The 'Pirin Mountains' Important Bird Area (IBA) covers a total area of 79,245.15 hectares and includes not only the 'Pirin' National Park, but also the 'Orelyak' Nature Reserve, as well as large areas of adjacent unprotected land in the central and southern regions of the Pirin Mountains.Some 129 species of birds have been recorded breeding in the 'Pirin Mountains' Important Bird Area, of which 44 species are designated by BirdLife International as being of European conservation concern (SPEC). These include: 1 species of bird classified as SPEC 1 (species of global conservation concern), 13 species of bird classified as SPEC 2 (species with global populations concentrated in Europe and having an unfavourable conservation status in Europe) and 30 species of birds classified as SPEC 3 (species with global populations concentrated outside Europe but having an unfavourable conservation status in Europe).
