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RO078
Balta Mică a Brăilei
Location Romania, Braila,Constanta,Ialomita,Muntenia
Central coordinates 27o 54.35' East  44o 56.46' North
IBA criteria C1, C2, C4, C6
Area 24,944 ha
Altitude 4 - 11m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Romanian Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This is an important area for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds and breeding wetland passerines. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Branta ruficollis (wintering).

Site description A wetland complex of many lakes linked by canals and marshes, situated in the Danube valley. There are open grassy areas with lines of Salix trees and also areas of riverine forest. The water-level varies according to the Danube's level and spring floods are common. The island also has agricultural crops, meadows and pasture. There are only a few small human settlements.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis passage  1990-2006  200 individuals  good  C1  Endangered 
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca breeding  1990-2006  50-70 breeding pairs  good  C1  Near Threatened 
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus breeding  1990-2006  60-70 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia breeding  1990-2006  80-120 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris breeding  1990-2006  10-40 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  1990-2006  70-80 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax breeding  1990-2006  250-350 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides breeding  1990-2006  300-400 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea breeding  1990-2006  80-90 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Egret Casmerodius albus breeding  1990-2006  70-80 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Little Egret Egretta garzetta breeding  1990-2006  420-480 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus breeding  1990-2006  100 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus passage  1990-2006  200 individuals  good  C1  Near Threatened 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla breeding  1990-2006  2 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus breeding  1990-2006  24 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  1990-2006  20 breeding pairs  good  C1  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus passage  1990-2006  44 individuals  good  C6  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  1990-2006  200 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
European Roller Coracias garrulus breeding  1990-2006  25-30 breeding pairs  good  C1  Near Threatened 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  1990-2006  20,000 individuals  good  C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Balta MicÄ a BrÄilei - ROSCI0006 Habitats Directive 20,460 protected area contained by site 20,460  
Balta MicÄ a BrÄilei - ROSPA0005 Birds Directive 20,453 protected area contained by site 20,453  
BraÅul MÄcin - ROSCI0012 Habitats Directive 10,303 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
DunÄrea Veche - BraÅul MÄcin - ROSPA0040 Birds Directive 18,750 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Little island of Braila Nature Reserve 5,336 protected area contained by site 5,336  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest  30%
Grassland Humid grasslands  10%
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  60%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 10%
fisheries/aquaculture 50%
hunting 10%
nature conservation and research 30%

Management considerations The main threats are from deforestation, overgrazing and hunting. A local NGO undertakes conservation work.

Protection status National Partial International None5,336 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Little Island of Brãila, 5,336 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Balta Mică a Brăilei. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife