Population dynamics of corvids and their influence on the hunting fauna in the Luhansk region

• Published in: Scientific Bulletin of UNFU
• Main Authors: Trunov, O. P., Kolyenkina, M. S., Musiyenko, S. I., Tarnopylʹska, O. M., Skakovsʹkyy, S. I.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: Ukrainian National Forestry University 2019
• Subjects: Raven; Hooded Crow; Magpie; Rook; Jackdaw; Jay; ворон; ворона сіра; сорока; грак; галка; сойка; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://nv.nltu.edu.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/1831; https://doi.org/10.15421/40290205

Corvids (Corvidae) are spread in all continents except Antarctica and use of commonly available foods, both plant and animal. They are often considered as pests due to their noise, littering, aggression to humans and pets, and predation on birds in urban environment and hunting fauna in the field and forest. Climate change and anthropogenic factors have various effects on different corvid species, which compete for habitat and food. The aim of this study was to identify the features and causes of long-term dynamics of crow crowds, crows gray, magpies, roaches, pots, jugs in hunting grounds and to develop the recommendations for the regulation of their populations. Population dynamics of corvids was studied in 1983-2013in hunting grounds of Shchetovske forestry in Ivanivske State Forest Hunting Enterprise of the Luhansk region. Population density of corvids was evaluated by route tracking without span and recalculated per 1km2by average distance of birds' detection. A raven (Corvus corax), hooded crow (Corvus (corone) cornix), rook (Corvus frugilegus), jackdaw (Corvus monedula), jay (Garrulus glandarius), and magpie (Pica pica) were registered the most often. For 30years, population density of raven increased 11.5times – from 0.1to 1.15specimens/km2, and population density of hooded crow decreased 11.1times – from 3.4to 0.3specimens/km2, population density of magpie, rook, jackdaw, and jay decreased 2.4, 9.2, 2, and 1.6times respectively. Population density of raven has a negative correlation with population density of other corvids, and correlation index was the highest with population density of hooded crow. These two corvids have close ecological features, but a raven is larger and more aggressive bird. Dependence of population density of different corvids from feeding habits, places of settlement, harmfulness for hunting objects and anthropogenic factors has been analyzed. Simplified permission for raven hunting was recommended to decrease its damage to hunting fauna (mallard and other ducks, pheasant, gray ...