Bird watching

If you are a fan of birds, you’re in luck because Romania is one of the best locations in Europe for birdwatching! We have a varied landscape ranging from high mountains, to low fields, the Danube Delta and Black Sea opening, and a continental, gentle climate, which gives us the perfect location for exactly 383 species of birds (out of which 12 are globally threatened) to call our country ‘home’.
Birdwatching is a combination of sport, relaxation and hiking in nature.

The Danube Delta hosts one of the best places to observe birds in the entire world, and if you’re looking to have a competition with your friends back home on who saw the most birds of different species, coming here will definitely grant you first prize; this place hosts almost 320 species (Loons, Pelicans, Cormorants, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, Ducks, Geese, Kingfishers, River Warblers, Flycatchers, Nightingales, Tits, Finches).

The Letea and Caraorman marine forests are home for 64 species typical to nemoral forests (River Warblers, Blackbirds, Woodpeckers, Robin, Chaffinches, Starlings and Tailed Kite Brown Dwarf Eagles, Osprey, Pheasant etc.)

Here you can also observe the largest European population of White Pelicans (80,000 individuals) and Dalmatian Pelicans (200 individuals),60% of the world population of Pygmy Cormorants (6,000 individuals), and half of the world population of Red Brested Geese (40,000 individuals during winter).

Lake Dumbravița is the place for you if you’re looking for a bit more of a Shrek-type environment; it is a eutrophic bog next to Dumbrăvița and it is a protected area of European interest, also known as the Delta between the mountains.

Located in the Olt basin, in the meadow of Hamaradia and nested in the centre of Bârsa depression, the natural reserve Dumbrăvița fishery Complex is unique in the Romanian landscape of reserves through its ornithological diversity. It has received attention from international organizations, and in 2005 it received the status of Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR site).

A true Eden for birds, here we can find the Bittern, Little Bittern, Heron, Great

The bird colony from Rădvani Forest is a bird reserve of great importance, located in the village Cefa, in western Bihor county and it stands out through its protected bird species from the continent and as well as by being included in the Natural Park Cefa.

The reservation, founded in 1981, is conducive to the feeding and nesting features of a high number of protected birds. The most important species are the Grey Heron and the White Egret. They lay eggs in April and the chicks come out in May-June. After the chicks grow up, the birds come to shelter here in the forest. The colony of over 100 individuals nest in Oak and Ash trees. Each tree has about 4-5 nest.

Because it is an area on the Pano-Bulgarian bird migration corridor, a lot of birds stop here for refuge, rest or nesting.

If you’re really lucky, you may even see rare bird species, like the Ferruginous Duck and the Saker Falcon. There are over 80,000 individuals from over 215 species here.