The autumn aggregation of migratory waterfowl and waterbirds in the central part of Kremenchuk Reservoir in 2015-2017

• Main Authors: Gavryliuk, M. N., Borysenko, M. M., Iliukha, O. V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Черкаський національний університет імені Богдана Хмельницького 2021
• Subjects: Kremenchuk Reservoir; waterfowl and waterbirds; population; avifauna; migration; Hora; Black-headed Gull; Larus ridibundus
• Online Access: https://bio-ejournal.cdu.edu.ua/article/view/4069

Introduction. Kremenchuk Reservoir plays an important part in maintaining populations of waterfowl and waterbirds in the migration period. They stop to rest and feed here. The upper part of the Reservoir is promising for inclusion in the Ramsar list. A significant part of this area is occupied by the Lypivsky Ornithological Reserve with a total area of 4631 hectares. We have been monitoring waterfowl and waterbirds around the reserve for over 20 years.The purpose of the study is to establish the species composition and relative number of waterfowl and waterbirds in the central part of the Kremenchuk Reservoir, to study their seasonal and long-term dynamics.Methods. The records cover the central part of the Kremenchuk Reservoir: along the right bank - within the city of Cherkasy, along the left one - from the village Kedyna Hora to the village of Blagodatne (former village of Chapaiivka) (Zolotonosha district of Cherkasy region), as well as along the dam that crosses the Reservoir. The study was conducted by the point count method from the shore and the dam. 17 records were conducted during autumn periods of 2015-2017. Results. In total for three years, we have found 44 species belonging to 8 series. The core of the avifauna consisted of Mallard (Anas plathyrhynchos), Coot (Fulica atra), the Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) making 82.3% - 86.1% of the total number of birds in different years. The Shannon species diversity index in 2015 were 1.50-2.61, in 2016 – 1.17-1.97, in 2017 – 1.37-2.72. The maximum number of birds stopping to rest and feed during a season in the central part of the Kremenchuk Reservoir was from about 13,600 up to about 29,500 birds in different years. During 2015-2017, among the mass species for three ones (Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the Tufted Duck and the Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)), there was the highest number for more than 20 years of the research. 6 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine were identified. Among them, ...