Water Management for Birds
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The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve remains famous for its birds. It is home for the nesting bird populations like the white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) and the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) of which most of the European populations live in the Danube Delta. Also over half of the world population of the pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) depends on the water quality of the Danube. In spring and autumn, the Danube Delta area is a major halting place for millions of birds, especially ducks, white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and numerous predators. During winter, the Danube Delta hosts huge groups of swans and geese, including almost the entire world population of red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis). Also the reserve is an important migratory passage way and winter shelter for Northern Europe birds, which come to the marine waters along the coast. During the migration period the reserve receives more than 20,000 water birds. There are also important colonies of spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) and several nesting species of white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla).
The Danube Reserve Authority undertakes much effort to maintain the water quality to the level that the protected birds require. This is ongoing work as many previous human activities (irrigations) and constructions (dams, channels) still affect the water level and quality of the Danube. In addition, the quality of the Danube river that feeds the Delta is not reliable and needs monitoring. The Water management for birds projects aims to restore and enhance the quality of the water areas of the reserve.
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority
At the end of a course of over 2,840 kilometer, collecting the water from a vast hydrological basin that exceeds 8% of the area of Europe, the Danube has during the last 16.000 years built at its mouth with the ...
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