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RESPONDENT
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Svetlana Mechnikova
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SITE NAME
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Schuchya River, middle reaches, Yamal Peninsula, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (495) 367-60-56 // mechnikova@rambler.ru // Russia, 105043 Moscow, 3-ya Parkovaya, 8/19, apartm. 50
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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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18.06
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13.08
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3
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Spring was early, but prolonged and cold. Ice broke in late May on rivers. Snow melted completely by mid June, but the weather remained cold and temperatures did not rise above +8øC. Warming occurred after 20 June, but the weather was very unstable during the whole summer: temperature and wind were changing abruptly every 2-3 days, and rains occurred every 1-3 days. Extreme weather events were not recorded, but strong wind with rain was recorded 3 times.
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| Season temperature: |
average
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
late May
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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Arctic Foxes were not seen, and their inhabited dens were not found. Inhabited dens of Red Foxes were very numerous in forested floodplains, and we recorded abundant remains of ducks, hares, and grouse ( less common) in the vicinity of these dens. Brown Bears were numerous, and we recorded at least 2 females with cubs along with solitary animals. Wolves were relatively abundant.
Breeding phenology was average in most birds. Willow Grouse occurred in average numbers, apparently higher than in 200, but low than in 1990s.
Tundra breeding species of waders were very rare. Greater Golden Plovers were less common than usual, but flying juveniles were observed in late July. Whimbrels were rare, and displaying Bar-tailed Godwits were observed on 2 occasions only (!), while in 1980-1990s both species were common. Other species of waders occurred in ususal numbers: Wood and Terek Sandpipers were numerous, Red-necked Phalaropes, Temminck's Stints, Ringed Plovers, Common and Pintail snipes were common, while Ruffs were rare. Broods were recorded in most species of waders. Common Sandpipers were very numerous, and it seems that this species was increasing constantly during the last 10-15 years. Remains of Woodcock were found in the prey of Peregrine Falcon at 67ø39'N , which is a relatively long-distant recovery from the normal species range.
Numbers of the Lesser White-fronted Goose were average, but we found 2 clutches desearted due to unknown reasons. Broods of Bean Goose were relatively abunadant compared with 1980-1990s. Bewick's Swans, including 2 broods, were unusually numerous. Tufted Duck and Wigeon were the most abundant among ducks, with tens of broods seen in the former species. Pintail and Long-tailed Duck were less common than usual with not a single brood recorded.
Lapland Bunting and Yellow Wagtail occurred in relatively low numbers compared to the previously observed, although broods were still recorded in the former species. Great Grey Shrikes with broods were fairly abundant. As in all previous seasons of observations Hooded Crow occurred in high numbers and bred successfully.
Most species of birds of prey bred in average to high numbers. Rough-legged Buzzards bred almost exclusively in floodplains with colonies of Narrow-skulled Voles. Nesting density was 0.1 pairs/10 km2 in the whole surveyed area, but reached 2.8 pairs/10 km2 in the most densely populated patch. Only 2 nests (with a single chick in each) were found outside of the floodplain in open tundra, and both at a distance of less than 500 m from the river. Nests of most pairs contained 3-4 eggs or downy chicks in the beginning of the breeding season, while chick numbers reduced to 1-2 by fledging. Non-breeding Buzzards occurred in average numbers primarily in river floodplains and larch sparse forest. Breeding White-tailed Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles were unusually abundant, and 4 nest from 6 of the latter species contained 2 feathered chicks. Northern Harriers bred in small numbers (2 broods found). Nesting of Sparrow Hawk was the first on record on the Yamal Peninsula. In spite of the generally low rodent numbers one breeding pair of Eurasian Kestrel was found. Merlins were numerous as usual, Peregrine Falcon was relatively common, while Gyrfalcon numbers were slightly below average. Feathered chicks of Gyrfalcon were predated by Brown Bear in one nest.
Short-eared Owls were not numerous, but bred (a fledgeling was taken by a Gyrfalcon). Snowy Owls were not seen. Long-tailed Skuas were relatively abundant, and we saw alarming pairs, but chicks were not found. Arctic Skuas were rare, and numbers of Herring Gulls were below usual.
Generally, breeding was successful in most species of birds based on numbers of broods recorded. Breeding ducks suffered the most from predation by numerous Hooded Crows and Red Foxes.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemmings were not recorded. Narrow-skulled Voles were common locally in floodplains, where running animals were seen occasionally. Small colonies of, presumably, Middendorff's Voles were rarely encountered in shrub tundra. Northern Red-backed Voles were not seen, and Tundra Vole was seen once. Arctic Hares and Muskrats were abundant which is typical for the area. Only Narrow-skulled Voles were found in prey of Rough-legged Buzzards.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Microtus gregalis | common |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| We continued initiated in 1986 long-term monitoring of breeding birds of prey on excursions and during boat surveys by searching and mapping nests, recording alarming pairs and broods. An approximate evaluation was provided for numbers of other species of birds, and all breeding events were recorded. Breeding success was not assessed for individual pairs, as no repeated surveys of nests were conducted. We expect to publish the results of studies in "Materials on bird distribution on Urals, in Ural foothills and Western Siberia" and "Ornitologia".
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