Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
that can be encountered in the Park in different seasons is in excess of 180; of these,
no fewer than 97 are nesting (nesting-migratory or permanently residing) birds. At
least 58 species of birds stop at RMNP during annual migration or cross its territory
in their periodic roamings. The Park provides much-needed sanctuary to a small
number (five) of species of very high conservation significance, which enter its
airspace and seek food in its territory, including during the nesting season. These
include Gyps fulvus, Aegypius monachus, Aquila heliaca and, possibly, the small
Hieraaetus pennatus. Only two of the species known as having inhabiting the Park’s
territory have not been sighted there in the past 5 years - Bearded vulture Gypaetus
barbatus and Greater spotted eagle Aquila clanga.
Twenty-seven species are represented in RMNP by 1-5% of their nation-wide
populations; at least five species, by 6-10% of their nation-wide populations, and at
least six species, by 10-15% of their nation-wide populations. Two species are either
endemic to the Park or have in it one of maximum two nesting sites known in
Bulgaria. These are Lanner (Falco biarmicus) and Scarlet Rosefinch (Carpodacus
erythrynus).
Rila Monastery Nature Park is of particular significance for the conservation of a
number of bird species, notably Hazel Grouse, the mountain partridge, the
capercaillie, the pygmy and Tengmalm’s оwl, the black and white-backed
woodpecker, Red-breasted Flycatcher, as well as the bird species making up the
alpine biome (the wall creeper, Alpine Accentor and Alpine Chough). In most cases
these species are represented to the Park territory by over 5% of their nation-wide
populations.
For more details about the groups of birds inhabiting RMNP and the proportions of
their nation-wide populations represented in it, see Appendix 21.
The territories within the Park that are richest in bird species include the Rila
Monastery Forest Reserve, the Radovichka River area, the areas around Ribni Lakes,
Kalin Dam, the Iliyna River Valley, and Bukovo Berdo.
Mammals. A total of 52 mammal species are represented in RMNP; they are divided
into three main groups: bats, small mammals and large mammals (Appendix 20).
Bats (Chiroptera). So far, 15 species of bat have been identified in the territory of
RMNP, which is 50 percent of the total number of bat species known in Bulgaria, and
45 percent of all bat species in Europe. The largest concentrations of bat species can
be found in the Rila Monastery Forest Reserve: nine species in all, five of which are
endangered on a world scale.
Small mammals. That group comprises 20 species in all represented in the Park’s
territory: six of the order Insectivora, one of the order Lagomorpha, and 13 of the
order Rodentia. Most of the small mammals encountered in the Park belong to either
common or numerous species inhabiting their typical places of habitation. Also
notable is the large population of common hare (Lepus europaeus), ubiquitous in the
high-mountain meadows and pastures, venturing out mostly at night to feed.
Observations of the established colonies of Chionomys nivalis on the northern rocky
slopes of Rila Monastery Forest Reserve, at Mermera Peak and at Elevation 2000,
along the upper course of the Iliyna River, south of Theodossievi Karauli Peak, have
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan -Draft
2004 - 2013
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