Contemporary Changes In Bird Fauna And Community In Northeast European Russia

Abstract

The present study is based on relevant publications and the research results of bird population and its distribution in more than 40 locations in the region. 258 bird species from 16 orders were noticed during the research period on the continental part. There are two stages in ornithofauna studies: Stage 1 (1875-1930, 201 species) and Stage 2 (1946-present 255 species). The main changes in fauna and bird population are associated with climatic condition, anthropogenic influence and natural dynamics of areas. The climatic warming leads to changes in migration periods and to increased sedentary level for some species. Agricultural development, intensive forestry, growing urbanization and related landscape changes made species shift to the north even though their usual habitats used to be southern and western regions. Ecological structure is simplified at the extreme stages of anthropogenic landscape transformation (urbanization, deforestation at the young succession stages, farming). Decrease of native taiga habitat and increase of recreation impact reduce the quantity of birds ecologically connected with secondary forest (grouse, raptors, tits, crossbills and others). Only three species (Perdix perdix, Melanocorypha leucoptera and Anthus gustavi) no longer exist in the research area.