DANUBE DELTA PARADISE

Delta is a paradise for fauna. Here lives 98% of European aquatic fauna, entire fauna of odonata, the  aquatic lepidoptera, mollusks and gastropods from Europe and here they find refuge as rare mammals lutreola Mustela, Lutra lutra and Felis silvestris. Vertebrates which, by their presence give specific note fauna of the delta. Amphibians are represented by two strange species and six species of anuria, with 8 species and reptiles, mostly snakes (4 species). 

Fish are present in 65 species, mostly freshwater (60%), the remainder migrating spring in the Black Sea. Among these latter, sturgeon and mackerel are important, both scientifically and economically.

Birds are the ones that have created the fame of the Delta, known since the beginning of the century as an avian paradise. Fame is due to the 327 species that can be met in the delta and that represents 81% of the fauna of Romania.Of these 218 species nest, the remaining 109 species passing through the delta and different periods of time remaining in autumn, winter and spring. 
Seabirds are the most numerous: 81 species nest here and 60 species pass through the delta, a total of 141 species, representing 82% of European aquatic fauna. Aquatic fauna of the Danube Delta is made up of a core of old species are well adapted to the aquatic environment, plus, cosmopolitan species and species accessories. Core avifauna is composed of 75 species whose life is linked to the presence of water. They are grouped into five main ecological types: species closely related to water, strictly stenotope (dip, mirabelle, furtunari, pelicans, cormorants, spoonbills), species of reeds (all species of aquatic paseriforme) shore species (herons, spoon herons, spoonbills), hydrophilic vegetation species rich meadows with reeds (ralide), species of marine shores (some laride).
Many species, especially of ducks, geese, gulls, frequently occur in different biotopes. Accessory species are those that integrate secondary aquatic fauna, becoming increasingly numerous since the transformation of aquatic ecosystems. Riverside coppices are populated by Silvia, Flycatcher, filomele, Pitigoi, finches, which are added during the nesting ducks, cormorants and herons. In Letea forests and 64 species nest Caraorman nemoral typical forest avifauna (Silvia, blackbirds, woodpeckers, măcăleandru, Pitigoi, starling, and tailed (Haliaetus albicilla), the kite brown dwarf eagle, osprey, etc.. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was introduced through colonization rapidly developing population. In sandy steppe meadows are specific partridge, quail, lark, Stone Curlew (Burchinus oedicnemus). The delta villages, in addition to households, are common Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Swallow , stork, swallow.A number of aquatic species during the nesting involves forming clusters of nesting colonies in space are generally small. Causes of association are related to the scarcity of nest building surfaces, and the benefits of the presence of a large number of birds in the defense nests with eggs or chicken. Nesting colonies have always been a great attraction of the delta. Thousands of nests built on the meadows of willow branches or reeds, infernal noise, the specific atmosphere of other geological eras, biting flight of thousands of birds feed their chicks, bird colonies transformed into a paradise not only for ornithologists, but also of any loving nature. 

In the Danube Delta are several types of colonies: herons, spoon bills, herons and cormorants, pelicans and cormorants, gulls, and the avoazete knock-back, the Black Tern, the terns. Pelican colony strictly protected area full-Buhaiova Rosca is the largest in Europe and is an example of a mixed colony *. This is associated with several thousand pairs of white pelicans, with tens to hundreds of pairs of Dalmatian pelican and cormorant sea in a landscape which is reminiscent of Jurassic Park. Access is allowed only near the colony specialists who have obtained special permits.

DANUBE DELTA !