Área: 37,68 ха
Propiedad: state - 73%; municipality - 27%;
Descripción:
Konush reservoir is located immediately next to the village of Konush, 15 km north-east of the town of Asenovgrad. To the south and west it is surrounded by farmland. To the east it borders on a dirt road and the agricultural yard of the village. The wall of the reservoir is set in its northern part. The open water mirror occupies the bigger part of the reservoir. Two small rivers flow into its southern part and form a marshy area. It is overgrown with water-fringe vegetation mainly of reed mace Typha sp.. Old willows Salix sp. and poplars Populus sp. grow among the reed mace and farther on the bank. In spring, by the end of May, the willow section is flooded.
Aves:
In different periods of the year 114 bird species have been established at Konush reservoir, 21 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 42 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 3 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 9 in SPEC 2 and 31 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The reservoir is of global importance for the Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, which regularly occurs there on migration and in winter. Certain pairs of Pygmy Cormorant stay until late spring and are likely to nest there if they are not disturbed or chased. Two other globally threatened species occur in the area – Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca during migration and Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus during the winter. One of the biggest colonies of Night Heron Nycticoraх nycticoraх in the country, mixed with Little Egret Egretta garzetta, is to be found there. Konush Reservoir is one of the most important areas in the country on a European Union scale for these two species. The area holds one of the most significant wintering populations in the country of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, as well as representative populations of Great White Egret Egretta alba and the Shoveler Anas clypeata during the winter.
Amenazas:
Konush reservoir is situated close to an urban area, which is used very intensively by local people. The small territory of the reservoir and the easy open access to it makes the territory vulnerable to all kind of human activities. The following activities have direct disturbance on birds – hunting, leisure fishing, car traffic, illegal hunting and fishing by floating nets, as well as entering the colony area during the breeding season. Cutting of old trees and afforestation with non-native species cause direct loss of the breeding habitat for the heron colony and roosting site of Pygmy Cormorant. Intensification of the agriculture, especially use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as inflow of the wastewater from the village without proper treatment cause change of chemical and micro-biological composition into the reservoir and deterioration of water habitats. Burning of reedbeds also affects the quality of habitats used by cormorants and herons, as well as direct persecution to birds. Illegal waste deposits have appeared around the reservoir in recent years, changing the quality of habitats and plant composition there.
La protección legal:
So far, the territory of the heron colony in Konush reservoir is under legal protection as protected area. The “Ayazmoto” protected area covers about 10% of the reservoir. Access to it is limited during the breeding season. In 1997 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. In 1998 it was designated also as CORINE Site because of its European value for threatened bird species.
