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Characteristics of soaring birds' spring migration over inland SE Bulgaria

Shurulinkov, P. ; Daskalova, G. ; Chakarov, N. ; Hristov, K. ; Dyulgerova, S. ; Gocheva, Y. ; Cheshmedzhiev, S. ; Madzharov, M. and Dimchev, I. (2011) In Acrocephalus 32(148). p.29-43
Abstract
We investigated the scale and characteristics of spring migration of soaring birds in Bourgas district, SE Bulgaria during three 5-day periods in March (27 th -31 st ), April (20 th -24 th ) and May (12 th -16 th ) 2008. Simultaneous counts were carried out from six observation points in two separate areas (Karnobat and Sredets), located 24.5 km and 37.3 km inland from the Black Sea coast, respectively. In total, 31,049 soaring birds of at least 27 species were counted, by far the most numerous being the White Stork Ciconia ciconia (23,358 ind.), followed by the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina (3,112 ind.). In Karnobat area, situated farther from the Black Sea coast, the total number of soaring migrants (21,231) was more than two-fold... (More)
We investigated the scale and characteristics of spring migration of soaring birds in Bourgas district, SE Bulgaria during three 5-day periods in March (27 th -31 st ), April (20 th -24 th ) and May (12 th -16 th ) 2008. Simultaneous counts were carried out from six observation points in two separate areas (Karnobat and Sredets), located 24.5 km and 37.3 km inland from the Black Sea coast, respectively. In total, 31,049 soaring birds of at least 27 species were counted, by far the most numerous being the White Stork Ciconia ciconia (23,358 ind.), followed by the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina (3,112 ind.). In Karnobat area, situated farther from the Black Sea coast, the total number of soaring migrants (21,231) was more than two-fold higher than in Sredets area (9,818). Overall, there was a significant difference in flock size and flight altitude within separate area (i.e. among observation points) as well as between the two observation areas and the three 5-day periods. However, there was a substantial variance in factors significantly affecting the flock size and flight altitude among most numerous individual species. In general, birds passed at much higher altitude above Karnobat area (mean flight altitude 208.3 m ± 6.4) compared to Sredets area (mean flight altitude 130.5 m ± 4.4). In both observation areas, northern direction was the most commonly observed flight direction (46.3% of all recorded flight directions). The highest numbers of soaring migrants passed in the late afternoon, between 15.00 and 18.00 hrs - 11,554 individuals (43.0% of all birds counted). The study confirmed that the front of Western Black Sea migration route, or "Via Pontica" as part of the Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway in SE Bulgaria, is rather wide, since the magnitude of inland migration in Bourgas district can be compared with that along the Black Sea coast, at least during spring migration. Both observation areas qualify as Important Bird Areas (IBA) of European importance according to the several BirdLife International criteria. We recommend that any new wind farms built should avoid the area of Hisar Hill south of Karnobat and the NW parts of Sredets Municipality. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acrocephalus
volume
32
issue
148
pages
29 - 43
publisher
DOPPS - BirdLife Slovenia
ISSN
0351-2851
DOI
10.2478/v10100-011-0002-4
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
dc0b479c-28ff-4b0a-82f3-a85b9adcd730 (old id 4936911)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:42:35
date last changed
2020-09-23 15:19:18
@article{dc0b479c-28ff-4b0a-82f3-a85b9adcd730,
  abstract     = {{We investigated the scale and characteristics of spring migration of soaring birds in Bourgas district, SE Bulgaria during three 5-day periods in March (27 th -31 st ), April (20 th -24 th ) and May (12 th -16 th ) 2008. Simultaneous counts were carried out from six observation points in two separate areas (Karnobat and Sredets), located 24.5 km and 37.3 km inland from the Black Sea coast, respectively. In total, 31,049 soaring birds of at least 27 species were counted, by far the most numerous being the White Stork Ciconia ciconia (23,358 ind.), followed by the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina (3,112 ind.). In Karnobat area, situated farther from the Black Sea coast, the total number of soaring migrants (21,231) was more than two-fold higher than in Sredets area (9,818). Overall, there was a significant difference in flock size and flight altitude within separate area (i.e. among observation points) as well as between the two observation areas and the three 5-day periods. However, there was a substantial variance in factors significantly affecting the flock size and flight altitude among most numerous individual species. In general, birds passed at much higher altitude above Karnobat area (mean flight altitude 208.3 m ± 6.4) compared to Sredets area (mean flight altitude 130.5 m ± 4.4). In both observation areas, northern direction was the most commonly observed flight direction (46.3% of all recorded flight directions). The highest numbers of soaring migrants passed in the late afternoon, between 15.00 and 18.00 hrs - 11,554 individuals (43.0% of all birds counted). The study confirmed that the front of Western Black Sea migration route, or "Via Pontica" as part of the Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway in SE Bulgaria, is rather wide, since the magnitude of inland migration in Bourgas district can be compared with that along the Black Sea coast, at least during spring migration. Both observation areas qualify as Important Bird Areas (IBA) of European importance according to the several BirdLife International criteria. We recommend that any new wind farms built should avoid the area of Hisar Hill south of Karnobat and the NW parts of Sredets Municipality.}},
  author       = {{Shurulinkov, P. and Daskalova, G. and Chakarov, N. and Hristov, K. and Dyulgerova, S. and Gocheva, Y. and Cheshmedzhiev, S. and Madzharov, M. and Dimchev, I.}},
  issn         = {{0351-2851}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{148}},
  pages        = {{29--43}},
  publisher    = {{DOPPS - BirdLife Slovenia}},
  series       = {{Acrocephalus}},
  title        = {{Characteristics of soaring birds' spring migration over inland SE Bulgaria}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10100-011-0002-4}},
  doi          = {{10.2478/v10100-011-0002-4}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}