Diversity of aquatic birds from water and paludous ecosystems of Dănceni and Nimoreni lakes, Ialoveni district, Republic of Moldova

The studies were performed in 2023-2025 in water and paludous ecosystems of Dănceni and Nimoreni lakes, Ialoveni district in the central part of the Republic of Moldova. In the studied period 34 aquatic bird species from 7 orders were registered. 18 species are summer guests and breeding in the area, while other 16 species have been recorded only at migrations. Among the most common breeding species are the mallard, the coot and the great cormorant, which have large numbers also during migration period. The species Anas querquedula Aythyia ferina, Ardea cinerea, Gallinula chloropus, Podiceps cristatus have breeding flocks of several dozen individuals, while the species were registered in much smaller numbers, of 2-8 breeding pairs. The other species were recorded in the post-breeding period and during passage, including rare species such as Pelecanus onocrotalus, Platalea leucorodia, Recurvirostra avisetta and Tringa nebularia. 9 species are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova and 6 species are protected at international level, being listed in IUCN Red List.