Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Mass death of small songbirds reported to Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre

New Year's Eve fireworks and crackers kill nearly 600 bramblings near the town of Koprivshtitsa 

Birds died of stress, necropsy shows

Photo: Wildlife Rescue Centre - Green Balkans

On the first day of the new year 2025, the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre found a total of 606 Bramblings (Fringilla montifringilla), of which 591 were dead. 

Information about the disaster was received at noon on 1 January, when concerned citizens reported a mass death of small songbirds near Koprivshtitsa. A team from the environmental organisation went to the scene and found hundreds of dead and injured bramblings. The necropsy of the dead birds showed that they had died of stress, with massive haemorrhages in the abdominal cavity and skull. The stress was caused by the thunderous fireworks and crackers on New Year's Eve.

The brambling is a bird species protected under the Bulgarian Biodiversity Act.

Many other birds and animals have also died in populated areas of Bulgaria as a result of the noisy celebrations. Numerous cases of frightened and lost pets were reported on social media.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Expect scorching temperatures and a light breeze

It will be clear across the country tonight, with a light easterly breeze in eastern Bulgaria. Expect another hot and sunny day, with temperatures reaching 35–40 °C. Later in the day, a cold atmospheric front will move in from the west,..

published on 6/26/25 7:05 PM
Photo: Municipality of Karnobat / Facebook

A large fire is burning near Karnobat, the BG-Alert system to be activated

A large fire stretching about 10 kilometers is burning east of the town of Karnobat, Burgas district, reported the mayor of Karnobat Municipality Georgi Dimitrov. Due to strong winds, extinguishing the fire is difficult, said BNR’s correspondent..

published on 6/26/25 6:10 PM

A culinary festival in Chepelare marks the start of the summer mountain tourist season

A vibrant and free-entry event will mark the beginning of the summer mountain tourist season in the Rhorope town of Chepelare. Starting on June 27 at 6:00 pm in Olympic Square, the festival will offer a combination of traditional Rhodope cuisine and..

published on 6/26/25 5:57 PM