Red-necked Grebe

(Podiceps nigricollis)

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

Population size: 2020: 35-79 pairs (2007: 30–70 pairs)

Distribution pattern

With isolated breeding habitats along the Danube River, locally in the Thracian Plain and along the Black Sea coast. The most significant and permanent breeding sites are in the wetlands along the Danube River.

Population estimation for the period 2013 – 2020: During the period 2013-2020, the species was not established in 14 squares, where it was observed before the year 2013. Deterioration of the habitats explains the disappearance of the species. During the current research, confirmed breeding sites of the species are the Hadji Dimitrovo fishponds, the Persina Nature Park, the Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Area, the Garvansko Blato, the Malak Preslavets Swamp and the Srebarna Lake.

Population size in Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000: 35-79 pairs (100% of the population). The highest numbers have been registered in the SPAs “Belene Islands Complex” (30-50 pairs), “Kalimok Complex” (0-15 pairs) and “Srebarna Lake” (4-8 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

Wetlands of various sizes with relatively advanced succession stage and surface heavily covered with hydrophilic and hydrophilic vegetation: marshes and non – marine waters (standing fresh waters and standing brackish waters).

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Threats

Drainage of wetlands, changes in the water levels and in the hydrological regime of water bodies during the breeding season, disturbance.

Svilen Chesmedjiev, Irina Kostadinova