site.btaBirds in Bulgaria's Agricultural Land Continue to Decrease Dramatically

Birds in Bulgaria's agricultural land continue to decrease at a dramatic pace, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) found in a study on common bird species, published on Wednesday.

The subjects of the study include 19 species of birds inhabiting agricultural land. Between 2005 and 2023, their total population contracted by 42%. The quail (-77%), the corn bunting (-67%) and the skylark (-52%) are among the most considerably decreasing species since 2005.

The main reasons for the decline are intense farming, grassland ploughing, stubble clearing, windbreak removal and the use of pesticides and herbicides. In the case of quails, unregulated hunting is another factor. Insectivorous birds decrease more rapidly than granivorous ones, said Yordan Hristov, Chief of Monitoring at BSPB. This is probably due to declining insect populations in open spaces as a result of using pesticides and clearing shrubs.

The common cuckoo, so easily recognizable by its call, is on the wane too, Hristov said. The house sparrow and the barn swallow are also among the declining species.

Overall, the BSPB study covers 78 common bird species across Bulgaria out of a total of 250-260 ones that breed in the country. They are divided into four groups based on the dynamics of their respective populations between 2005 and 2023. About 26% of them have declining populations, another 23% have growing populations, 22% have steady (basically unchanging) populations, and 29% cannot be defined as belonging to any of the above groups.

Bird species with growing populations include the common wood pigeon, the pheasant and the blue tit. Steady populations include those of the jay, the collared dove, the common blackbird and the chaffinch.

Forest birds have increased by 68% since 2005. The study includes 12 forest bird species, among them the common wood pigeon, the chaffinch, the jay and the common blackbird.

BSPB called on people to join the regular nationwide bird count. The demand for bird spotters is particularly big in Southwestern Bulgaria. Applicants are asked to register at smartbirds.org.