Paddyfield Warbler

(Acrocephalus agricola)

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

Population size: 2020: 82-153 pairs (2007: 50-80 pairs)

Distribution pattern

With very limited distribution, mainly in the Durankulak and the Shabla lakes (with Shabla Tuzla) and with isolated, probably temporary breeding sites in the Srebarna Lake, the Atanasovsko Lake and possibly some wetlands along the southern Black Sea coast. 

Population estimation for the period 2013 – 2020: During the period 2013-2020 the species was not established in two squares, for which there are data for irregular breeding before the year 2013 – the Srebarna Lake and the Atanasovsko Lake. No new breeding sites have been identified.

Population size in Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000: 50-85 pairs (100% of the population). At present, the only confirmed breeding sites in the country are at “Durankulak Lake” SPA (40-65 pairs) and “Shabla Lake Complex” SPA (10-20 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 coastal bogs and marshes, in water fringe vegetation, especially in sparse reed massifs of Phragmites australis with small height and thin stems. In the Durankulak and Shabla lakes, mainly keeps to the fringe (about 30-50 m wide) of the reed massifs, close to the sand dunes, less often to arable land. Breeds in the reeds on the shores of the Shablanska Tuzla and the Atanasovsko Lake, which are lagoons.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Threats

Drainage of wetlands, burning and mowing of reeds near water bodies.

Mikhail Iliev, Vladimir Mladenov