Climate change is one of the reasons why Atanasovsko lake has become a home for unusual species that were rare and exotic only a few years ago. This is the case with the flamingo, which in autumn reached a record of 66 birds in South Atanasovsko Lake. Yes, the future that is set is pink, but is it really pink ?!
BSPB ornithologists who monitor the status of the birds in the lagoon and their influence on the activities carried out under the "Salt of Life" project presented an analysis of the data collected in recent years. A comparison was made with the period until 2003, when data were collected by the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Program (whose successor is the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation). Now the number of birds breeding in the lake has increased from 62 to 86 species, but the lake is no longer the only home for 4 species, as it has been until then. The little black-headed gull now does not breed in the lake, unlike the Common tern, which has a record for the last 26 years.
Birds are an important indicator of the state of the environment, but it is important to monitor the impact of other activities that take place around the lake, such as pollution from farmland, fires in surrounding areas, the serious presence of more than 10 carnivores, etc.
Measures against the effects of floods have been discussed on the basis of the experience of the latter one in the Bourgas region on 25 October 2017. The benefit of preventive monitoring is very large and has prevented human casualties, so Municipality of Burgas plans to extend the early warning system and to include new points, including Atanasovsko Lake. Since December 2016, the flood risk management plan has been in place, showing maps of areas with significant flood potential. Unfortunately, they were prepared on a database before 2013, which is the beginning of the period with large floods in the Burgas region.
A serious debate has prompted the theme of predators in the lake and the measures that need to be taken to reduce their impact on breeding birds.
The Salt of Life team received a high score for cleaning the by-pass channel, which is already ready for 77% and remains 5 more kilometers until its final cleaning. In August, the largest bird breeding island was completed, where nature conservationists hope to nest Dalmatian pelicans. At that time, the new space of Atanasovsko Lake was opened - "symBiotic" near the lye and mud pools in which the inhabitants and guests of the city of Burgas have the opportunity to get to know the history of Atanasovsko Lake as an important natural territory and a place for salt extraction. Visitor monitoring during the summer season showed over 250,000 visitors to the Salt Trail.
A special interactive map was created for the Atanasovsko lake, which contains detailed information about the protected areas and all the opportunities the lake offers as routes, bird watching, sports, photography and health.
The next event to gather the members of the Public Council for Atanasovsko Lake is the celebration of Atanasovden, who will gather for the third year the participants in the half-marathon Atanasovsko Lake - from the Marine Casino to the borders of the reserve - running and cycling, but on 21 January 2018.
