Millions of birds migrate annually along the Via Pontica, a vital aerial corridor connecting Europe and Africa through Bulgaria.

The Via Pontica is the second largest bird migration route in Europe, stretching from the Russian plains and Scandinavia down to sub-Saharan Africa. It passes directly over the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, where unique topography creates powerful thermal air currents. Large soaring birds like the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and various eagles cannot sustain flight over open water because thermals do not form above the sea. Instead, they follow the coastline to stay aloft while expending minimal energy.According to data from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), nearly 75% of the European White Stork population and 100% of the Great White Pelican population use this specific corridor. During peak migration in August and September, observers at the Poda Protected Area near Burgas regularly record over 30,000 birds in a single day. The route functions as a network of vital stopover sites, including the Atanasovsko, Mandra, and Vaya lakes.These wetlands provide essential food and rest for birds to complete a journey exceeding 12,000 kilometers. Ornithologists have tracked these movements using satellite transmitters to confirm that birds from as far as Poland and Germany converge at this Bulgarian bottleneck. Protecting this corridor is essential for global biodiversity, as it serves over 400 different bird species. The Via Pontica remains a primary focus for international conservation efforts under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.