Danube Delta important bird colonies – 2002

Bondar lake – located nearby Crisan village, the colony is known since 1950. Because of cutting trees the nests are in visible regress. At the present time the colony is polyspeciphic, being compounds by small cormorants, night and yellow herons, small egrets and ibis.

Buhaiova lake – the single common pelicans colony from the area of DDBRA and probably the most important from the west-pale artic region. Located on floating islets. There are yearly moving between Hrecisca and Buhaiova lakes.

Letieni channel (The 2nd Channel) – monospecyphic colony (great cormorants), although few Asio otus species use to be here. Last adding: 1000 pairs;

Cazanel Channel – small group of nests located on few partially dry willows. The great cormorant and the gray heron compound this colony.

The 5th Channel – situated to the S part of Razim Lake, this colony is one of the fewest located on the ground (nest). Almost 100 cormorant pairs are breeding here;

Casla Vadanei Depression – hard access, almost 25 great egret nests located in the reeds spread through arbores cent vegetation.

Ceamurlia – Litcov Channel – discovered in 2001 at the channel crossing. Developed on willows, good maintenance, comprising Ardea cinerea and A. ralloides, Egretta garzetta, Plegadis falcinellus, Platalea leucordia, Casmerodius albus, Nycticorax nycticorax, Phalacrocorax pygmeus.

Climova Lake – spread over 3 km length and 100 m width. Nests on willows, which are almost, dry. Compounds: Ardea cinerea and A. ralloides, Phalacrocorax carbo and P. pygmaeus, Plegadis falcinellus, Nycticorax nycticorax and Egretta garzetta, Platalea leucordia and Casmerodius albus;

Crasnicol – Belciug Lake – aerial observations about this monospeciphic colony, almost one-dimensional. 3000 great cormorants nests;

Cuzmintu Mare Lake – located on willows, comprise 600 nests of great cormorants and 3 pairs of gray heron;

Hrecisca Lake – common pelican colony, concentrated here for nesting. Around 3000 pairs had nest last year;

Hrecisca South Depression – aerial observation about 1200 great cormorant pairs, 600 ibis pairs, 500 yellow heron pairs and 200 small egret pairs;

Limba Levee – located on the channel from the neighborhood, the colony runs over 700 m length. About 1000 breeding pairs of great cormorants;

Lopatna – Eracle Channels – hard access, aerial observations about few species as follows: Phalacrocorax pygmaeus, Ardeola ralloides, Nycticorax nycticorax and Egretta garzetta.

Martinca Lake – the species majority nests in the trees; almost 1000 pairs of great cormorants, 270 pairs of night herons, small egrets, small cormorants, gray herons and red herons compounds this colony;

Nebunu Lake – one of the most important from DDBRA, located in willows. An interest point represent the presence of 8 Bubulcus ibis pairs, species recently observed in Danube Delta. The colony comprise: 1300 pairs of Phalacrocorax pygmaeus, 180 pairs of Plegadis falcinellus, 255 pairs of Ardeola ralloides, 315 pairs of Egretta garzetta, 210 pairs of Nycticorax nycticorax, 12 pairs of Platalea leucordia, 3 pairs of Ardea cinerea and 8 pairs of Bubulcus ibis.

Obretinul Mic Lake – located on dry willows, comprise: Plegadis falcinellus (500 pairs), Nycticorax nycticorax (300 pairs), Phalacrocorax pygmaeus (1000 – 1200 pairs), Ardea cinerea (15 pairs), Ardeola ralloides (500 pairs), Platalea leucordia (1 pair);

Parches Lake – located on healthy willows; there are find here great and small cormorants, small egrets, aso;

Ceplacul “Prundul cu pasari” – sand island located at SW of Sinoe lagoon, not far from Histria citadel; destroyed last year, the colony was recovered within species of Larus cachinnans, bigfoots and small egrets;

Serednie – Turetchi Depression – aerial observation, which comprises 50 nests of big egret, also 15 nests of gray herons situated deep in the reed;

Sulimanca Veche Channel – monospeciphic colony (great cormorant), which is spread over several hundred meters, maintained in good and healthy condition in willow trees. The aerial observation revealed almost 1000 nests and also few gray herons.

Bratul Turcului – located in the secondary delta of Sfantu Gheorghe branch, in the surrounding of Sahalin Island. The small cormorant represent the dominant species, also we can find here 20 night heron nests.