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BG021
Sakar
Location Bulgaria, Haskovo
Central coordinates 26o 19.68' East  42o 0.63' North
IBA criteria A1, B2, B3, C1, C6
Area 125,707 ha
Altitude 50 - 850m
Year of IBA assessment 2005

Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds



Ornithological information One of the most important breeding areas for Buteo rufinus and Picus canus in Bulgaria. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Neophron percnopterus (1 pair), Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Hippolais olivetorum (min. 3 pairs).

Site description A rugged region of low, rounded hills and relatively open valleys, with few small villages and a poorly developed network of roads, close to the border with Turkey. There are dry grasslands, Mediterranean shrubland of Paliurus and Jasminum, scattered forests of Mediterranean broadleaved type (mainly Quercus and Carpinus), and some rocky areas. Land-uses are extensive stock-rearing and cultivation, hunting and forestry.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Stork Ciconia nigra breeding  2004  14-20 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Black Kite Milvus migrans breeding  2000  5-8 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  2000  4-6 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus resident  2000  4-5 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes breeding  2000  3-6 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus resident  2000  15-20 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina breeding  2000  14-18 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca resident  2000  8 breeding pairs  good  A1, C1, C6  Vulnerable 
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus breeding  2000  4-7 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus breeding  2004  18-36 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur breeding  1996  2,200-3,200 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus resident  1996  400-800 breeding pairs  good  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio breeding  2000  2,188-6,000 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus breeding  1996  60-120 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra resident  2000  800-1,600 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla breeding  2004  130-260 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Crested Lark Galerida cristata resident  2000  4,000-8,000 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum breeding  2005  111 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus breeding  1996  150-400 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris breeding  2000  40-80 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra breeding  2000  6,000-14,000 breeding pairs  good  B3  Least Concern 
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus resident  2000  500-800 breeding pairs  good  B3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Derventski vazvisheniya 1 - BG0000218 Habitats Directive 38,696 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Reka Tundzha 2 - BG0000195 Habitats Directive 5,953 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Sakar - BG0000212 Habitats Directive 132,118 protected area overlaps with site 107,672  
Sakar - BG0002021 Birds Directive 125,707 is identical to site 125,707  
Zhdreloto na reka Tundzha - BG0000217 Habitats Directive 7,857 protected area overlaps with site 6,502  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland  30%
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis; Scrub  10%
Grassland Dry siliceous grassland  15%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams  2%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  43%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 70%
forestry 30%
hunting -

Management considerations The main problem is the cutting of mature trees along the rivers. There are large populations of this rodent and of brown hare Lepus europaeus in the area, providing much small-mammal prey for raptors.

Protection status National None International None

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Sakar. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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