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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter (1990–2006)	120–130 individuals	C2, C6
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis	VU	winter (1990–2006)	700–2,500 individuals	C1, C2, C6
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis	VU	passage (1990–2006)	2,000–3,000 individuals	C1, C2, C6
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	winter (1990–2006)	6,000–9,200 individuals	C3
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	passage (1990–2006)	120–163 individuals	C1
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	passage (1990–2006)	800–1,360 individuals	C3
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	passage (1990–2006)	190–310 individuals	C2
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	passage (1990–2006)	250–270 individuals	C2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	passage (1990–2006)	234–490 individuals	C2
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	passage (1990–2006)	42–77 individuals	C1, C2, C6
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	passage (1990–2006)	630–900 individuals	C2, C6
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	winter (1990–2006)	660–800 individuals	C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	38–74 breeding pairs	C6
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	24–40 breeding pairs	C6
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	passage (1990–2006)	340 individuals	C2
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	12–14 breeding pairs	C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	passage (1990–2006)	450–3,000 individuals	C1, C3
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	24–55 breeding pairs	C6
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	passage (1990–2006)	200–320 individuals	C2, C6
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus	LC	passage (1990–2006)	1,800–2,600 individuals	C2, C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	passage (1990–2006)	400 individuals	C2, C6
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	passage (1990–2006)	2,000 individuals	C2
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus	VU	breeding (1990–2006)	14–28 breeding pairs	C1
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage (1990–2006)	20,000 individuals	C4

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Pollution	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Energy production and mining	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	55	Arable land
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	45

Land use	% of IBA
not utilised	98

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Beibugeac (Plopu) (Romania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-beibugeac-(plopu)-iba-romania on 23/01/2025.