crossbill guides and new thracian gold ...... promoting ecotourism in the eastern rhodopes crossbill guides crossbill guides foundation
The Eastern Rhodopes lie on the border between contribute positively towards wild- EASTERN A route to explore the Eastern Rhodopes RHODOPES Greece and Bulgaria. On both sides there is a Here ou are: one of the 18 routes that are described life tourism… the kind of tourism splendid, authentic and little visited landscape with a that is promoted in the Crossbill Eastern Rhodopes in the new Crossbill Guide to the Eastern Rhodopes. rich ora and fauna. The Bulgarian Eastern Rhodope BULGARIA Ma it be an inspiration for a visit to this wonderful Guides series. mountains are a wild area where large numbers of NESTOS, EVROS A ND DADIA BULGA RIA A ND G REE CE region area on the border of Bulgaria and Greece! birds of pre patrol the skies, wolves and jackals EASTERN RHODOPES This new nature travel guidebook is the latest title Crossbill Guides oundation hide in the woodlands and scores of butter ies in the Crossbill Guides series and is made in collab- and wild owers grace the meadows. The lowlands oration with New Thracian Gold – a unique project The Crossbill Guides Foundation of Greece, with famous areas like Dadia, Evros aims to increase public involve- GREECE in an exceptional corner of Europe – and the Dutch and Nestos, are a birding hotspot with attractions like pelicans, Pgm organisation ARK Nature. ment with nature conservation Cormorants and Spur-winged Plovers. by showing the values of nature conservation to a larger audience. New Thracian Gold – Green Gold in the Eastern Rhodopes The Crossbill Guides Foundation is an independent non-profit or- The guide that covers the wildflowers, birds and all other wildlife In the Eastern Rhodopes, a land where the ancient Thracians’ golden ganisation and works on a Euro- treasures are still found today, Dutch and Bulgarian experts have discov- pean scale. Using recent insights Routes, where-to-watch-birds information and other ered green gold: beautiful landscapes, unique natural phenomena, wild- in communication strategies, the observation tips life preserved like nowhere else in Europe, and excellent conditions for foundation focuses on ecotourism organic agriculture. They started a project for sustainable development, as a means to involve the public which was appropriately named New Thracian Gold (NTG). with nature conservation. One Insightful information on landscape and ecology such conservation project is New Launched in 2009, NTG is run by Bulgarian experts and supported by Thracian Gold. the Dutch environmental organisations ARK and Avalon, which have Nature tourism plays a key role in impressive experience in habitat restoration and organic farming. The public involvement with nature conservation. It is a positive activity in which people are open for new www .crossbillguides .org - if you want to see more project is funded by the Netherlands’ largest charity, the Netherlands The New Thracian Postcode Lottery, which supports projects working for a fair and greener ideas, activities and challenges. Provided that nature tourism is control- Gold project intro- world. led, it might just be the best way of creating awareness for the preserva- duces free-roaming NTG uniquely combines habitat restoration, ecotourism and organic tion of Europe’s natural heritage. grazers that are to farming into a single integrated approach. Locals receive technical and Therefore, the Crossbill Guides Foundation produces a series of enthus- prevent the East- financial support on topics ranging from sustainable green tourism ing and insightful nature guidebooks for ecotourists about Europe’s most ern Rhodopes from to organic farming. In remote areas challenged by land abandonment, valuable natural areas (Natura 2000): the Crossbill Guides. These books becoming a dense ecotourism combined with natural resource management can play a present the value of our natural heritage, show the visitor where he or she and species-poor prominent role in developing alternative economies. The reintroduc- can experience nature at its best, and stress the importance of its conser- forest (top). Their tion of keystone species, including large herbivores previously extinct in vation. The route on the other side of this brochure gives you a little taste ecological role is to the region, plays a major role in reviving essential natural processes. As of both the book, and of the Eastern Rhodopes – the project area of NTG. help maintaining the the traditional herding system is no longer viable, remote regions will characteristic open no longer be grazed. Uncontrolled, the typical mosaic landscape, which www.newthraciangold.eu / www.ark.eu / www.crossbillguides.org mosaic landscape hosts abundant biodiversity, gets overgrown and looses its characteristic with its rich ora flora and fauna. Restoring the grazing process can preserve the existing crossbill guides and fauna (bottom). environment, procure food for the predator and scavenger animals and IF y O W A N T T O S E E M O R E
crossbill guides • eastern rhodopes practical part route 5: along the arda river route 5: along the arda river route 5: along the arda river route 5: along the arda river
