Andryushchenko Yu.O., Fedun O.M., Semyroz A.V., Osmachko O.M.
Some peculiarities of bird flights in the northern of Ukrainian Carpathians in August – October 2023 // Proc. of the State Nat. Hist. Mus. - Lviv, 2025. - 41. - P. 115-136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36885/nzdpm.2025.41.115-136 Key words: bird flights, number, flight directions, flight heights, wandering, migration, Ukrainian Carpathians This article analyzes the results of observations of bird migrations in the northern part of the Ukrainian Carpathians in late summer – mid-autumn 2023. The dynamics of the species composition and number of birds in the Polonyna Runa mountain range was determined, and the heights and directions of their flights through the study area were determined. During 67 days of continuous observations, 65 species of birds from 12 orders were recorded – 42 non-target species and 23 target species. The number of non-target species (one species each of Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Apodiformes, Coraciiformes, three species of Piciformes and thirty-five species of Passeriformes) was low (n = 7596 individuals, or 109.96 individuals./day). The subalpine part of this massif is significantly inferior to the forests along its slopes, settlements and adjacent agricultural lands located along small mountain rivers and streams in terms of the number of species and the number of individuals of non-target birds. Target species (Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiformes, Charadriiformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes) also had rather low numbers (n = 2619 individuals, or 9.77 individuals/day), with Grus grus accounting for more than 74.8% (n = 1960 individuals). The vast majority of the target species flew at low altitudes (50.0% of individuals – up to 100 m above the level of the mountain meadow), mostly in the southwestern direction (74.8% of individuals and 28.4% of flights): in August – 8.6% of ind. and 11.2% of flights, in September – 56.8% of ind. and 22.7% of flights, in October – 83.8% of ind. and 46.3% of flights. Given the low altitudes and multidirectional flights (especially in late August and the first half of September), most birds at Polonyna Runa are wandering rather than migrating in the fall. Most of the birds observed there are probably migrating from the Predkarpattya and mountain valleys of Carpathian to Zakarpattia, or staying for rest, feeding and waiting out unfavorable weather conditions during migration. Apparently, the small number of flights and low number of birds in Polonyna Runa is due to the fact that most of them bypass this area through intermountain valleys and low passes. In addition, at the top of Polonyna Runa there are no proper conditions for feeding many species due to the replacement of pastures with almost continuous dense medium-high thickets of grass vegetation.
Some peculiarities of bird flights in the northern of Ukrainian Carpathians in August – October 2023 // Proc. of the State Nat. Hist. Mus. - Lviv, 2025. - 41. - P. 115-136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36885/nzdpm.2025.41.115-136 Key words: bird flights, number, flight directions, flight heights, wandering, migration, Ukrainian Carpathians This article analyzes the results of observations of bird migrations in the northern part of the Ukrainian Carpathians in late summer – mid-autumn 2023. The dynamics of the species composition and number of birds in the Polonyna Runa mountain range was determined, and the heights and directions of their flights through the study area were determined. During 67 days of continuous observations, 65 species of birds from 12 orders were recorded – 42 non-target species and 23 target species. The number of non-target species (one species each of Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Apodiformes, Coraciiformes, three species of Piciformes and thirty-five species of Passeriformes) was low (n = 7596 individuals, or 109.96 individuals./day). The subalpine part of this massif is significantly inferior to the forests along its slopes, settlements and adjacent agricultural lands located along small mountain rivers and streams in terms of the number of species and the number of individuals of non-target birds. Target species (Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiformes, Charadriiformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes) also had rather low numbers (n = 2619 individuals, or 9.77 individuals/day), with Grus grus accounting for more than 74.8% (n = 1960 individuals). The vast majority of the target species flew at low altitudes (50.0% of individuals – up to 100 m above the level of the mountain meadow), mostly in the southwestern direction (74.8% of individuals and 28.4% of flights): in August – 8.6% of ind. and 11.2% of flights, in September – 56.8% of ind. and 22.7% of flights, in October – 83.8% of ind. and 46.3% of flights. Given the low altitudes and multidirectional flights (especially in late August and the first half of September), most birds at Polonyna Runa are wandering rather than migrating in the fall. Most of the birds observed there are probably migrating from the Predkarpattya and mountain valleys of Carpathian to Zakarpattia, or staying for rest, feeding and waiting out unfavorable weather conditions during migration. Apparently, the small number of flights and low number of birds in Polonyna Runa is due to the fact that most of them bypass this area through intermountain valleys and low passes. In addition, at the top of Polonyna Runa there are no proper conditions for feeding many species due to the replacement of pastures with almost continuous dense medium-high thickets of grass vegetation.
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