The nesting areas for Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) that were restored in January by ecologists of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (ARBDD) in far eastern Tulcea County are now populated by birds, the institution under the Environment Ministry announced Wednesday, following a control action carried out by ARBDD employees, also mentioning the number of Dalmatian pelican nests in different areas.

“A few days ago, during a control action carried out in the area, a total of 186 built nests could be observed with pairs hatching. Currently, the area of Lake Vatafu has 35 nests, the area of Lake Argintiu has 47 nests, and there are 104 nests on Ceaplace Island,” reads a post on the ARBDD Facebook page.

Representatives of the institution recall that in January inspectors and ecologists of the ARBDD’s Monitoring, Protected Areas Districts Office transported and placed additional reed bundles in the nesting areas of the Dalmatian pelican colony in the strictly protected area of Ceaplace Island.

“Beyond the natural protection provided by the fact that these nests are built on islands surrounded by water, they are all included in areas with a legal status of strict protection, constantly monitored by the staff of the Monitoring Office, Protected Areas Districts of the Reserve, and thus the future generation of Dalmatian pelicans has additional chances of survival,” the source said.

The Dalmatian pelican, a species listed as globally vulnerable for a long time, has recently been reclassified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a result of sustained conservation efforts in Europe.

The species is related to the common pelican, but numbers fewer individuals and is distinguished from its relative by the wavy feathers on the back of its neck that give it its popular name. In breeding plumage, the gular pouch turns a deep orange-red, is highlighted by the black bill and the feathers on the back of the head are larger.