Great Reed Warbler

(Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 20 000 – 40 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy and dispersed distribution over the larger part of the plain areas of the country. More densely along the Danube River and in the Danubian Plain, in the Thracian Plain, the lowland areas along the Tundzha River Valley, along the Black Sea coast, in the Sofia Field, etc. With more dispersed nesting localities in Dobrudzha, Ludogorie and in some semi – mountainous or forested areas (Eastern Rhodopes, Sakar, Strandzha), along the valleys of most of the inland rivers and on most of the inland water bodies overgrown with reeds (Phragmites australis).

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds in various water bodies, overgrown with Phragmites australis (rarely Typha sp.), especially in bogs and marshes and in permanent or temporary wetlands of various sizes with standing fresh waters, standing brackish waters, running waters, including former riverbeds and artificial water bodies – fishponds, canals, micro-dams and dams, quarry swamps, etc. Particularly numerous population in massifs of tall perennial reeds mixed with old stems and in deeper waters (0.5–1.4 m). Single pairs rarely may breed in reed beds in dry, waterless sites. It also breeds in reeds in coastal lagoons, in towns, villages, industrial sites (including in marshy areas in public parks and large gardens and in overgrown with vegetation industrial water bodies.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed