ABP 2014

The Amur Bird Project goes on! We will continue our bird migration research from August to November 2014, which will be the fourth season of our standard ringing program. The continuation will allow us to detect changes in populations of migratory birds at Muraviovka Park. Environmental education will also be an important part of the project. The necessity is shown by a sad notice that we´ve got from the Moscow Ringing Centre last week: Two of the captive Greylag Geese, that were reared at Muraviovka Park and ringed and released in September, were shot by hunters only seven days after it. This species is included in the Red Data Book of the Amur oblast!
Due to crop loss because of fires and the flood this year, the financial situation of the Muraviovka Park will not allow to support our project in the generous way like in the past years. So again, we are searching for funding.

one of the released Greylag Geese, 09/2013 © Pia Fetting

ABP-"Veterans": Andreas (2011/13), Friedrich (2011/12), Wieland (2011/12/13), Pia, Kolja, Peter and Susanne (all 2013) © Anne Nerenz

On the 13th of December, a first meeting of ABP-"Veterans" took place in Greifswald/Germany. First results were shown and plans discussed for the upcoming seasons. Thanks to Friedrich and Andy for their organisation!

new and old faces at the "veterans"-meeting © Natalia Rust-Koslowskaja

 //Wieland

ABP 2013 - summary

 

The year is almost over now, and Muraviovka Park is covered under a blanket of snow, with morning temperatures around -30°C - as the Park´s director Svetlana Yakovenko wrote me this week.

So it´s time for a summary of the year 2013 for the Amur Bird Project!

A lot of interesting and valuable information about the birdlife in this poorly known region was obtained. We started to study the wintering birds in February, observed the spring migration until June and collected data about the breeding birds during all summer. From August to October we continued the monitoring of the autumnal migration for the third year now. Many species have been recorded for the first time in the Park (e.g. Eastern Crowned Warbler) or even in the region (e.g. Yellow-bellied Tit). For other birds we proofed breeding for the first time in the area (e.g. Chestnut-flanked Whiteeye). But most important is the data about the endangered wetland species that still inhabit Muraviovka Park and which make this place an area of international conservation concern (e.g. Baer´s Pochard, Yellow-breasted Bunting). The year was everything but usual: high water levels and a flood filled the wetlands, which kept us safe from fires. The famous roosting site of Hooded and White-naped Cranes was therefore not used during this autumn - while flocks of the extremely rare Siberian Crane found favorable conditions. Hundreds of visitors from the region were impressed by the beauty of their natural heritage and the diversity of bird species (e.g. Week 18), and presentations were held to raise environmental awareness (e.g. Week 9).

All in all, 9439 birds have been caught during our scientific work - 7651 individuals out of 133 species got ringed, and 1788 birds out of 68 species were re-trapped. See the table at the end of the post for a detailed list!

All this would not have been possible without the volunteer work of everybody who participated in the project - thank you, it was a great time with you! I also want to thank the Muraviovka Park staff and friends for all their crucial support during the year, especially Sergei Smirenski, Svetlana Yakovenko, Juri, Marina, Vitja and Alexander. Special thanks also to Juliana Nefjedowa: she helped us again in many ways with her language skills and made the excellent video blog. Further support came from Natalia Gromova, the Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University and many others. Big thanks also to the organisations which provided financial support.

Not everything which was planned before was possible due to financial, logistical and personell restrictions: our summer school was cancelled because of the flood and our surveys for rare reed warblers and other endangered bird species took place only inside of Muraviovka Park. But the Amur Bird Project will go on in summer 2014! Further details will be published here soon.

//Wieland

ABP-Team winter 2013: Birthe, Wieland and Charlotte (f.l.t.r.)

ABP-Team spring 2013: Franziska, Naomi and Wieland (f.l.t.r.)

ABP-Team summer 2013: Franziska, Ulrich, Kolja, Wieland, Andreas and Peter (f.l.t.r.)

