A New Generation of Dalmatian Pelicans Is Hatching in Romania’s Danube Delta

A new generation of Dalmatian pelicans is beginning to hatch in strictly protected areas of the Razim–Sinoe complex in Romania’s Danube Delta, according to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (ARBDD). The species, known scientifically as Pelecanus crispus, is considered globally threatened.

“The Danube Delta remains one of the few places in the world where this species finds favorable conditions for nesting and reproduction, which is why protecting its habitats is extremely important,” the authority stated.

Environmental inspectors monitoring the Scioplăs Island Scientific Reserve observed 96 Dalmatian pelicans and 36 nests at the beginning of February, including 24 with eggs. During the latest monitoring visit, the number of birds increased to 130, with 86 nests containing eggs and six nests already holding chicks, indicating that the hatching process is underway.

In the neighboring Prundu-cu-Păsări Scientific Reserve, inspectors recorded 18 adult Dalmatian pelicans and 13 nests with eggs, along with around 300 nests belonging to the European herring gull.

ARBDD noted that the nesting sites benefit from strong natural protection, as the islands are surrounded by water and located within legally designated strictly protected zones that are regularly monitored by environmental inspectors.

IDR comment

Experts at the Institute of Danube Research note that the emergence of a new generation of Dalmatian pelicans in the Romanian section of the Danube Delta is significant not only as a conservation event, but also as an indicator of the ecological resilience of the wider transboundary Danube area. The stable nesting of such a sensitive species directly depends on the protection regime of the territory, water quality, minimization of anthropogenic pressure, and preservation of the mosaic of wetland habitats.

For the Ukrainian Danube region, this case is an important example showing that systematic monitoring, a strict conservation regime, and consistent management of protected areas can produce tangible results. In a broader regional dimension, it strengthens the case for joint Ukrainian-Romanian approaches to biodiversity protection, coordination of environmental monitoring, and integration of conservation priorities into the development policy of the Lower Danube.