Măxineni SPA

The site is located in south-eastern part of Romania in Brăila county. It consists mainly in a series of artificial ponds used for fishery located in a mozaic of pastures and agricultural fields. From 2010 most of the lakes has been drowned and is being used in present days as pastures for cattle.
 

There are 93 species with different degrees of importance: 31 species are listed on Annex 1 of Bird Directive,45 migratory species are listed on Bonn Convention, 6 Globally threatened species. During migration and winter the site is important for the following species:
Red-brested goose (Branta ruficollis), Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), White pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus),  Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus),  Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Snew (Mergus albellus), Pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus), Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons).

The Saker falcon has regular presence in the site during migration and winter, the protected area is used mainly as a hunting area by adult or juvenile birds. There is a healthy population of European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus), one of the favored mammal prey of the Saker. The site is located in the immediate vicinity of the breeding cluster from the eastern part of Dobrudja and probably the birds which are visiting the site are coming from there. Being located so close by the Dobrudjan breeding sites through installation of nest boxes are increasing the chances that the visiting birds can start breeding. The main threat for the Saker in the area is represented by electrocution risk due to the medium voltage electric network, which is crossing the border of the site.