I.V. Shydlovskyy, N.A.Pisulinska
Zoological Museum of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv,
Hrushevsky str. 4, Lviv 79005, Ukraine
zoomus@franko.lviv.ua
The territory of the Cholginski ornithological reserve is located within
the southern limits of Ukrainian Roztochya, on the territory of Yavorivsky district
of the Lviv province. The landscape is formed by the valleys of Shklo and
Gnojenets rivers, which connect near the city of Yavoriv and flow into the Sian
river.
According to the classification of I. Horban (1992) the ?ornithological
communities of the open landscapes? are prevalent on the territory of the
reserve. Aquatic and amphibiotic habitats, reed (Phragmites australis) and
cattail (Typha spp.) grooves on moist and grasslands on the dry soils are
composing the landscape of the reserve. The open water body and shallow
waters and marshlands near the shoreline are the most valuable habitats, since
they receive enough insulation and are rich in plankton. Large territories covered
with reeds, cattails and sedges (Carex spp.) serve as breeding habitats for many
species of birds (Shydlovsky et al., 2002).
Materials and information were collected during visual observations and
bird capturing. Birds were captured in the same habitats and localities with the
same methods: mist-nets for passerines and traps for waders. All ringing
(banding) was done in agreement with the ?Statement about the scientific bird
ringing, prepared by the Western branch of the Ukrainian Ornithological
Society?. Different type of data were collected alongside with the ringing, such
as the fat score, measurements, plumage and moult, weight. Age and sex of the
birds were identified with following guides: Lars Svensson (1992), Identification
Guide to European Passerines; A.J. Prater et al., (1976), Identification and
ageing of Holarctic Waders; Przemyslaw Busse, (1990), Klucz do oznaczania płci
i wieku europejskich ptakow wroblowatych; molting and age were also described
using ?Moult and Ageing of European Passerines? (Jenni, Winkler, 1994).
About 180 species of the birds, which constitute 44% of the entire
Ukrainian bird fauna, were recorded on the territory of the reserve during last
12 years of the research. 23 of these species are among those listed in the
Ukrainian Red Data book and represent 34.3% of the total number of
endangered Ukrainian species. From 50 to 100 thousands of birds fly through
this territory annually during 1995-2001, while about 20 thousands of waterfowl
are concentrated here during the autumn migrations. Unfortunately, the total
number of birds decreased ten times from 2001 onwards. This is caused by the
presence of many (up to 40 simultaneously) amateur fishermen that often use
private vehicles (up to 28 simultaneously) on the territory of the reserve. The
impact of fishermen on the bird population should be taken seriously particularly
because two species Charadrius hiaticula and Recurvirostra avosetta breed only
in the reserve in the whole Lviv province (first species) or the entire Western
Ukraine (second species).
Strong impact of the human and cattle (grazing) during the breeding period
caused extinction of the breeding population of Anas clypeata, decrease in the
total bird number, disappearance of previously common migratory species such
as Numenius. However, additional endangered species other than the birds were
found on the territory of the reserve. 27 450 specimens of 108 species of 28
families of birds were captured and ringed during the autumn migrations; 25
000 specimens of 58 species belong to the order Passeriformes, 2 340 of 28
species are Charadriiformes, 72 of 6 species ? Anseriformes and 38 specimens
of 16 species belong to various other orders. The period of bird capturing and
ringing did not last too long each year ? about 30 days on average, but the
entire sum of working days during 12 years comprise 380 days.
Following endangered species were captured and ringed on the territory
of the reserve: two specimens of Tringa stagnatilis, 12 specimens of Numenius
arquata and three specimens of Lanius excubitor. Furthermore, a new for the
fauna of Ukraine Anthus hodgsoni was captured and ringed here in 2006.
Among all birds ringed on the territory of the reserve, 37 were recovered in
different countries, including Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovak, Croatia,
Estonia, the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Portugal, Finland, Yugoslavia,
Greece, Spain, Italy, Egypt and Ukraine.
Cholginski ornithological reserve is the unique habitat. Considerable
changes in natural ecosystems of Yavorivshchyna shows that the unique wildlife
territories can be created by a man as a result of mining, and they deserve
species conservation status. This type of habitats are the only places useful for
migratory bird species deep in the continent and far from the sea shore of large
water bodies. They serve as refugees, help to recover and earn food and energy
supply necessary for the successful migration.
This artificial and already half-recovered (half-natural) ecosystems lost
their use for human population and are abandoned. Unfortunately, there are no
ways to manage the current conditions of the reserve. We can only sadly state
that one of the most important bird wildlife habitat of Lvivska province and
Western Ukraine is slowly degrading.




