Acrocephalus 33 (154/155): 181−189, 2012 10.2478/v10100-012-0005-9 An overview of monitoring for raptors in Bulgaria Pregled monitoringa populacij ptic roparic v Bolgariji Svetoslav Spasov, Volen Arkumarev, Dobromir Dobrev & Vladimir Dobrev Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds / BirdLife Bulgaria, P.O. Box 50, BG–1111 Sofia, Bulgaria, e–mail: [email protected] Since 1990, nature conservation NGOs are the main players in the running of nation-wide research and monitoring schemes for raptors in Bulgaria. Among them, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and Green Balkans are most active, covering the most threatened diurnal raptors in the country. The key species covered by comprehensive monitoring schemes are the Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, Black Vulture Aegypius monachus, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug and Red-footed Falcon F. vespertinus. Information on their distribution, numbers, breeding success, productivity, diet, movements etc. is gathered on annual basis. The Buzzard Buteo buteo and Kestrel F. tinnunculus are also regularly monitored at the national level by the Common Bird Monitoring scheme. Distribution of all raptor species has been studied for the purpose of the Atlas of Breeding Birds in Bulgaria. The contemporary satellite telemetry methods revealed important aspects of movements and threats to eagles and vultures from Bulgaria within the country and abroad. Main threats for the raptors in Bulgaria are related to habitat loss, unnatural mortality and disturbance. The main gaps in raptor monitoring in Bulgaria are related to the lack of coverage of most of the diurnal species and owls. There is a strong national and international cooperation in conjunction with the work concerning Imperial Eagle, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures. However, further enhancement of cooperation on other raptor species and issues such as lobbying for implementation of raptor-friendly agricultural practices and enhancement of various economic sectors are needed. Key words: raptors, monitoring, BSPB, Bulgaria Ključne besede: ptice roparice, monitoring, BSPB, Bolgarija 1. Introduction 1980s, when supplementary feeding sites, maintained by BSPB, were established (Dobrev et al. 2013). So far, 37 diurnal birds of prey have been registered in This consequently resulted in the increase of Griffon Bulgaria, 23 of which breed here regularly (BUNARCO Vultures’ Gyps fulvus population in the Eastern 2009). The interest in raptor species of birds has Rhodopes (Iankov & Profirov 1991, Demerdzhiev always inspired many scientists and conservationists et al. in prep.). Later on, at the beginning of the in Bulgaria (Angelov 2009). For the 1950–2008 1990s, the BSPB established a regular monitoring of period, more than 120 publications dedicated to the all raptor species inhabiting the Eastern Rhodopes research of raptor species can be found in Bulgarian with the support of the Bulgarian–Swiss Biodiversity literature (Mirkov 2009). Till the 1980s, most of the Conservation Programme (Hristov 2000). In recent surveys had been done without planning actions for years, the raptors research techniques and projects the establishment of a long term conservation strategy. in Bulgaria have gone far beyond the faunistic and The first targeted conservation activities were carried purely descriptive studies. New surveys and studies out in Eastern Rhodopes in the beginning of the have been introduced, using modern methods such 181 S. Spasov, V. Arkumarev, D. Dobrev & V. Dobrev: An overview of monitoring for raptors in Bulgaria as satellite tracking, ecological surveys, habitat has established contacts and work actively with several selection research, etc. This involved a great deal of African countries in the conservation of migrating international cooperation, which eventually brought raptors such as Egyptian Vulture and Imperial Eagle. new knowledge and information on many aspects of (Arkumarev et al. 2012, Dobrev et al 2012). the raptors’ ecology and conservation requirements Data collected as part of the monitoring schemes (BSPB 2010 & 2011, Demerdzhiev 2011, Dobrev et and research in various raptor species is used mainly al. 2013, Demerdzhiev et al. in prep.). by NGOs and private companies in environmental impact assessments of investment proposals within 2. Main players Natura 2000 sites or other areas with importance for birds of prey. State authorities have occasionally The Executive Environment Agency (within the requested some data on distribution and number Ministry of Environment and Water) is the state of some birds of prey, but the usage of the available authority responsible for biodiversity monitoring information is scanty. in Bulgaria. The Agency has recently established