Avian Ecology and Behaviour

Khokhlova T.Y.   Juvenile moult and spatial behaviour of first-year Blackbirds Turdus merula on the northeast edge of the range

p. 1-22

A peripheral Blackbird population breeding in Karelia since 1975 was studied in 1978-2005. First captures and subsequent recaptures of 383 birds ringed as nestlings and 490 individuals of unknown origin were analysed. Juvenile moult and spatial behaviour of birds at different stages of moult are characterised. Even though Blackbirds’ time of breeding is similar to that of autochthonous thrush species (Redwing and Song Thrush), Blackbirds retain very late juvenile moult and are more sedentary during the postfledging period. Therefore, most first-autumn birds depart very late under adverse weather conditions with uncompleted body moult. The assumption that along with adaptation to northern conditions, juvenile moult should be shifted towards earlier season is confirmed.

Blackbird, Turdus merula, juvenile moult, spatial behaviour

Ananin A.A., Sokolov L.V.   Relationship between weather conditions, crops of Siberian pine nuts, and irruptions of Siberian Nutcrackers Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchos C.L. Brehm in Siberia and Europe

p. 23-31

Summer numbers of Nutcrackers Nucifraga caryocatactes in Barguzinsky Nature Reserve (Eastern Siberia) and their trapping figures in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Ukraine are positively related to the crops of Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) nuts averaged across Siberia during the previous year. Only numbers of wintering Nutcrackers are positively related to the current crops in Barguzinsky Nature Reserve. No such relationship was found for the autumn numbers. A retrospective analysis showed a significant correlation of Siberian pine crops with summer NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) and NP (North Pacific Pattern) indices in the years of the three-year cycle of crops. Autumn numbers of Siberian Nutcrackers captured in Europe were related to March and May NAO index values recorded two years before.

Siberian Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchos, irruptive migration, invasion, autumn numbers, North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, climate

Ananin A.A., Sokolov L.V.   Long-term arrival trends of 54 avian species to Barguzinsky Nature Reserve in the northeastern Baikal area

p. 33-48

We analysed phenological observations on spring arrival of 54 avian species to Barguzinsky Nature Reserve in 1938-2001. Twenty-eight species (52%) showed a trend towards earlier arrival, 14 species (26%) showed a trend towards later arrival. In 12 species (22%) the timing of spring arrival did not change. Most avian species that started to arrive earlier were passerines (65% of species). Later arrival was mainly recorded in waterfowl and birds of prey. Earlier arrival recorded in roughly one-half of the species analysed, is probably due to climate warming recorded in the study region in the late 20th century. These species may be treated as phenological indicators illustrating climate change in the northeastern Baikal area.

spring migration, arrival date, long-term trends, climate, Baikal area

Bolshakov C.V., Shapoval A.P., Zelenova N.P.   Results of bird trapping and ringing by the Biological Station

p. 49-85

In 2006, a grand total of 40,123 birds of 94 species were trapped and ringed by the Biological Station “Rybachy” in the framework of long- and short-term research projects. A total of 1,377 ringed birds of 57 species produced 2,061 recaptures. In 2006, 354 birds of 32 species ringed on the Courish Spit in previous years were retrapped. Between 15.03.2006 and 15.03.2007, 51 birds of 21 species ringed on the Courish Spit were reported as recovered more than 20 km from the ringing site. In 2006, 101 birds of 21 species ringed outside the Courish Spit were controlled. A review of main research projects is given, along with main trapping techniques. A complete list of long-distance recoveries is provided.

bird ringing, retraps, long-distance recoveries, research projects