Little Egret

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

Population size: 2020: 319 – 1 019 pairs (2007: 1 400 – 2 000 pairs)

Distribution pattern

Breeds on the islands in the Danube River and in different types of wetlands – lakes, swamps, fishponds and dams. With grouped and dispersed distribution along the Danube River, the Upper Thracian Plain, and the Burgas Wetlands and along the Arda River. With occasional breeding sites in the Sofia Field. Often non-breeding individuals can be registered in other regions of the country.

Population estimation for the period 2013 – 2020: During the period 2013 – 2020, the species was not found in 42 squares, where it was found before the year 2013. Deterioration in some of the habitats explains the disappearance, as well as the negative trend in the breeding population of the species in the last ten years. New nests have been registered in 13 squares.

Population size in Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000: 212-742 pairs (67-73% of the population). The highest numbers are registered in the Special Protection Areas “Konush Reservoir” (60-240 pairs), “Srebarna” (50-205 pairs), and the “Belene Islands Complex” (40-60 pairs).

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 water-fringe vegetation in bogs and marshes, in alluvial and riverine forests and brush, including in groups of willows and other trees in the shallow parts of micro-dams, in former riverbeds, etc.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Threats

Drainage of wetlands, loss of breeding habitats, changes in the water levels and in the hydrological regime of water bodies during the breeding season, disturbance, poaching, illegal logging, and unregulated forestry practices. 

Svilen Chesmedjiev, Vladimir Mladenov, Petar Shurulinkov