Romania Records an Increase in Greater Flamingo Numbers: New Environmental Trends in Dobruja

Romania's Dobruja region has recorded an increase in the number of greater flamingos, which are increasingly frequenting lakes along the Black Sea coast.

A total of 98 flamingos have been observed at Lake Sinoe and another 19 at Lake Techirghiol. More than 70 birds are juveniles hatched this year.

While only four flamingos were recorded in Romania in 2016, flocks of 500–800 individuals have been observed in recent years.

Ornithologists suggest that flamingos may have begun nesting in Romania, although breeding has not yet been officially confirmed. The presence of young birds may also result from migration from neighboring countries.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research 

According to IDR experts, the growing presence of flamingos in Dobruja may indicate long-term environmental changes in the Lower Danube and the Northwestern Black Sea region.

Potential contributing factors include climate change, shifting migration routes, and changes in the hydrological regimes of coastal wetlands.

However, the increasing presence of flamingos does not necessarily indicate an overall improvement in regional environmental conditions. A comprehensive assessment requires systematic monitoring of water balance, food resources, and biodiversity.

The Institute of Danube Research emphasizes that these developments highlight the importance of joint environmental monitoring by Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria, as well as stronger cross-border cooperation to protect the wetlands of the Lower Danube.