ABP-Team early autumn 2013: Janina, Viktoria, Susanne, Wieland, Christine, Simon, Pia and Arend (f.l.t.r.)

ABP-Team late autumn 2013: Bert, Pia and Steve (f.l.t.r.)

Total traps, 27.02.-25.10.2013: 9439 birds out of 133 species (E = ringed, R = re-trapped)

			E	R	Sum
Yellow-browed Warbler	Пеночка-зарничка	Gelbbrauen-Laubsänger	1001	93	1094
Siberian Rubythroat	Соловей-красношейка	Rubinkehlchen	658	139	797
Black-faced Bunting	Седоголовая овсянка	Maskenammer	588	168	756
Red-flanked Bluetail	Синехвостка	Blauschwanz	443	184	627
Tree Sparrow	Полевой воробей	Feldsperling	347	204	551
Thick-billed Warbler	Толстоклювая камышевка	Dickschnabel-Rohrsänger	410	134	544
Dusky Warbler	Бурая пеночка	Dunkellaubsänger	402	137	539
Long-tailed Rosefinch	Урагус	Meisengimpel	220	201	421
Long-tailed Tit	Ополовник	Schwanzmeise	186	40	226
Little Bunting	Овсянка-крошка	Zwergammer	214	5	219
Rustic Bunting	Овсянка-ремез	Waldammer	159	16	175
Taiga Flycatcher	Восточная малая мухоловка	Taigaschnäpper	156	14	170
Common Redpoll	Обыкновенная чечетка	Birkenzeisig	153	11	164
Marsh Tit	Черноголовая гаичка	Sumpfmeise	121	41	162
Radde´s Warbler	Толстоклювая пеночка	Bartlaubsänger	113	21	134
Common Rosefinch	Обыкновенная чечевица	Karmingimpel	117	14	131
Black-browed Reed Warbler	Чернобровая камышевка	Brauenrohrsänger	119	7	126
Pallas´s Grasshopper Warbler	Певчий сверчок	Streifenschwirl	99	21	120
Brown Shrike	Сибирский жулан	Braunwürger	102	16	118
Yellow-browed Bunting	Желтобровая овсянка	Gelbbrauenammer	102	16	118
Brambling	Юрок	Bergfink	110	5	115
Arctic Warbler	Пеночка-таловка	Wanderlaubsänger	103	5	108
Common Magpie	Сорока	Elster	100	0	100
Grey-backed Thrush	Сизый дрозд	Gartendrossel	61	30	91
Eurasian Skylark	Полевой жаворонок	Feldlerche	86	0	86
Olive-backed Pipit	Пятнистый конек	Waldpieper	77	2	79
Amur Falcon	Амурский кобчик	Amurfalke	73	0	73
Pallas´ Leaf Warbler	Корольковая пеночка	Goldhähnchen-Laubsänger	64	8	72
Two-barred Warbler	Зеленая пеночка	Middendorff-Laubsänger	58	14	72
Siberian Accentor	Сибирская завирушка	Bergbraunelle	61	10	71
Willow Tit	Пухляк	Weidenmeise	54	16	70
Oriental Reed Warbler	Восточная дроздовидная камышевка	Chinarohrsänger	53	15	68
Elegant Bunting	Желтогорлая овсянка	Gelbkehlammer	48	18	66
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher	Желтоспинная мухоловка	Goldschnäpper	56	6	62
Mugimaki Flycatcher	Таежная мухоловка	Mugimakischnäpper	53	8	61
Pallas´ Reed Bunting	Полярная овсянка	Pallasammer	52	4	56
Barn Swallow	Деревенская ласточка	Rauchschwalbe	43	11	54
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler	Бледноногая пеночка	Ussurilaubsänger	48	5	53
Eurasian Nuthatch	Обыкновенный поползень	Kleiber	31	16	47
