State: DobrichArea: 1451,15 ха
Ownership: state - 6%; municipality - 40%; private - 54%;
Description:
Chairya is one of the few preserved pastures with semi-natural steppe vegetation in the Dobrudzha. It is located at about 12 km north-east of the town of Dobrich, south of the road to General Toshevo. It is small plain, locked between the villages of General Kolevo, Plenimir and Metodievo. In winter and spring temporarily flooded areas form in the site’s northern part and in rainy years they stay until the end of June.
Birds:
The site’s international importance is determined by the fact, that in winter the temporarily flooded plots and the adjacent areas hold considerable numbers of waterfowl that concentrate to feed there, like the White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, wintering in the region in huge numbers. During the breeding season the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus breeds in the area and Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus regularly feed there. Both species are sharply declining in the recent years and are expected to be included in the list of globally threatened species.
Threats:
The area is sensitive mainly by changing the traditional land use as a pasture to arable land. Disturbance and hunting on staging waterfowl by the local people is the most serious direct threat to birds.
Legal protection:
The area is not protected by the national nature conservation law. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
