The Island of St. John near Sozopol is now home to a colony of European Shag

St. Ivan Island again proves that it is an exceptional place of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
Every year ca. 500 pairs of yellow-legged gulls breed on the cliffs of the islands St.John and St. Peter. This is the largest and probably the only remaining natural colony of this species in Bulgaria. Today after a visit of the area, the team of Natural-history museum Burgas is happy to announce that St. Ivan Island is now home to another colonial species.

On the cliffs several pairs of European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) have built nests and some birds can now incubate the first eggs. Last year a message of one observed a nest of this species on the southern coast appeared in the local media, but without exact location. Today we know for sure, where will build the new colony of European Shag - a species highly vulnerable and endangered, included in the Red Book of Bulgaria.

We ask the residents and visitors of Sozopol, who decided to visit the island of St.John, not to disturb the birds. Please, do not drive them away from their new home.

The species is very rare and poses no threat to the local fishermen. In Bulgaria only about 150 pairs reproduce on the steep cliffs of Cape Shabla and Kaliakra.
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