Transactions
of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station

Branta Cover Language of the article: Russian Cite: Tsvelykh, A. N., Kucherenko, V. M. (2019). Current avifauna of mount Ak-Kaya on the Crimean Peninsula and its historical transformation. Branta: Transactions of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 22, 102-109 Keywords: mount Ak-Kaya, species composition, transformation, sclerophyll species, Crimea Published online: 08.01.2020 Views: 1385 Branta copyright Branta license

Branta Issues > Issue №22 (2019)

Branta: Transactions of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, 102-109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/branta2019.22.102

Current avifauna of mount Ak-Kaya on the Crimean Peninsula and its historical transformation

A. N. Tsvelykh 1, V. M. Kucherenko 2

1 – I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2 – Taurida National V. I. Vernadsky University, Ukraine

The research of the sclerophyll avifauna of mount Ak-Kaya was conducted in May 2008, 2009 and 2019. 14 species were found: Tadorna ferruginea, Buteo rufinus, Neophron percnopterus (not breeding), Falco cherrug, Falco peregrinus, Falco tinnunculus, Columba livia, Apus apus, Apus melba, Upupa epops, Delichon urbica, Corvus monedula, Corvus corax, Oenanthe oenanthe. Comparing our results of 2008-2019 with the data collected by M. A. Voinstvensky in 1958 showed significant changing in the species composition of sclerophyll birds on Ak-Kaya. Neophron percnopterus, Athene noctua, Coracias garrulus, Monticola saxatilis and Oenanthe pleschanka did not nest in 2008-2019. Coracias garrulus was also not registered. This is an interesting fact, as this species nests in similar biotopes even in the immediate vicinity of Ak-Kaya.

The analysis of literary sources can determine the time of appearance of different species of birds in the species composition of Ak-Kaya avifauna. At the end of the XX century Falco peregrinus, Falco cherrug and Buteo rufinus started their nesting here. Tadorna ferruginea began to nest in the study area at the beginning of the XXI (possibly at the end of the XX) century, however, there is no evidence of the formation of a stable nesting population of this species. Currently, we have several registrations of Neophron percnopterus on Ak-Kaya. However, frequent registration of this species in the Crimea in recent years suggests the resumption of nesting of this species in the study area.

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