Slatina, Feb 5 /Agerpres/ - Thousands of swans, Eurasian coots (Fulica atra), wild ducks, Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), Little egrets (Egretta garzetta), Caspian gulls (Larus cachinnans) and other birds offer a spectacular sight of the Olt River, from Ramnicu Valcea to Izbiceni, when it flows into the Danube, the landscape being a lively one even on cold winter days.

The area has been declared special protection area (SPA) for the avifauna - Natura 2000 site ROSPA0106 Lower Olt Valley - and offers the ideal habitat for 94 species of birds, 13 of which are protected species in the European Union, according to Ion Croitoru, a biodiversity specialist from the Environment Protection Agency (APM ) of Olt County.

The bank of swans, scattered on the water in the area of the bridge over the Olt river in Slatina, often make passers-by stop to capture them in pictures and admire them.

There are 100-150 swans on each reservoir, more numerous at Slatina due to the shallower water, which allows them to find enough food.

'Here there are around 150 specimens, if we count 100 specimens per lake, there are somewhere between 1,500-2,000 swan specimens in Olt County, from Dragasani to the flowing mouth of the [Olt] river into Danube, most of them are in the area of lakes with shallower water, I am referring to Slatina, because in the bridge area there were no ballast exploitations and that is why the water is not very deep, and they find enough food. First of all, the swans and all the species that migrate, some of them used to migrate in the Danube Delta. Given that the damming of the Olt River created some slow-water habitats, the birds found the same conditions as in the Danube Delta,' explained Ion Croitoru.

Walking along the banks of the Olt River, from Slatina to Slatioara, dozens of other swans and dark flocks of Eurasian coots, enliven the landscape of a cold winter day.

In the Ipotesti area, the trees and shrubs on the islands resulting from the ballast pits are full of birds' nests and there is a swarming in every direction you look.

'The ballast pits have created certain areas where, effectively, the birds have found nesting and feeding grounds, a place of refuge at night when they come to sleep 'with the little ones' because it's more difficult to come, to stay on the shore, as there are other animal species that hunt them, I am referring here to the jackal, the fox, which, if they come across a nest, they eat all the eggs,' said Ion Croitoru.

The specialist from APM Olt pointed out that the Olt River and the lands bordering the banks are included in the special protection area (SPA) of the Lower Olt Valley.

The biodiversity specialist pointed out that in the last 35 years, with the restriction of industrial activities in the localities through which the Olt River passes, the fauna has grown, a sign that the area is less polluted.

'If we want to look whether a habitat, an area is not affected by pollution, we can tell by the multitude of species of birds. They're an indicator that the area is unpolluted. Until '89 there was a lot of fish in the Olt River, but it had a more chemical taste. Now, if industrial activity has been restricted along the Olt River, freshwater fish, good fish, including the bird species have felt this change and that's why they have become more numerous. Until '89-'90 there weren't very many birds on the Olt River, even if there were freshwater lakes, but the food that they were eating was lacking. The swans went to the Danube Delta. And now the Dalmatian Pelican [Pelecanus crispus]comes to our area to feed,' Croitoru said.

Pelicans can be seen on the Olt River in the spring months, when the young birds are looking for new habitats.

Ion Croitoru pointed out that 94 species of birds have been inventoried in the SPA Lower Olt Valley, 13 of which are protected in the European Union.

'In the undergrowth area we can find the typical shrike [Laniidae family], birds a little bigger than the sparrows that hunt insects, including small reptiles, lizards, they can't eat them all and they stick them in a thornbush and there is the shrike's 'pantry'. The lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor), the Great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) and the Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) are three species of shrike for which the area was declared a protection area (...),' added Croitoru.

The representative of APM Olt highlighted the attractions of a nature walk on the banks of the Olt River, indicating that a Bird Atlas and binoculars are needed for a good observation of the birds.

'Anyone who wants to relax can come here and spend a whole day just admiring the surroundings. Take a Bird Atals and binoculars, a telescope. The area is accessible, there are roads on both sides of the Olt River, there are different types of habitats. We see here some habitats on the old course of the Olt River, which has a lake area, vegetation area, reed area, and shrubland. In spring, if you stay longer, you will be enchanted by the colors, but also by the song of the nightingales, cuckoos, we can also see a very brightly colored bird, with yellow and black, the Eurasian Golden Oriole, which sings beautifully. By April, we may see Hoopoes [Upupa epops]. In the winter we have swans, Cormorants, ducks, Eurasian coots,' concluded Ion Croitoru. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Cristina Matei, editing by: George Onea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)