Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 2005 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):| Species | Current IUCN Red List Category | Season | Year(s) | Population estimate at site | IBA criteria met |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca | NT | resident | 1996 | 15-25 breeding pairs | A3 |
| White Stork Ciconia ciconia | LC | breeding | 2004 | 57 breeding pairs | B2, C6 |
| Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus | LC | breeding | 1996 | 4-5 breeding pairs | B2, C6 |
| Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus | LC | breeding | 1996 | 2-10 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra | LC | resident | 2005 | 86 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum | LC | breeding | 1996 | 10 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Subalpine Warbler Curruca cantillans | LC | breeding | 1996 | 10 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria | LC | breeding | 1996 | 50-100 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Sardinian Warbler Curruca melanocephala | LC | resident | 1996 | 2 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer | LC | resident | 1996 | 6-12 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana | LC | breeding | 2005 | 967 breeding pairs | C6 |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2005).
| Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sreden Pirin - Alibotush | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 68,934 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
| Rodopi - Zapadni | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 272,851 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
| Reka Mesta | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 19,402 | protected area overlaps with site | 6,860 |
| Mesta | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 20,427 | is identical to site | 20,421 |
| Kupena | Prirodna Zabelezhitelnost | 0 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
| Dolna Mesta | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 9,515 | protected area overlaps with site | 3,058 |
| Dikchan | State Game Husbandries | 33,250 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mesta Valley. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mesta-valley-iba-bulgaria on 02/10/2023.