Northern Great Tit	Большая синица	Kohlmeise	27	20	47
Pallas´s Rosefinch	Сибирская чечевица	Rosengimpel	37	4	41
Swinhoe´s Robin	Соловей-свистун	Schwirrnachtigall	31	10	41
Dusky Thrush	Бурый дрозд	Rostflügeldrossel	33	0	33
Naumann´s Thrush	Дрозд Науманна	Rostschwanzdrossel	30	3	33
Azure-winged Magpie	Голубая сорока	Blauelster	24	8	32
Bohemian Waxwing	Свиристель	Seidenschwanz	30	1	31
Lanceolated Warbler	Пятнистый сверчок	Strichelschwirl	27	2	29
Siberian Stonechat	Черноголовый чекан	Sibirisches Schwarzkehlchen	27	2	29
Long-eared Owl	Ушастая сова	Waldohreule	26	1	27
Japanese Reed Bunting	Рыжешейная овсянка	Mandschurenammer	23	0	23
Arctic Redpoll	Пепельная чечетка	Polarbirkenzeisig	16	6	22
Eurasian Jay	Сойка	Eichelhäher	17	4	21
Eurasian Wryneck	Вертишейка	Wendehals	13	8	21
Chestnut Bunting	Рыжая овсянка	Rötelammer	20	0	20
Eurasian Bullfinch cineracea	Серый снегирь	Gimpel ssp. cineracea	10	10	20
White-backed Woodpecker	Белоспинный дятел	Weißrückenspecht	8	12	20
Pin-tailed Snipe	Азиатский бекас	Spießbekassine	19	0	19
Bluethroat	Варакушка	Blaukehlchen	14	4	18
Pine Bunting	Белошапочная овсянка	Fichtenammer	16	1	17
Grey Nightjar	Большой козодой	Dschungelnachtschwalbe	13	4	17
White-cheeked Starling	Серый скворец	Weißwangenstar	16	0	16
Ring-necked Pheasant	Фазан	Fasan	12	4	16
Common Kingfisher	Обыкновенный зимородок	Eisvogel	14	1	15
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Малый пестрый дятел	Kleinspecht	4	8	12
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Перепелятник	Sperber	11	0	11
Asian Brown Flycatcher	Ширококлювая мухоловка	Braunschnäpper	10	0	10
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Большой пестрый дятел	Buntspecht	10	0	10
Grey-headed Woodpecker	Седой дятел	Grauspecht	5	5	10
Oriental Turtle Dove	Большая горлица	Orientturteltaube	9	0	9
Hawfinch	Обыкновенный дубонос	Kernbeißer	8	1	9
Northern Hobby	Чеглок	Baumfalke	8	1	9
Eurasian Treecreeper	Обыкновенная пищуха	Waldbaumläufer	7	2	9
Goldcrest	Желтоголовый королек	Wintergoldhähnchen	5	2	7
Siberian Thrush	Cибирский дрозд	Schieferdrossel	5	2	7
Eastern Great Tit	Восточная синица	Östliche Kohlmeise	6	0	6
Grey Wagtail	Горная трясогузка	Gebirgsstelze	6	0	6
Hoopoe	Удод	Wiedehopf	6	0	6
Eurasian Woodcock	Вальдшнеп	Waldschnepfe	5	0	5
Schrenck´s Bittern	Амурский волчок	Mandschurendommel	5	0	5
Eastern x Northern Great Tit	Восточная x Большая синица	Kohlmeisen-Hybrid minor x major	4	0	4
Eastern Yellow Wagtail	Зеленоголовая трясогузка	Östliche Schafstelze	4	0	4
Tristram´s Bunting	Таежная овсянка	Tristramammer	4	0	4
Daurian Redstart	Сибирская горихвостка	Spiegelrotschwanz	3	1	4
Azure Tit	Князек	Lasurmeise	2	2	4
