding | 1998 | 5-8 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durankulak Lake | National Monument | 350 | protected area contained by site | 350 | |
| Durankulak Lake | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 350 | protected area contained by site | 350 |
|
| Durankulak Lake - BG0002050 | Birds Directive | 3,356 | is identical to site | 3,356 | |
| Ezero Durankulak - BG0000154 | Habitats Directive | 5,051 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,143 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Scrub | 4% |
| Grassland | Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 5% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 69% |
| Coastline | Sand dunes & beaches | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 74% |
| hunting | 75% |
| nature conservation and research | 22% |
| water management | 20% |
Management considerations The main problem is illegal hunting, including international hunting tourism. The management plan for Durankulak lake was prepared by the Ministry of Environment under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
Protection status National Partial International Partial350 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Durankulak lake, 350 ha). 350 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Durankulak lake, 350 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Durankulak Lake. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
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