.
The avifauna of the region is also diverse and abounds with species of conservational significance, such as the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), and the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Because of the National and European significance of the area as an Important Bird Area, the region has been declared a Protected Area, in accordance with the Birds Directive of the European Union.
The region is part of the Via Pontica migratory route. Migrant birds cross the eastern Stara Planina ridge, which is the smallest and easiest barrier. Storks and pelicans often fly over Banya village. Raptors use the woods for resting and feeding. The cliffs near by the Emine Protected Zone and the Black Sea littoral are one of the few places in Bulgaria where the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) still occurs. The Emine Protected Zone is one of the most impotrtant cites in the EU for this specie, and for the Olive-tree Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum), the Woodlark (Lullula arborea), the Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata), the Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius), the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), the Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes), the Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleshanka), the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and the Little Tern (Sterna albifrons). In the winter a great number of the Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica), the Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), among other waterfowl, gather together in the littoral.
The woods attract the European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), the Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), the European Roller (Coracias garrulus), the Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), the Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus), the Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius), the Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra), the Woodlark (Lullula arborea), the Olive-tree Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum), the Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) and the Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata). They nest in trees, shrubs on the outskirts of the woods, or select high rocky spots.
Birds of prey however, are exceptional, and are usually seen here only as strays or when migrating. Common birds at the Centre include: House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia f.domestica), European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Common Magpie (Pica pica), Rook (Corvus frugilegus), Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Common House Martin (Delichon urbica). The species Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) may gather in numbers on the outskirts of the village during their migration.
Abandoned fruit trees along country roads and in outlying areas are preferable for the Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), the Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus), the Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius), and the Woodlark (Lullula arborea). These are tollerant of humans and may be seen in yards and gardens in Banya village.
Common birds
Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius)
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus orientalis)
Olive-tree Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum)
Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
Woodchat Grey Shrike (Lanius senator)
the Black-headed subspecies of Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)
Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)
Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana)
Sombre Tit (Poecile lugubris)
Common migratory birds
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
European Bee-eater (Мerops apiaster)
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Directive 79/409/EEC Birds, Appendix I
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius)
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)
Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana)
Lesser Gey Shrike (Lanius minor)
Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)
Semi-collared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquatа)
Olive-tree Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum)
Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes)
Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)