Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
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.
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).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kotlenska Mountain (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kotlenska-mountain-iba-bulgaria on 23/12/2024.
