| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
|
|
|
Breeding conditions:
|
Mammalian predators on the island were represented by American Mink (3 juveniles in one of the broods) and Ermine. A territorial pair of Peregrine Falcons was recorded on one of the islands, as well as non-breeding Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Buzzard, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Sea Eagle, Gyrfalcon and Merlin. Dead Short-eared Owl was found on Kharlov Island. Abundance of Great Skuas on the archipelago did not change (14 pairs), while numbers of Arctic Skuas decreased slightly (to 116 pairs). Several vagrant Long-tailed Skuas were recorded on the island. Mean size of complete clutch was 1.91ñ0.03 (range 1-2, n=78) and hatching success 70.5% in the Arctic Skua.
Abundance of Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls did not change, but increased in Common Gulls and Kittiwakes. Breeding attempts were not recorded in Arctic Terns. Mean clutch size was 2.05ñ0.13 (range 1-3, n=41) and hatching success 81.7% in Common Gulls, while complete clutches of Kittiwakes contained on average 1.91ñ0.02 (range 1-3, n=344) eggs, their brood size was 1.14ñ0.01 (range 1-2, n=977) chicks before fledging, and breeding success was 28.1% (in a sample of 35 nests on survey plots).
Two pairs of Red-throated Divers nested on Kharlov Island. Abundance of Gannets increased from 145 nesting pairs in 2005 to 161 pairs in 2006. Numbers of Great Cormorant decreased to 46 pairs on Veshnyak Island, but did not change on Maly Litsky Island (29 pairs). Mean clutch size was 2.70ñ0.17 (range 1-4, n=23) before hatching, and mean brood size 2.50ñ0.12 (range 1-4, n=46). Abundance of Shags increased to 150 pairs on Veshnyak Island, with mean clutch size 2.09ñ0.28 (range 1-4, n=11) and mean brood size 2.30ñ0.10 (range 1-3, n=43).
Breeding of Barnacle Geese was recorded on Maly Zelenets Island again. Approximately 50 pairs of Bean Geese were observed on the islands, 2 nests found in the Pintail and 1 nest in Long-tailed Duck. Non-breeding waterfowl were represented by Whooper Swans, Red-breasted and Common mergansers. No data are available on dynamics of numbers of the Common Eider; mean clutch size was 3.84ñ0.13 (range 1-6, n=95) in this species.
We recorded 7 pairs of Rock Ptarmigans on the archipelago, of which 4 were with broods. Numbers of Thick-billed and Common murres decreased slightly on Kharlov Island, while relaible counts of other auks were not conducted.
Breeding waders included Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Red-necked Phalarope. Displaying Temminck's Stint was observed on Bolshoi Litsky Island. Eurasian Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Little Stint, Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit were observed on migration.
Breeding passerines of the archipelago included Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Raven, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Bluethroat, Redwing and Snow Bunting. We also recorded House Martin, Magpie, Waxwing, Sedge Warbler, House Sparrows, Redpoll and Lapland Bunting.
|
|