Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The site has three lakes associated with the River Buzãu. Balta Albã is a salt lake (max. depth 4 m) and does not freeze in winter. Amara is brackish and supports areas of reedbed (
Phragmites). Jirlãu is fresh and has extensive reedbeds. The lakes are surrounded by agricultural fields and both wet and dry meadows. Reed is harvested at Jirlãu (`Other' land-use).
This is an important site for breeding and passage waterbirds, particularly grebes, ducks and herons. The site holds 20,000 or more passage waterbirds on a regular basis (including 8,000
Anas crecca, 5,000
Anas clypeata, and 8,000
Aythya ferina). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Crex crex (breeding).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are from angling, tourism and hunting. A management plan exists for the site.
National Partial
International None400 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Vi°ani Bird Sanctuary (Lake Jirlãu), 400 ha). 600 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Lake Balta Albã, 600 ha). 900 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Lake Amara, 900 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Balta Albă - Amara - Jirlău (Romania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/balta-albă--amara--jirlău-iba-romania on 22/11/2024.
