site.btaLukoil Neftochim Burgas Site Home to Over 170 Bird Species

More than 170 bird species have been recorded on the grounds of Lukoil Neftochim Burgas, Irina Kirova of the Green Balkans environmental group said on Saturday.

Of the bird species recorded, over 70 are listed in Bulgaria’s Red Data Book, and more than 150 are protected under the Biological Diversity Act. Over half of the observed species are also safeguarded by the European Union’s Birds Directive.

Survey results point to a high level of bird species diversity at the site. The research combines field observations with reference to academic sources and long-term databases compiled by leading experts and conservation groups, Kirova noted.

Among the emblematic species found in the area is the lesser kestrel, one of just four or five breeding locations for the species nationwide. According to experts, these findings mark the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas site as a vital habitat for rare birds.

The diversity of species is due to the site’s location, adjacent to the Burgas Lake protected area, part of the NATURA 2000 ecological network, and intersected by the Aytoska River. Artificial lakes on the site offer nesting, resting, and feeding habitats for waterfowl. The area is also situated beneath the Via Pontica migratory route, Europe’s second largest, regularly attracting migrating and wintering bird flocks and supporting ornithological diversity.

Other birdlife present at the site includes storks, herons, pelicans, geese, eagles, and various birds of prey. Conservation efforts are further supported by hunting restrictions in the area.