Andon Darakchiev (1934-2018) – a prominent worker of Bulgarian ornithology
Zlatozar N. Boev*
National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
1, Blvd. Tsar Osvoboditel, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
*E-mail: boev@nmnhs.com, zlatozarboev@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8049-7509
Abstract. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andon Iliev Darakchiev (1934–2018) was a prominent Bulgarian ornithologist whose career at Plovdiv University shaped generations of biologists and contributed substantially to national avifaunal research. He founded the university’s ornithological collection, taught key zoological disciplines, and authored widely used textbooks and field guides. His study of the Chernatitsa Ridge remains a landmark work for the Western Rhodopes. Darakchiev published over 100 scientific and popular-science papers, containing valuable data on bird biology, ecology, and distribution. As founder of the university’s Ornithology Circle, he supervised numerous theses and inspired future specialists in bird conservation. His contributions also supported the designation of several protected areas. This article provides a biographical overview and the most complete bibliography of his works to date.
Keywords: Andon Darakchiev, avifauna research, bird conservation, Bulgarian ornithology, ornithological bibliography, Plovdiv University
