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close| Location | Bulgaria, Haskovo |
| Central coordinates | 25o 54.12' East 41o 38.25' North |
| IBA criteria | A3, B2, C6 |
| Area | 3,550 ha |
| Altitude | 133 - 641m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information The site is one of the most important sites in Bulgaria for breeding Ciconia nigra and Otus scops. It also supports the only breeding colony of Gyps fulvus in Bulgaria. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus (common non-breeding resident). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Neophron percnopterus (3 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Bubo bubo (3 pairs).
Site description An ancient volcano, cut by the gorge of the Arda river. The shingle and sand riverbanks are covered by Salix trees, bushes and other vegetation. There are scattered forests of Quercus and Mediterranean trees (Juniperus, Colutea) on the rocky mountain slopes. Jasminum and Paliurus are predominant in the sclerophyllous shrubland. Land-uses are the extensive rearing of cattle, sheep and goats, forestry and mining. The area is becoming depopulated due to ongoing rural emigration.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | 1998 | 9-16 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Black Kite Milvus migrans | breeding | 1998 | 1-3 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus | resident | 1996 | 18 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum | breeding | 1996 | 5-10 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala | resident | 1996 | 1-5 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans | breeding | 1996 | 55-160 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Western Rock-nuthatch Sitta neumayer | resident | 1996 | 5-10 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica | breeding | 1996 | 3-10 breeding pairs | good | A3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kovan Kaya | National Monument | 79 | protected area contained by site | 79 | |
| Madzharovo - BG0002014 | Birds Directive | 3,550 | is identical to site | 3,550 | |
| Momina Skala | Protected Landscape | 19 | protected area contained by site | 19 | |
| Patronka | Protected Site | 180 | protected area contained by site | 180 |
|
| Rodopi - Iztochni - BG0001032 | Habitats Directive | 217,353 | protected area contains site | 3,550 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland | 45% |
| Shrubland | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis; Scrub | 17% |
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 3% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | 5% |
| Rocky areas | Inland cliffs | 25% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 5% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 25% |
| forestry | 45% |
| hunting | 70% |
| tourism/recreation | 50% |
| urban/industrial/transport | 1% |
Management considerations Mining drives away vultures and other large cliff-nesting birds, through open-air and underground explosions, drilling activities, and the disposal of waste material. In addition, rural depopulation has led to a decrease in available food (livestock carrion) for vultures in the region. Only a very small area of the IBA has been protected. 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 Low International None79 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Kovan Kaya, 79 ha). 19 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Momina Skala, 19 ha). 180 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Patronka, 180 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Madzharovo. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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