1 Route 5: Along the Arda River The vulture centre (actually the BSPB nature information centre; 2 3 Continue by car in the direction of Borislavtsi and after 1 km you find a grasslands that fringe the north- 4 which also has a small restaurant) is a good starting point. Local Eng- picnic table on the right side of the road. ern reservoir for Squacco Heron, 1lish-speaking ecologists provide up to date information on the area and its Little Egret, Little Grebe, Cormo- 6 R – DA species. The terrace lights in front of the centre attract many moth species This is a spectacular place, squeezed between the cliffs and the rants and swans. The vegetation The Arda river cuts 50 like Cream-spot Tiger, Eyed and Small Elephant Hawk-moth and the im- river. Check the cliffs where the Griffon Vultures, in one of the few near the stream is worth looking through the volcanic pressive Giant Peacock Moth, which often rest on the vegetation near the 3colonies in the region, breed. Birds of prey here frequently include Egyp- for dragonflies and damselflies rock of Madzharovo. The famous vulture cliffs of Madzharovo lamps. From the vulture centre, walk to the bridge where, to the left, a trail tian Vulture, Peregrine and Golden and Booted Eagles. Other birds to as Broad Darter, Common Win- This is perhaps the Scenic route through mountains and with leads down to the river. This is worth exploring, especially for the endemic look for are Black Stork, Chukar (rare), Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock ter Damsel, Large Red-eye and most famous place of a rich birdlife on Ardas north bank Small Bath White, that flies near dried up riverbeds. Thrush, Western Rock Nuthatch and Rock Bunting. On the other side, White-tailed Skimmer. the Eastern Rhodopes: you have a good view over the river. Apart from the splendid scenery you abitats : river, scrubland, ston grasslands, cliffs, oak forest, elds, marshland the Arda bend with the Cross the bridge and turn right to Borislavtsi. might be lucky to spot an Otter in dusk or dawn. Continue over the dam and park elected species : Pink Butter Orchid, Jackal, Otter, White-tailed Eagle, vulture cliffs. on the left just before the next Black Stork, Griffon Vulture, Peregrine, Golden Eagle, Western Rock Nut- After 800 metres the tarmac Continue and take the first tarmac road to the right, which brings you bridge. A 1 1/ km walk along the hatch, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Sand Boa, Small Bath White, Rus- 2 road crosses a dirt road. Park down to the Arda. stream leads you to a small lake. sian Heath, Sand Grizzled Skipper, Freer’s Purple Emperor 2on the left and continue on foot. A small stream has carved a steep lit- At the river, leave your car at the information panel and continue on The fields on the left have Black-headed Bunting and Black-headed This scenic route takes you along the north bank of the Arda River. tle valley through the rocks. The foot. Keep an eye out for fishing Black Stork on the pebble banks, Wagtail. On your right, you overlook the bushy vegetation lining Some of the more famous sites of the Eastern Rhodopes are on this open patch of dry flowery grass- 4and for Little Ringed Plover, which breeds here. Banded Demoiselles and 7the stream. This is a good place for smaller songbirds and woodpeck- route, such as the breeding colony of the Griffon Vultures and the pic- land is a butterfly hotspot attract- Common Clubtail are frequent dragonflies in springtime. An early morn- ers (Green and Syrian). The Blackthorns attract Brown Hairstreaks. The turesque meander of the Arda River. But the route takes you beyond ing species like Krueper’s Small ing visit, in combination with a healthy dose of luck, may produce an small lake at the end of the trail is fringed by marshland and reed beds. these places and into a broad valley with, for the region, atypical marsh- White, Tree Grayling, Eastern Ba- encounter with the highly illusive Sand Boa, an Otter or a Jackal, all of This makes this site an excellent one for Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Great lands. This route is primarily of interest for its birdlife, but reptiles, ton Blue and Southern Festoon. which are seen here on a regular basis. Don’t forget to check the cliffs and Reed Warbler and Moorhen. Explore the grassy terrain near the lake for butterflies and dragonflies enthusiasts will not be disappointed. The stream itself supports Yellow- the sky, for similar birds may appear here as on the previous site. Pink Butterfly and Lady Orchids. Silver-studded Blue and Marsh Fritil- bellied Toad, Southern Crested lary are so common in season that they cannot be overlooked. Departure point Vulture centre, Madzharovo. The centre is situated Newt and Fire Salamander. Dice Retrace your steps to the main road and turn right. After about 5 km you next to the bridge over the Arda River. Snake and Grass Snake are fre- see a wooden gazebo on your left. Park here. Return the way you came. quent here as well. Don’t forget to 7 look up every once in a while. The The reservoir in the valley is part of the Arda River, which is dammed vulture cliffs are nearby, so Grif- close to Ivaylovgrad. In the area a pair of White-tailed Eagle nests – fon and Egyptian Vultures drift 5one of the rarest breeding raptors of the region. They can sometimes be over frequently. Keep an eye out for seen hunting over the area although your chances are better of spotting Sombre Tit, Eastern Orphean and a Black Kite, another raptor that is not common in the region. Explore
GORNO POLE gazebo BORISLAVTSI 6 Barred Warblers here and at the the Christ’s-thorn scrubland behind the gazebo which is a good site for rad 5 ovg cl yl stops ahead. Olive-tree Warbler, Woodchat Shrike and Subalpine Warbler. Among the iff Iva r s rvoi 2 rese On the other side of the main road, butterflies, Little Tiger Blue and Sandy Grizzled Skipper often rest on Two specialists of cliffs the dirt track leads down to the stones in the grassland. that ou are likel to A 3 rd 4 Arda river, where there is a big col- see on this route: the a 1 vulture centre ony of Bee-eaters. Look for Grecian Continue to the village of Borislavtsi and be careful as the road Griffon Vulture (top) 0 2 KM Copper and Lattice Brown in the is in bad condition. Drive through the village (Spanish Sparrows and the Blue Rock MADZHAROVO open patches between the trees. 6breed in the Stork’s nests) and stop at the first bridge. Scan the marshy Thrush (bottom).
crossbill guides • eastern rhodopes practical part crossbill guides • eastern rhodopes practical part