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close| Location | Bulgaria, Haskovo |
| Central coordinates | 25o 57.85' East 41o 24.08' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A3, B2, C1, C6 |
| Area | 44,624 ha |
| Altitude | 51 - 1,255m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information The site is important for its assemblage of Mediterranean-restricted species, and is one of the most important breeding areas in Bulgaria for raptors (Aegypius monachus, Circaetus gallicus, Accipiter brevipes, Hieraaetus pennatus, Otus scops) and Lullula arborea. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Ciconia nigra (3-4 pairs), Neophron percnopterus (2 pairs), Aquila pomarina (1-3 pairs), Dendrocopos medius (5-10 pairs).
Site description The Byala river valley and neighbouring hills, situated in the eastern Rhodopi mountains in southern Bulgaria. The vegetation is rich, consisting of old broadleaved deciduous forests of Fagus, Quercus and Carpinus, and sclerophyllous scrub (pseudo-maquis) of Juniperus, Phyllirea, Paliurus and Fraxinus, with Salix trees along the riverbanks. There are also coniferous plantations and rocky outcrops. Land-uses include hunting, forestry, fishing, extensive stock-rearing and cultivation. There is a small abandoned marble quarry, but drilling for minerals and other geological investigations still go on.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | 1998 | 12 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus | breeding | 1998 | 8 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | breeding | 2003 | 4 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Endangered |
| Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus | winter | 1996 | 15 individuals | good | A1, C1 | Near Threatened |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | resident | 1998 | 1-2 breeding pairs | medium | A1, C1, C6 | Vulnerable |
| Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus | breeding | 1998 | 4 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Scops-owl Otus scops | breeding | 1998 | 89-127 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus | breeding | 1998 | 136-326 breeding pairs | medium | C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla | breeding | 1996 | 68-84 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Least Concern |
| Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus | breeding | 1998 | 8 breeding pairs | medium | A3, B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum | breeding | 1998 | 34 breeding pairs | medium | A3, C6 | Least Concern |
| Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala | resident | 1998 | 37-177 breeding pairs | medium | A3 | Least Concern |
| Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans | breeding | 1998 | 158-292 breeding pairs | medium | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala | breeding | 1998 | 201-231 breeding pairs | medium | A3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byala Reka - BG0002019 | Birds Directive | 44,624 | is identical to site | 44,624 | |
| Rodopi - Iztochni - BG0001032 | Habitats Directive | 217,353 | protected area contains site | 44,624 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland | 60% |
| Shrubland | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis | 10% |
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 2% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | 1% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 27% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 29% |
| forestry | 60% |
| tourism/recreation | 2% |
| hunting | 70% |
Management considerations Some nesting bird species are disturbed by hunting. A BSPB project for the eastern Rhodopi mountains (of which this area is a part) is ongoing under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Byala Reka. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013
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