HERON BIOLOGY (ARDEIDAE, CICONIIFORMES) ON THE EASTERN COAST OF THE AZOV SEA OF THE KRASNODAR REGION

Abstract

Aim. The main goal was to assess the current state of herons in the Eastern sea of Azov in Krasnodar region.Methods. We have conducted collecting of material according to conventional ornithological methods of Saemann D. (1970), Kostin, Y. V. (1977), Klimova S. M. (1989), Brave V. M. (1991), and Bogolyubov A. S. (1996).Results. Spring arrivals in the eastern coast of the Azov Sea have been noted from February to April. Jacks suit in the thickets of reeds, rushes to the creases, some species of trees. The breeding season is extended, depending on the time of construction of the nest. Number of eggs per clutch varies from 1 to 5. The incubating of eggs lasts 21-27 days. The development of the chicks lasts 40-55 days. The effectiveness of nesting herons in the studied species in the lower reaches of the Kuban ranges from 78.6% to 83.5%. The basis of herons diet of fish of different species and sizes. Analysis of the castings showed the presence in them of Coleoptera fragments, lake frog, wool and the remnants of rodents.Main conclusions. Studied basic biological periods herons of Eastern Azov region. Established that the size of heron population at the area of interest varies year by year due to effect of anthropogenic and abiotic factors.

Keywords

• habitat
• phenology
• reproduction
• breeding efficiency
• limiting factors
• population status
• nycticorax nycticorax
• ardeola ralloides
• egretta garzetta
• ardea cinerea
• ardea purpurea