Ornithology
For lovers of ornithology Bulgaria is a paradise for bird watching. Two of the migratory bird routes from northern Europe to Africa pass through the country, Via Pontica and Via Aristotle. On their way they stop to rest in some parts of the country, which allows during certain days of the year to observe hundreds of species, some rare and endangered.
our partners, local ornithological experts, they will accompany you to the best places for bird watching and photography.
Nature 2000 (the European Network of Protected Areas) included 114 protected areas in Bulgaria for the conservation of wild birds, what covers the 20,3% of the country's territory.
Among the important areas is the lake “Srebarna” which is under the auspices of UNESCO. One of the most interesting species that inhabit the lake is the frowning pelican (Pelecanus crispus), with the largest colony in Europe up to 200 specimens, the little goose (Consider erythropus), the ducks (Anatidae), the mustachioed (Panurus biarmicus), the white heron (White sheep) and the white swan (Cygnus olor), pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) and others.
Another place of interest for fans of ornithology is Cape Kaliakra. The nesting cormorant nests here (Phalacrocorax aristotelis). Over Kaliakra every fall, from August to October, a considerable number of migratory birds pass, more of 29.000 storks, pelicans and cranes and more than 3.000 birds Raptors, including globally threatened species such as the papialbo harrier (Circus macrourus), saker falcon (Falcocherrug) and the imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca).
Many endangered species can be found in the Madzharovo area in the Eastern Rhodopes, especially raptors. Some of the most important breeding populations of Bulgaria coexist here, the red rocker (Monticola saxatilis),the gardener scribe (Emberiza hortulana) and the great zarcero (Hippolais olivetorum).
In the protected area "Poda" near the city Burgas you can see 265 bird species, as for example the only mixed colony on the Black Sea coast of Common Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), the common morito (Plegadis falcinellus),… In addition to other species such as the common martinete, purple heron, the european gray heron and the little egret.
Another important place for ornithology is the Pomorie lake. The Via Póntica bird migration route passes over it. In this place the kingdom of birds is represented by a total of 269 species (nesters, wintering, migratory). In the lake region they nest 57 bird species such as the black-footed tern (Sterna sandvicensis), the common avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), the common stilt (Himantopushimantopus), the white puffin (Charadrius alexandrinus), the common tern (Sterna hirrundo) and the little tern (Sterna albifrons), among other species.
If you want to discover for yourself this diversity of birds, visit the page of “Birdwatching travel offer in Bulgaria” inside the menu “The most sold”.
