Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information An important breeding area for globally threatened species (Crex crex, Aquila heliaca) as well as for Ciconia nigra, a wide variety of large raptors, and two woodpeckers (Picus canus and Dendrocopos medius). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (3-12 on passage), Pelecanus crispus (max. 1 on passage), Aythya nyroca (1 breeding pair; 4-16 on passage), Aquila clanga (max. 1 on passage), Falco naumanni (max. 3 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Bubo bubo (2-4 pairs).

Site description The central ridge of the eastern Stara Planina mountains, covered by broadleaved deciduous forests, pasture and arable land. A great number of minor but distinct ridges slope down north and south to the valleys of the Rivers Titcha and Luda Kamtchia. These side-valleys are narrow and deeply incised, with steep slopes. The underlying rock is limestone and sandstone, and there are some sand quarries in the region. The forests are dominated by Fagus or Quercus, with Carpinus in some places, and there are natural mixed forests of Abies and Fagus in the western part of the area.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Ardachlaka	Managed Reserve	100	protected area contained by site	100
Ecocorridor Kamchiya - Emine - BG0000393	Habitats Directive	28,055	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Golyama Kamchiya - BG0000501	Habitats Directive	217	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Kersenlika-Ardachlaka	Buffer Zone	90	protected area contained by site	90
Kotlenska Mountain - BG0002029	Birds Directive	99,264	is identical to site	99,264
Kotlenska planina - BG0000117	Habitats Directive	69,059	protected area contained by site	69,059
Luda Kamchiya - BG0000139	Habitats Directive	6,111	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Orlitza	Reserve	567	protected area contained by site	567
Orlovi Pesteri	National Monument	5	protected area contained by site	5
Preslavska planina - BG0000421	Habitats Directive	14,060	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Reka Gorna Luda Kamchiya - BG0000136	Habitats Directive	2,277	protected area overlaps with site	1,326
Stara reka - BG0000279	Habitats Directive	146	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Tvardishka planina - BG0000211	Habitats Directive	38,650	protected area overlaps with site	2,452
Urushki Skali	National Monument	10	protected area contained by site	10
Zlosten	Natural Monument	358	protected area contained by site	358

Habitats

Land use

Management considerations Problems include the unsustainable exploitation of forests, and disturbance to breeding raptors and Ciconia nigra caused by uncontrolled recreation, tourist activity and quarrying near nests.

Protection status National Low International None100 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Kersenlika-Ardachlaka, 100 ha). 567 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Orlitza, 567 ha). 5 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Orlovi Pesteri, 5 ha). 10 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Urushki Skali, 10 ha). 358 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Zlosten, 358 ha). 90 ha of IBA covered by Buffer Zone (Kersenlika-Ardachlaka, 90 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kotlenska Mountain. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

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