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close| Location | Bulgaria, Varna |
| Central coordinates | 27o 49.00' East 43o 0.08' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4iv, B1iv, B2, C1, C2, C5, C6 |
| Area | 10,076 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 146m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information The site is important for wintering Cygnus cygnus and is the most important breeding area in Bulgaria for Dendrocopos medius and Ficedula semitorquata. The locality is also a major migratory bottleneck site, where 60,000 or more Ciconia ciconia pass overhead each autumn.
Site description The lower reaches and estuary of the Kamchia river, with remnant riverine forests, small freshwater marshes of Phragmites and Typha along the riverbank, arable land (the former Staro-Oryachovo marshes), a beach with sand-dunes, and a sea bay. The forests are dominated by Fraxinus, Ulmus, Quercus, Acer and Alnus, with scrub of Crataegus, Cornus, Paliurus and Ligustrum, and lianas of Clematis, Smilax and Periploca.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | winter | 1997 | 15-170 individuals | good | C2 | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | passage | 1996 | 35 individuals | poor | A1, C1 | Vulnerable |
| White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla | resident | 2000 | 1 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus | resident | 1998 | 21-38 breeding pairs | medium | C6 | Least Concern |
| Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata | breeding | 1996 | 230 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Near Threatened |
| A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes | passage | 1997 | 60,000 individuals | good | A4iv, B1iv, C5 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamchia Complex - BG0002045 | Birds Directive | 10,076 | is identical to site | 10,076 | |
| Kamchiya - BG0000116 | Habitats Directive | 12,920 | protected area contains site | 10,076 | |
| Kamtchia | Buffer Zone | 230 | protected area contained by site | 230 | |
| Kamtchia | Reserve | 842 | protected area contained by site | 842 | |
| Plazh Shkorpilovtzi - BG0000100 | Habitats Directive | 5,126 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Réserve Kamtchia | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | 1,072 | protected area contained by site | 842 |
|
| Reka Kamchiya - BG0000141 | Habitats Directive | 159 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest | 40% |
| Shrubland | Scrub | 1% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Tidal rivers and enclosed tidal waters; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Sea | Open Sea | 4% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Forestry plantations | 36% |
| Coastline | Sand dunes & beaches | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 34% |
| forestry | 40% |
| nature conservation and research | 50% |
| tourism/recreation | 5% |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Management considerations The water regime has been altered following the construction of embankments (along the riverside) and of reservoirs (six; throughout the catchment), and the periphery of the dense forest is gradually drying out. Part (30 ha) of the Protected Landscape was afforested with Pinus. A management plan has been prepared for Kamchia Biosphere Reserve by the Ministry of Environment under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
Protection status National Partial International Partial842 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Kamtchia, 842 ha). 373 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Kamtchiyski Pyassatzi, 373 ha). 230 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Kamtchia, 230 ha). 842 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Kamtchia, 842 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kamchia Complex. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
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