Біологічні студії (Dec 2018)
Waterfowl of Lutsk district
Abstract
The waterfowl of the Lutsk district was studied by the author during 1981–2018. 39 species of the waterfowl are registered in the Lutsk district, 13 among them are confirmed on breeding (some of them in some years only), 16 – on passage (1 species – the Greylag Goose Anser anser (L.) nested only once) and 10 – vagrants. Besides, 18 species are wintering. The nest group of the waterfowl is between 327 and 637 breeding pairs. The most numerous breeding species are the Coot Fulica atra L. (25–52 % of the total number of waterfowl) and the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos L. (19–35 %). Both species comprise up to 52–71 % of the waterfowl. The biggest part of the local population of those birds is nesting on large complexes of ponds. We found certain trends in waterfowl numbers the 38-year period of research. The number is stable in case of the Little Grebe Podiceps ruficollis (Pall.) and the Great Crested Grebe P. cristatus (L.), and relative stability with annual fluctuations is observed in the Mallard and the Coot. A noticeable decrease in population size is observed in the Pochard and for some species critical decrease and tendency to disappear was detected: the Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis C. L. Brehm, the Red-necked Grebe P. grisegena (Bodd.) and the Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (L.). An increase in number is observed in the Mute Swan Cygnus olor (Gm.) and the Garganey Anas querquedula L. only. Other species of the waterfowl nest with average number of 1–2 pairs and only in some years. During the post-breeding period (the beginning of August), 13 species of the waterfowl were registered (9–10 species yearly) in Lutsk district in 2013–2018. Among them few species of the waterfowl not detected during the breeding season (the Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (L.) and the Teal Anas crecca L.), were observed. The Mallard and the Mute Swan Cygnus olor (Gm.) are the most frequently wintering species of the waterfowl. There are between 35–4000 wintering birds yearly. The vast majority of the waterfowl wintered on the unfrozen parts of Styr and Chornoguzka rivers, rarely on ponds and channels. Reasons for changings their numbers are determined for breeding and wintering species of waterfowl. The water bodies occupy 16.5 kmІ or 1.6 % of the district territory. For protection of the waterfowl, as well as for other groups of animals, in the Lutsk district, 4 nature protection territories were created (2 zoological and 2 ornithological reserves).
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