Data Zone
Country/territory: Bulgaria
IBA criteria met: A1, B2, C1, C6 (2005)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 475 hectares (4.75 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
The former Orsoya marshes, on the bank of the River Danube, which have been converted to fish-ponds and overgrown by stands of Phragmites and Typha. In deep parts of the ponds there are water-lilies Nymphoides and Nymphaea. The ponds are surrounded by meadows, scrub and trees. Land-uses include fish-farming, haymaking, and hunting.
Key biodiversity
This site is important for species of global conservation concern (Aythya nyroca and Phalacrocorax pygmeus), and supports large numbers of breeding Ixobrychus minutus. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (uncommon).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Orsoya Fish-ponds (Bulgaria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/orsoya-fish-ponds-iba-bulgaria on 23/12/2024.