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BG030
Kalimok Complex
Location Bulgaria, Rousse
Central coordinates 26o 25.70' East  44o 1.52' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, B1i, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, C6
Area 9,432 ha
Altitude 14 - 33m
Year of IBA assessment 2005

Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds



Ornithological information The site is important during the breeding season for nesting, feeding and resting waterbirds, e.g. the globally threatened Pelecanus crispus, Branta ruficollis and Aythya nyroca, and is also an important staging and roosting area for migrating waterbirds, e.g. Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Ciconia ciconia and Plegadis falcinellus. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (5 pairs before 1989, now only 1 pair left). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Nycticorax nycticorax (30-50 pairs).

Site description A former fish-farm, situated on the bank of the River Danube, north of the village of Nova Cherna. The open water of the ponds is partly covered by rich marsh vegetation of Hydrocharis, Nymphaea, Nymphoides and Trapa. The ponds are fringed by dense reedbeds of Phragmites, Typha and Schoenoplectus, with some groups of Salix trees, and are separated from the river by a seasonally flooded forest of Salix and Populus, which also covers a nearby island in the Danube (part of this complex). Plantations of Robinia and Elaeagnus cover the surrounding hills. Fish-farming ceased in 1993 because of financial problems. `Other' land-use (below) is reed-cutting.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Greylag Goose Anser anser winter  1997  300-500 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis winter  1997  120-200 individuals  good  A1, C1  Endangered 
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca breeding  1996  6-20 breeding pairs  good  C6  Near Threatened 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia passage  1996  10,000-15,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus passage  1996  100-500 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia breeding  1996  1-6 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris resident  1998  3-6 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  1996  15-30 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides breeding  2005  50 breeding pairs  good  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea breeding  1998  2-18 nests  good  C6  Least Concern 
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea breeding  1998  2-18 nests  good  C6  Least Concern 
Little Egret Egretta garzetta breeding  1996  80-100 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus non-breeding  1996  20-40 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus winter  1997  9-40 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus passage  1996  20-40 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus passage  1996  3-220 individuals  medium  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Least Concern 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla resident  1998  1 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus breeding  1998  28 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  1998  40-60 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  1998  40-60 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida breeding  1998  20-450 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Black Tern Chlidonias niger breeding  1997  10-15 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris winter  1996  500-2,000 individuals  good  B3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Bezimenen Island Protected Landscape 74 protected area contained by site 74  
Kalimok - Brashlen - BG0000377 Habitats Directive 7,550 protected area contained by site 7,550  
Kalimok Complex - BG0002030 Birds Directive 9,432 is identical to site 9,432  
Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Landscape 5,952 protected area contains site 1,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest  7%
Grassland Humid grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  29%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  64%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture -
tourism/recreation -
other -

Management considerations Problems include reductions in water-levels, and disturbance of birds by reed-cutters and collectors of herbs and snails. The procedure for designation of 663 ha of the site as a protected area is not finished.

Protection status National Low International None74 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Bezimenen Island, 74 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kalimok Complex. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife