Despite occupying a relatively small area, 265 bird species have been observed in the protected area Poda.
46 bird species nest in the area and it is the only location on the Black Sea Coast with a mixed heron breeding colony of spoonbill, glossy ibis, purple heron, grey heron, night heron, great white egret and little egret.
Other species breeding in the area are marsh harriers, common terns and little terns, and great cormorants - which have forsaken their usual breeding sites in reed beds and made their nests in the abandoned electrical pylons in the area.
Its rich biodiversity is attributed to the three different types of water habitats it contains - brackish, fresh, and hyper-saline salt water.
During the winter months in the bay at Poda, pygmy cormorants, a globally endangered species, rest at Poda.
Other endangered species in the area at this time are Dalmatian pelicans and white-headed ducks.
They share the bay with thousands of coots, pochards, and other ducks.
Poda is located along Europe's second largest bird migration route, the Via Pontica.
Annually, 75% of the European white stork population (over 250,000), 100% of the white pelican population (over 40,000) and thousands of raptors, waterfowl and song birds can be observed during the months of migration in March-April and August-September.

Other rare species of note in the protected area include Bulgaria's largest snake, the four-lined rat-snake (Elaphe sauromates); Europe's smallest mammal, the pygmy white toothed shrew; nutria, which are not native to the area; and a worldwide endangered European otter.
Despite occupying a relatively small area, 265 bird species have been observed in the protected area Poda. 46 bird species nest in the area and it is the only location on the Black Sea Coast with a mixed heron breeding colony of spoonbill, glossy ibis, purple heron, grey heron, night heron, great white egret and little egret. Other species breeding in the area are marsh harriers, common terns and little terns, and great cormorants - which have forsaken their usual breeding sites in reed beds and made their nests in the abandoned electrical pylons in the area. Its rich biodiversity is attributed to the three different types of water habitats it contains - brackish, fresh, and hyper-saline salt water. During the winter months in the bay at Poda, pygmy cormorants, a globally endangered species, rest at Poda. Other endangered species in the area at this time are Dalmatian pelicans and white-headed ducks. They share the bay with thousands of coots, pochards, and other ducks. Poda is located along Europe's second largest bird migration route, the Via Pontica. Annually, 75% of the European white stork population (over 250,000), 100% of the white pelican population (over 40,000) and thousands of raptors, waterfowl and song birds can be observed during the months of migration in March-April and August-September.
Other rare species of note in the protected area include Bulgaria's largest snake, the four-lined rat-snake (Elaphe sauromates); Europe's smallest mammal, the pygmy white toothed shrew; nutria, which are not native to the area; and a worldwide endangered European otter.
Poda Protected Area