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BG002
Western Balkan
Location Bulgaria, Montana
Central coordinates 22o 49.60' East  43o 28.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3, B2, B3, C1, C6
Area 146,820 ha
Altitude 191 - 2,168m
Year of IBA assessment 2005

Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds



Ornithological information The area is important for Alectoris graeca. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (max. 3 pairs breeding). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Hieraaetus pennatus (1 pair), Bubo bubo (1 pair).

Site description Old-growth coniferous, broadleaved and mixed forests on the slopes of the western Balkan mountains at 1,400-2,004 m, near the border with Serbia. Nearly 10% of the area is covered by high mountain grasslands, rocky outcrops and pastures, as well as some bogs. The forests are dominated by Picea, Abies, Fagus, Acer and Betula. Human activities are forbidden within the strict nature reserve.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus resident  2004  72-266 males only  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca resident  2005  70-90 breeding pairs  medium  A3, B2  Near Threatened 
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix breeding  2004  254-2,190 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus resident  2004  37-60 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug resident  2004  2 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Endangered 
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus breeding  2005  10 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  2004  12 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes breeding  2005  4-6 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca resident  2004  1-3 breeding pairs  medium  A1, C1, C6  Vulnerable 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  2004  7-8 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  2004  280-290 breeding pairs  medium  A1, C1, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo resident  2004  8 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Little Owl Athene noctua resident  2004  37-130 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus resident  2004  20-30 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  2004  290-335 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla breeding  2004  29-153 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius resident  2004  280-2,700 breeding pairs  medium  B3, C6  Least Concern 
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos resident  2004  40 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus resident  2005  400-700 breeding pairs  good  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius resident  2004  80-100 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio breeding  2004  6,000-8,000 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor breeding  1996  140-190 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  2004  32 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea resident  2004  3,650-11,000 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  2005  2-5 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula resident  2004  7,945-25,200 breeding pairs  medium  B3  Least Concern 
Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata breeding  2005  400-600 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Near Threatened 
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva breeding  2000  60-80 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris breeding  2004  12-25 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris resident  2004  820-5,800 breeding pairs  medium  B3  Least Concern 
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana breeding  2004  1,100-1,400 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Réserve Tchoupréné UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 1,982 protected area contained by site 1,440  
Tchuprene Buffer Zone 542 protected area contained by site 542  
Tchuprene Reserve 1,440 protected area contained by site 1,440  
Vrachanski Balkan - BG0000166 Habitats Directive 35,981 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Western Balkan - BG0002002 Birds Directive 146,820 is identical to site 146,820  
Zapadna Stara Planina i Predbalkan - BG0001040 Habitats Directive 219,716 protected area overlaps with site 134,643  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Native coniferous woodland  96%
Shrubland Scrub  3%
Grassland Dry siliceous grassland  1%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
not utilised 73%
agriculture 27%
tourism/recreation 27%

Management considerations Illegal recreation and hunting are threats (the Midzhur hunting area is nearby).

Protection status National High International Partial1,440 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Tchuprene, 1,440 ha). 542 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Tchuprene, 542 ha). 1,440 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Tchuprene, 1,440 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Western Balkan. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

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