Beskaravainyi, M.M., Kostin & Yu S. 1998

[Distribution, numbers and some peculiarities of the breeding ecology of the Shag and the Herring Gull in the South-Eastern Crimea]. In Russian with English. summary.

BERKUT. 7 (1-2). 25-29.

Summary: The Shag and the Herring Gull form a basis of hydrophilous breeding ornithocomplex of the Southern Crimea coast, where they inhabit rocky coast precipices and small rocky islands. Seven areas of nesting of the Shag have been found (170-180 pairs): the largest one at the Karadag Nature reserve. For nesting wider range relief elements are used, than at the North coast; inland components are used more often to build the nests. Periods of the reproductive cycle vary within 2,5 months for different pairs and starts at the end of February. The Herring Gull inhabits the six main areas (about 150 pairs). Distinctive feature of biotopes in this region is the significant development of relief vertical elements. The reproductive cycle starts in April. During the last decade, invasion of new habitats and increase of abundance at the South coast has been being observed. The food mostly consists of animal organisms that are collected on the coastal zone.

Keywords: Shag, Herring Gull, the Crimea, distribution, numbers, ecology, breeding, feeding.

Address: M.M.Beskaravainyi, Karadag Nature Reserve, 334876 PO Kurortnoe, Feodosiya, the Crimea, Ukraine.

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