the National Biodiversity Monitoring System specified 3. National coverage in the Biodiversity Act. However, there is limited capacity among state organizations to implement The BSPB considers seven diurnal raptor species as comprehensive monitoring schemes due to the priority species for monitoring and they are covered small number of experienced fieldworkers and lack at the national level by comprehensive monitoring of suitable funding. At the moment, only National schemes (BSPB 2010 & 2011). There is also a Common Parks directorates are providing some data on selected Bird Monitoring scheme that operates at the national species, but these cover only the park’s territories. level, covering over 100 study plots across the country. The Bulgarian Academy of Science used to play an It provides data for the two most common raptors, important role in the autumn migration monitoring i.e. Buzzard Buteo buteo and Kestrel Falco tinnunculus and studies (Michev & Simeonov 1981). In 1990, (Spasov 2008, Hristov 2011). this activity was virtually taken over by NGOs and Information on the rest of the breeding raptors is private consultancies dealing with Environmental sporadic and localised. The monitoring of migrating Impact Assessments. birds is concentrated mainly in the eastern part of the The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds county, along the Black Sea where the Via Pontica bird (BSPB), the BirdLife International’s partner in migration route is situated. It covers the majority of Bulgaria, is the main organization implementing soaring birds, most of which are raptors (Profirov nation-wide raptor monitoring schemes and research. 1987, Michev et al. 2011). Autumn migration studies Its activities cover the most threatened priority species cover all raptors species passing over the migration and some widespread birds of prey. watchpoints. For some regions, such as the Burgas Three other nature conservation NGOs, the Green area, there is a long-term set of data for migrating Balkans, Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna (FWFF) birds of prey (BSPB 2005). and Birds of Prey Protection Society (BPPS), are also The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Bulgaria covers all implementing regional or local monitoring schemes, breeding or possibly breeding raptor species. It was mostly focused on captive bred Griffon Vultures published in 2008 and is foreseen to be updated every that have been introduced to areas away from their 10 years (Iankov 2007). native population in the Eastern Rhodopes as part of The wintering raptor populations have been restocking programme in Bulgaria (Green Balkans studied for a couple of years, but only the lowland 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2010, Stoynov & Peshev 2011, part (up to 600 m a.s.l.) of Bulgaria has been covered 2012 & 2013). (Nikolov et al. 2006). All raptors are recorded during The BSPB has developed active contacts and the International Waterbird Census (IWC) that takes cooperation with several countries, mostly with place every year in January. This monitoring scheme BirdLife International local partners. The main has been implemented for more than 20 years and has foreign partners are RSPB, MME/BirdLife Hungary, good number of records on raptors wintering near all Doğa Dernegi (BirdLife Partner Designate in Turkey), large wetlands and rivers (over 200; Kostadinova & Hellenic Ornithological Society (BirdLife partner Dereliev 2001). in Greece), WWF Greece, Macedonian Ecological There are regional studies of some owl species Society (MES) and Protection and Preservation of as well, but they are not covered by comprehensive Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA). BSPB monitoring activities (e.g. Shurulinkov & Stoyanov 182 Acrocephalus 33 (154/155): 181−189, 2012 2006, Shurulinkov et al. 2007). minimum with less than 80 pairs in the Balkans Monitoring schemes implemented by BSPB are (Velevski et al. in prep.). well coordinated. There is certain cooperation and The Griffon Vulture population is increasing exchange of information between the BSPB and rapidly with more than 100% population increase in other NGOs, but no coordination between all players the last 10 years. The apparent increase is a result of at the national level has been established as yet. In the improved carrying capacity of the environment order to facilitate the BSPBs network of researchers and the hard efforts of several NGOs working in and fieldworkers scattered across the country, a new the Eastern Rhodopes as well (Demerdzhiev et on-line GIS database has been established. It can be al. in prep.). The first releases under the restocking accessed only by staff members and expert fieldworkers, programme for the species outside the Rhodopes were but there is a website