Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
An ancient volcano, cut by the gorge of the Arda river. The shingle and sand riverbanks are covered by
Salix trees, bushes and other vegetation. There are scattered forests of
Quercus and Mediterranean trees (
Juniperus,
Colutea) on the rocky mountain slopes.
Jasminum and
Paliurus are predominant in the sclerophyllous shrubland. Land-uses are the extensive rearing of cattle, sheep and goats, forestry and mining. The area is becoming depopulated due to ongoing rural emigration.
The site is one of the most important sites in Bulgaria for breeding
Ciconia nigra and
Otus scops. It also supports the only breeding colony of
Gyps fulvus in Bulgaria. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aegypius monachus (common non-breeding resident). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site:
Neophron percnopterus (3 pairs),
Circaetus gallicus (1 pair),
Bubo bubo (3 pairs).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Mining drives away vultures and other large cliff-nesting birds, through open-air and underground explosions, drilling activities, and the disposal of waste material. In addition, rural depopulation has led to a decrease in available food (livestock carrion) for vultures in the region. Only a very small area of the IBA has been protected. A BSPB project for the eastern Rhodopi mountains (of which this area is a part) is ongoing under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
National Low
International None79 ha of IBA covered by National Monument (Kovan Kaya, 79 ha). 19 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Momina Skala, 19 ha). 180 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (Patronka, 180 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Madzharovo (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/madzharovo-iba-bulgaria on 22/11/2024.
