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RESPONDENT
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Nikolay Yakushev
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SITE NAME
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Russkaya Koshka Spit, Anadyr Region, Chukotsky Peninsula, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 8(8452)515738 // taksidermia@yandex.ru // Zoological Museum, Biological Faculty, Saratov State Univ., Astrakhanskaya 83, Saratov, 410012 Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Arctic Expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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9.07
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30.07
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2
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| By the start of studies on 9 July the sea along the spit approximately 20 km long was completely covered with ice, which finally receded from the coast only on 14 July. High amount of ice present in the area resulted in relatively low air temperatures both at day-time and at night. Maximum daily air temperature averaged +18.1øC in the period from 9-29 July, while minimum daily air temperature averaged +4.1øC. By the start of studies snow melted completely on flat surfaces and remained only locally on the coastal slopes. Five days were clear and the rest were cloudy in the period of observations; precipitation occurred on 7 days. Dense fog frequently occurred at night, but only on 3 days during day-time. Moderate to strong and variable in direction winds were recorded almost daily. Moderately strong storm was recorded on 21-23 July. The weather was generally variable during day, with usually foggy morning sunny midday and rainy evening. Weather condiations were unfavourable for reproduction of birds, particularly at night, when perishing of chicks was recorded due to low temperatures.
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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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 recorded, and local people reported a considerable decrease in numbers of these animals during recent years. Red Foxes were rare and a single inhabited den was found. Brown Bears appeared on the spit after the first storm when 3 animals were observed. Terrestrial predators were were considerably more common at the foot of the spit compared with its distant part due to permanent presence of the light-house workers at the latter locality. Among birds of prey Peregrine Falcon was recorded once and White-tailed Sea Eagle twice. Rough-legged Buzzrds and owls were not observed, while Ravens were recorded on 3 occasions. Wamdering Arctic Skuas occurred in considerable numbers, but breeding birds were not numerous. Observations of Arctic Skuas hunting chicks of waders were numerous. herring Gulls and Glaucous Gulls were numerous, with at least 100 pairs of both species nesting on a sandy island in the Klinovstrem Bay, and several pairs of Herring Gulls successfully raising chicks on the spit waterbodies. Arctic Tern was a numerous breeding species, which nests with clutches were encountered until 20 July. Chicks and juveniles of this species were observed. A colony of Aleutian Terns of 50 nests was found 500 m from the lighthouse, where several juveniles of this species were later observed.
Common Eider and Pacific Diver were the most numerous breeding species among waterfowl, with chicks hatching in late July. Hatching already occurred by the start of studies on 9 July in three geese species, Emperor Goose, Bean Goose and White-fronted Goose, and their broods were observed on tundra lakes at the foot of the spit. Broods of Bean Goose and White-fronted Goose were similarly abundant, while broods of Emperor Goose were considerably more rare. Approximately 10000 Brent Geese moulted on the spit, but breeding of this species was not recorded.
Among breeding waders Ringed Plover and Red-necked Phalarope were numerous, Dunlin, Turnstone and Temminck's Stint common, Grey Plover, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint rare, while nests of Knot and Terek Sandpiper were solitary. Fledged juveniles of all these specie were observed, although approximately half of recorded broods perished, and only 1-2 chicks remained in the surviving broods. Low night temperatures at the start of the brood-raring period and predation by Arctic Skuas were mostly responsible for the decrease of breeding success.
Species diversity and numebrs of passerines were very low. Fairly successful breeding and fledging of juveniles was confirmed in three species, White Wagtail, Wheatear and Snow Bunting; other species recorded were Yellow Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit and Redpoll.
Generally, the season was favourable for reproduction of waterfowl and gulls and unfavourable for waders.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemmings and voles were not recorded. Arctic Ground Squirrels occurred in low numbers in spite of availability of suitable habitats, and many burrows were not occupied.
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Rodent species recorded:
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| Latin | Abundance |
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| Citellus parryi | rare |
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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