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RESPONDENT
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Valentin Kokhanov
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SITE NAME
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Khibin Mountains, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 8-10-38-06/278-2-27-82 // // Ostrovskogo St., 30, Krasnogolovka, Mar'insky raion, Donetsk oblast, 85630, Ukraine
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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1
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| The winter 2004-2005 was warm, with abundant precipitation, and the snow layer thickness reached 1.5 m in the forest. Snow cover reduced to 50% by 29 May and completely melted on open flat surfaces by 8 June, and in the forest by mid June. Maximal air temperatures ranged from +5ø-+6øC in late May, while minimal temperatures fluctuated around -2øC-+2øC. Cold weather prevailed also in the first half of June, when maximal temperatures ranged from +5øC-+11øC and exceeded +15øC only on 10, 12 and 13 June, while minimal temperatures ranged from -1øC-+5øC. Warm weather with minimal temperatures above +6øC and maximal above +15.5øC established after 20 June. In spite of low precipitaion in June very high accumulation of snow during the winter resulted in an increased water table in spring. Many bogs and lake islands used for nesting by waterbirds in the previous years were flooded, and birds moved to neighbourhood habitats.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
29.05
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
8.06
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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Rough-legged Buzzards were not recorded, probably due to low rodent numbers. Solitary Short-eared Owls migrating to the north or north-east were recorded from 5-15 June. Merlins and Peregrine Falcons bred successfully.
While the change in distribution due to habitat flooding had no apparent impact on breeding success, it resulted in considerable delay of reproduction. Reproduction of waders was delayed at 6-8 days compared to normal, gulls at 10 days and ducks at 10-15 days. Nesting of most passerines started at usual time, with an exception of delayed breeding by flycatchers. Nesting continued until late August in European Greenfinch and until 10 September in Bullfinch.
Four records of displaying Woodcocks were made from 15-22 June in the Polar-alpine botanical garden.
Numbers of waterbirds did not change considerably, but breeding success decreased as clutches were destroyed by Red Fox and to a lesser extent by pariah-dogs.
Trends in passerine abundance differed between species. Numbers of Filedfare, Redwing, Brambling, European Greenfinch, Bullfinch, were record low for the last 5 years, while abundance of Meadow Pipit, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and Willow Tit increased compared with 2004. Numbers of Redpols increased and breeding was prolonged in this species. In June Redpols were feeding chicks with aphides, breeding en masse since late May, while in late Aigust - early September they used birch seeds. Abundance of Pied Wagtail, Common Dipper, Little Bunting, Sedge Bunting and corvids did not change. Reproduction of Hooded Crows and Magpies was not successful, as their nests built in April were found abandoned in late May. Numerous Red and White-winged crossbills did not nest in March-April in spite of high abundance of spruce cones, because seed content in the latter was only about 30%.
Numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings were record low on migration in September due to abcensence of ashberries, for the first time in 5 years. Redpolls were the most numerous migrating passerines.
A postbreeding aggregation of up to 180 Mallards, 170 Teals, 70 European Wigeons and 325 Tufted Ducks were observed in late August - September on Bolshoi Vudjyavr Lake.
Broods of Willow Grouse, common in spring, were not found which could have been due to predation by Red Foxes.
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Rodent dynamics:
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Counts of birds have been carried out on permanent transects totalling 16 km, in the 70 ha area within the Polar-alpine botanical garden, and in the vicinity of the latter at an area 250 ha. Bird counts were also conducted during autumn migration (September). A report was submitted to archives of the Polar-alpine botanical garden.
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