Bulgaria
Bulgarian Bird Ringing Scheme is run by the Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (BOC), which (1) coordinates the use of bird ringing as a scientific method in all studies on wild birds in the country; (2) conducts research focused on migration, biology, ecology, behaviour, monitoring and conservation of birds; (3) trains people in bird ringing and promotes bird-related scientific knowledge among the general public; (4) provides expertise in the field of ornithology to governmental bodies, non-governmental and other organizations.
More than 865,000 birds of about 300 species have been ringed to date in Bulgaria since 1928 when bird ringing was launched for the first time in the country. Bird ringing in Bulgaria faced numerous ups and downs during these 90+ years of history, from the very first five birds ringed (three Squacco Herons and two Little Egrets) to the current figures of ca. 30,000 birds ringed annually and nearly 40 colour ring projects.
Within EURING, BOC was deeply involved in the Eurasian African Bird Migration Atlas project since it was launched in late 2018. BOC took responsibility in completing the accounts for 75 out of all 300 focal bird species covered by the Atlas – writing the texts describing and interpreting their movement patterns.
Our sincere thanks go to all ringers, their helpers and scheme supporters who contributed – mostly on a voluntary basis – to the Bulgarian Bird Ringing Scheme over the years. Nearly 1,000 ringers have been listed so far in the country.
From the very beginning, the Bulgarian Bird Ringing Scheme has been operated by the Bulgarian Ornithological Centre which was formally established in 1932. It has been hosted first by the Royal Natural History Institutes, then (after the reorganization of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the late 1940s) by one of their successors – the Institute of Zoology. Currently (since 2010) it is part of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research.
Contact the scheme: ring.bgs@gmail.com