Branta Issues > Issue №2 (1999)

Breeding of herons in the reed beds of the Northern Priazovie wetlands

Koshelev A.I., Koshelev V.A.

Ecology of 6 species of herons breeding in the wetlands of the Northern coast of the Azov Sea was studied in 1988-1998. А total of 80 colonies located in the reed beds were under control. Colony size varied from 5 to 250 nests with one or more species of herons present. Nests were located on reed growths 0.3-2.2 m above the water surface. On islands some herons bred on ground. Distance to the nearest nest in mixed colonies ranged from 1.5 to 10 m. Breeding in the mono-species colonies was rather synchronised (40-90%), while in the mixed colonies it was more prolonged and synchronised only in 15-30% of the pairs. The colonies in the reed beds are vulnerable to disturbance, habitat distraction, hydrological regime, depredation by raptors. These factors account for their spatial and temporal dynamics. Most colonies are located in the protected areas.