Mollusks in the nests of passerine birds in the south-east of Belarus

Abstract

The material was collected in the period from 2020 to 2024 on the territory of the Gomel region (south-east of Belarus). In 30 nests of 11 species of passerine birds, we have found 139 shells belonging to 29 species of mollusks of 19 families. Based on the shells’ state and their damage, three ways of the material appearance in the bird nests are discussed: 1) as a prey of birds, 2) a result of snails’ migration, 3) bringing of empty shells by birds.

Keywords

• gastropoda
• bivalvia
• species composition
• ecology