Transactions
of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station
Changes in timing of bird migrations in the Kanev Nature Reserve.
V. N. Grishchenko
The Kaniv Nature Reserve is located in Central Ukraine at the DnieperRiver. The goal of our work was to analyze changes in timing of spring and autumn migrations for the last 41 years (1970-2010). The regressive analysis was done only for the species having datasets for at least 20 years: 39 species for spring and 11 species for autumn migrations. Significant trends for spring arrival were found in 12 species. The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Sky Lark (Alauda arvensis), Blackbird (Turdus merula), Song Thrush (T. philomelos), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) and Linnet (Acanthis cannabina) have tended to earlier dates of arrival. One species – the Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) has showed delayed arrival. As for autumn migration, the Bee Eater (Merops apiaster) and White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) have shifted for earlier departure dates, while the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) delayed. There is also the tendency of earlier arrival in autumn and later departure in spring of wintering birds. These trends are significant for Waxwing (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) and Bullfinch (Bombycilla garrulus).
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