Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information This is one of the most important breeding areas in the country for some raptors (Neophron percnopterus, Aquila chrysaetos) and forest species (Dendrocopos medius, Ficedula semitorquata). The eastern part of the mountain is also a major migratory bottleneck site, where huge numbers of large soaring migrants pass overhead in autumn, especially Ciconia ciconia (up to 80,000 per season) and Aquila pomarina. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Ciconia nigra (3-4 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Buteo rufinus (2 pairs), Aquila pomarina (1 pair), Bubo bubo (2-3 pairs).

Site description This mountainous area forms the north-easternmost part of the Stara Planina mountains. There are rocky massifs, two reservoirs˜Eleshnitza (100 ha) and Tzonevo (300 ha)˜and three rivers. Broadleaved forests of Quercus, Fagus and Tilia predominate, with cultivated land and pastures scattered between forests and villages. Human activity is only absent from the Strict Reserves.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Ecocorridor Kamchiya - Emine - BG0000393	Habitats Directive	28,055	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Kamchiiska i Eminska planina - BG0000133	Habitats Directive	63,678	protected area contained by site	63,678
Kamchiyska Mountain - BG0002044	Birds Directive	88,884	is identical to site	88,884
Kirov Dol	Buffer Zone	27	protected area contained by site	27
Kirov Dol	Reserve	54	protected area contained by site	54
Orlov kamak	National Monument	60	protected area contained by site	60
Plazh Shkorpilovtzi - BG0000100	Habitats Directive	5,126	protected area overlaps with site	4,499
Provadiisko - Royaksko plato - BG0000104	Habitats Directive	50,159	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Reka Dolna Luda Kamchiya - BG0000137	Habitats Directive	2,461	protected area overlaps with site	262
Reka Kamchiya - BG0000141	Habitats Directive	159	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Siniat Vir	National Monument	4	protected area contained by site	4
Tchudnite Skali	National Monument	13	protected area contained by site	13
Valtchi Prehod	Buffer Zone	87	protected area contained by site	87
Valtchi Prehod	Managed Reserve	44	protected area contained by site	44
Varbov Dol	Buffer Zone	61	protected area contained by site	61
Varbov Dol	Managed Reserve	71	protected area contained by site	71

Habitats

Land use

Management considerations Some current problems are caused by unsustainable forest exploitation for timber (forestry activity near raptors' nests also causes disturbance), uncontrolled recreation, and quarries. There are three Strict Reserves with Buffer Zones and three National Monuments, covering less than 1% of the area.

Protection status National Low International None54 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Kirov Dol, 54 ha). 44 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Valtchi Prehod, 44 ha). 71 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Varbov Dol, 71 ha). 60 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Orlov kamak, 60 ha). 4 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Siniat Vir, 4 ha). 13 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Tchudnite Skali, 13 ha). 27 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Kirov Dol, 27 ha). 87 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Valtchi Prehod, 87 ha). 61 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Varbov Dol, 61 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kamchiyska Mountain. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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