You can see them if you are travelling to the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, right after passing Burgas… They fly, overhead, in large flocks, to take shelter near Atanassovsko Lake and the protected area “Poda” to the north and to the south of Burgas. The exhibition “Feathers and Lakes” displayed along Lovers’ Bridge by the National Palace of Culture showed the wonderful world of the myriad of species which have made the wetlands near Burgas their home. The exhibition is organised by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSBP) under the “Salt of Life” LIFE+ project, jointly with the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation and the Black Sea salterns.

“The lakes and the wetlands as a whole are home to a great number of animal species,” Emilia Yankova from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds says. “The wetlands we present – Atanassovsko Lake and the protected area “Poda” are habitats of many birds. The “Feathers and Lakes” exhibition shows stunning landscapes from Bulgaria, which are very close to us, though most people are not aware they even exist. These areas are easily accessible and even very close to our own homes. “Poda” and Atanassovsko Lake are in the immediate vicinity of Burgas. People who go to the Black Sea Coast or live nearby can visit them and see the magnificent nature, but also interesting bird and animal species.”

Atanassovsko Lake changes the colour of its water as if by magic from cold blue-green nuances to warm pink-crimson at the end of the summer, thanks to the Brine shrimp, the Magnesium and eutrophication. Due to the great number of fresh water pools around the lake, the humid grassland near its shores and the marshy vegetation, the lake offers many habitable areas and enough food.

“The interesting thing about Atanassovsko Lake is the fact that it is the largest saltern in Bulgaria,” Emilia Yankova points out. “For more than 100 years the salt has been extracted here in a traditional way. Far from harming the numerous species here, the extraction creates good conditions for hundreds of bird species to nest, using dikes and levees. There are approximately 300 bird species here, or almost 65 per cent of all birds in Bulgaria. The same is true of the protected area “Poda”, which has been the responsibility of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds since 1989. “Poda” covers an area a little over one square kilometer. Along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast line, the Eurasian spoonbill, the Glossy ibis, The Pygmy cormorant are endemic to this place. They nest on the utility poles. There are also six types of herons here. At the exhibition people can see some of these species as well as the Dalmatian pelican and the Eurasian kingfisher, which are endangered species globally.”

The “Poda” protected area also offers birdwatching opportunities:

 “At “Poda” there is a Nature Conservation Center which is open to visitors all year round, offering interesting activities for children and adults. There is an interactive exhibition, which showcases the lakes and its dwellers. Visitors here are able to take walks if they choose to. There are beautiful sights here all year round.”

If this article has intrigued you, you could go to Burgas itself and see the wonderful world of birds and the pyramids of “white gold” (salterns) on the spot:

 “That is our aim – to attract the attention of passers-by and invite them to come to the actual place birds nest and see these two lovely places. Now, at the end of the summer, birds are gathering in order to fly south. If you are in “Poda”, you can watch the migration overhead. It is the place they gather to take the migration route Via Pontica - the second largest in Europe.”

English version: Atina Dimitrova