Black-eared Kite	Черный коршун	Schwarzohrmilan	3	0	3
Common Cuckoo	Обыкновенная кукушка	Kuckuck	3	0	3
Eastern Crowned Warbler	Свeтлоголовая пеночка	Kronenlaubsänger	3	0	3
Eastern Rook	Грач	Östliche Saatkrähe	3	0	3
Oriental Crow	Восточная черная ворона	Östliche Rabenkrähe	3	0	3
Oriental Scops Owl	Восточная совка	Orient-Zwergohreule	3	0	3
Upland Buzzard	Мохноногий курганник	Mongolenbussard	3	0	3
White Wagtail	Белая трясогузка	Bachstelze	3	0	3
Eyebrowed Thrush	Оливковый дрозд	Weißbrauendrossel	2	1	3
Siberian Blue Robin	Синий соловей	Blaunachtigall	2	1	3
Baillon´s Crake	Погоныш-крошка	Zwergsumpfhuhn	2	0	2
Chestnut-flanked Whiteeye	Буробокая белоглазка	Rostflanken-Brillenvogel	2	0	2
Coal Tit	Московка	Tannenmeise	2	0	2
Common Reed Bunting	Камышовая овсянка	Rohrammer	2	0	2
Gray´s Grasshopper Warbler	Таежный сверчок	Riesenschwirl	2	0	2
Grey-streaked Flycatcher	Пестрогрудая мухоловка	Strichelschnaepper	2	0	2
Meadow Bunting	Красноухая овсянка	Wiesenammer	2	0	2
Northern Lapwing	Чибис	Kiebitz	2	0	2
Oriental Cuckoo	Глухая кукушка	Hopfkuckuck	2	0	2
Red-throated Pipit	Краснозобый конек	Rotkehlpieper	2	0	2
David´s Bush Warbler	Малая пестрогрудка	Davidbuschsänger	2	0	2
White´s Thrush	Пестрый дрозд	Erddrossel	2	0	2
Winter Wren	Крапивник	Zaunkönig	2	0	2
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker	Большой острокрылый дятел	Grauscheitelspecht	1	1	2
Yellow-bellied Tit	Желтобрюхая синица	Schmuckmeise	1	1	2
Asian Stubtail	короткохвостка	Stummelsänger	1	0	1
Band-bellied Crake	Большой погоныш	Mandarinsumpfhuhn	1	0	1
Black-naped Oriole	Черноголовая иволга	Schwarznackenpirol	1	0	1
Brown-cheeked Rail	Водяной пастушок	Braunohrralle	1	0	1
Buff-bellied Pipit	Конек американский	Pazifikpieper	1	0	1
Chestnut-eared Bunting	Ошейниковая овсянка	Bandammer	1	0	1
Common Crossbill	Клест-еловик	Fichtenkreuzschnabel	1	0	1
Common Snipe	Бекас	Bekassine	1	0	1
Eurasian Kestrel	Обыкновенная пустельга	Turmfalke	1	0	1
Eurasian Siskin	Чиж	Erlenzeisig	1	0	1
Japanese Quail	Японский перепел	Japanwachtel	1	0	1
Japanese Sparrowhawk	Малый перепелятник	Trillersperber	1	0	1
Japanese Waxwing	Амурский свиристель	Blutseidenschwanz	1	0	1
Lapland Bunting	Лапландский подорожник	Spornammer	1	0	1
Mallard	Кряква	Stockente	1	0	1
Northern Goshawk	Тетеревятник	Habicht	1	0	1
Northern Hawk Owl	Иглоногая сова	Falkenkauz	1	0	1
Oriental Greenfinch	Китайская зеленушка	Chinagrünling	1	0	1
Pale Thrush	Бледный дрозд	Fahldrossel	1	0	1
Pine Grosbeak	Щур	Hakengimpel	1	0	1
Richard´s Pipit	Степной конек	Spornpieper	1	0	1
Snow Bunting	Пуночка	Schneeammer	1	0	1
White-throated Rock Thrush	Белогорлый дрозд	Amurrötel	1	0	1
Yellow-breasted Bunting	Дубровник	Weidenammer	1	0	1