Branta Issues > Issue №9 (2006)

Observations of summering storks and cranes in the south-west of Ukraine

Redinov K.A., Formanyuk O.A., Panchenko P.S.

There are analyzed observations of non-breeding storks and cranes during May-August in the south-west of Ukraine (Odessa and Nikolayev region) over the period 1906-2005. Original data were collected in 1990-2005. Summering of White Stork is observed regularly (Table 1). Average size of the flock is 12.5+2.4 ind. Maximal numbers of birds in flocks was registered 20.06.1998 – 96 ind. (Nikolayev region), 9.06.2000 – 80 ind. (Odessa region). Black Stork is regularly observed, during last decades number of registrations and quantity of birds in flocks increased (Table 1,2; fig.1,2). Average size of the flock is 2.7+0.4 ind. Common Crane is regularly observed, but in scanty numbers. Average size of the flock is 9+1.4 ind. In May cranes were registered 7 times per 1-4 ind. (M= 1.7±0.5 ind.), in June – two times, and from late June and to mid-August the frequency of observations increased (n=9) as well as quantity of birds in them: 2-19 (M = 7.6+2.1 ind.). Demoiselle Crane is a rare summering species: 5-6 registrations is known in 1984-2005.

Presumable breeding of Black Stork and Common Crane based on observations of birds in a breeding period has not been proved.