An expert team from the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia took part in the monitoring for the reporting to the European Commission under the Birds Directive for 2025

At the end of September 2025, an expert team from the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), in partnership with the Executive Agency for the Environment (EEA) and the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW), successfully completed a large-scale study and data collection for the preparation of an assessment of the status of 314 species of breeding birds included in the National Biodiversity Monitoring System (NBMSB). This large-scale study at the national level was the subject of reporting to the European Commission under Art. 12 of the Birds Directive. According to Art. 12 of the Birds Directive and Art. 17 of the Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora Directive, Member States are obliged to periodically report to the European Commission on the implementation of national provisions relating to the two Directives, including measures for the protection of birds and their environment, the conservation status of natural habitat types and the maintenance of populations of wild fauna and flora at a favourable state. The European Commission, in turn, prepares summary reports that assess the implementation of the Directives in the European Union.

The activities with the subject “Field surveys of breeding bird species and preparation of reports pursuant to Art. 12 of the Birds Directive” were carried out under a contract with the EEA. Within the framework of the study, conducted between April and October 2024, 63 scientists and experts, including 47 field ornithologists and collaborators, worked on the organization and conduct of field observations, control over the application of the methodologies and analysis of the collected data. During this period alone, over 2,400 man-days of fieldwork were carried out at 422 monitoring sites in the country. 248 species of breeding birds were studied, and 134,415 records were entered into the database, including 5,531 white stork nests. In the period 2019—2024, the total database already has more than 1.8 million records, including information on threats and impacts on birds. As a result of the studies conducted, the status of a total of 314 bird species in the country was reported, for which 469 assessments were prepared. For the first time, estimates of the breeding populations of the red-billed grebe (Netta rufina) and the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) are presented, as well as evidence of the breeding in our country of new species such as the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and the bellbird (Bucephala clangula), as well as the return of the common crane (Grus grus) as a breeding species. At the same time, for two species — the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and the white-necked flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) — no breeding has been recorded in the country. The slender-billed warbler (Numenius tenuirostris), which was declared globally extinct in 2024, was also not recorded for the reporting period.

Short-term population trends for the period 2013—2024 indicate that nearly 38% of the breeding species in our country have stable populations, and 22% are increasing. Population declines were reported for 16.3% of species (41 species). The most significant increases were seen in the black vulture (Aegypius monachus), which is being reintroduced, the lesser spotted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the wood pigeon (Columba oenas) and the mute swan (Cygnus olor).

At the same time, a worrying short-term trend of decline of over 50% was reported in the common wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), the rockhopper (Tichodroma muraria), the magpie (Pica pica), the quail (Coturnix coturnix), the moorhen (Cinclus cinclus), the black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), the grey bunting (Emberiza calandra), etc.

In the long term, in the period 1980—2024, a decrease in populations was observed in 25.5% of species (64 species). An increase was registered in 25.9% of species (65 species), and in 27.9% (70 species) the breeding populations were stable. The populations of the imperial, lesser and white-tailed eagles, black and griffon vultures, mute swans, red-tailed hawks, white-fronted shrikes, etc. show a long-term increase in the country. The most serious decrease was registered in the capercaillie, Egyptian vulture, peregrine falcon, evening kestrel, meadow pipit and Thracian partridge.

In the migratory bird species, differences in the size of populations compared to the previous report were registered in 80 of the species, and such were also reported in 68 of the wintering species.

These results form the basis of the national reporting to the European Commission under the Birds Directive and provide valuable information and a more complete picture of the state of bird fauna in Bulgaria. They will support the effective management of the Natura 2000 network and the planning of future measures for the conservation of endangered species and their habitats.

The reporting process under the two directives takes place every six years and provides up-to-date information on the state of biodiversity in our country. The two reports cover the period 2019—2024.

The commitment of Bulgaria and the other Member States to report under the two nature conservation directives is based on a consensus that the conservation of bird species and natural habitats and priority species on European territory is necessary to achieve the Community’s sustainable development objectives and is a common responsibility of all Member States.