Transactions
of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Kaniv Nature Reserve
V.N. Grishchenko, E.D. Yablonovskaya-Grishchenko
The Kaniv Nature Reserve is situated in the Middle Dnieper area near the town of Kaniv. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) nests on the Kruglik Island, in a mixed colony with Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea). For the first time 11 Cormorant pairs have nested in 1999. Their number rapidly increased. In 2008 already 625 occupied nests of the Cormorants were recorded. Number of herons has not decreased yet. The Cormorants build their nests in willows, as a rule, up to 5 nests in one tree. Maximum number of nests in the tree is 17, average number - 3.4±0.2 (for 193 trees). Brood consists of 1-6 fledglings, on average - 3.39±0.06 young per nest (n=320). The Cormorants arrive in spring to their breeding area very early and migrate to the wintering places in autumn very late. Average date of the spring arrival in 1999-2008 is 9.03, average date of the autumn departure - 11.11. Some cases of Cormorant's wintering in the Dnieper area were observed.
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