ABP 2014: Week 4

watching birds with the participants of our Bird Ecology Summer School © Julia Schröder

What a week! Even if its still mid-August, we already trapped the seasons 1000th bird. Migration at its best, and almost no rain or wind throughout the week! Perfect conditions also for our Bird Ecology Summer School. On Tuesday, 21 children between 8 and 15 years from different parts of the Amur region came to us in the Park. During five days they learned about bird ecology, migration, identification and nature conservation. All of them were highly motivated, and so they came usually already before breakfast to the ringing station, to see what is new. It was great to work with them. Big thanks to the Park´s interim director Svetlana Yakovenko for the organisation, the Russian teachers Natalia Andreeva, Tatiana Evgenina and Natalia Alexandrovna and all the helpers which made all this possible. Special thanks to Juliana Nefjodowa, who was busy in translating to Russian, English and German all day long. On the last morning the summer school ended with a birdrace, when the children had to identify as much bird species as possible within one hour around Muraviovka Park´s headquarter. Together with one us the three teams recognized 39 species - a good sign, that the participants learned a lot about the threatened diversity in the Amur region. For most of them this week was also the first contact with foreigners, and so we had the feeling that these days contributed also to intercutural understanding and tolerance. If we will find financial support, we will organize such a summer school again next year.

group pic with our 1000th bird - a spectacular Baillon´s Crake © Wieland Heim

the face-to-face contact with the birds in our ringing station was most impressing for the children © Julia Schröder

drawing bird pictures from the field guide © Julia Schröder

Susi´s self-made bird memory game: you should not only remember where the right card was hidden... © Julia Schröder

...but also which tail and wing fits to which bird! © Julia Schröder

a view abroad: Laszlo is telling about birds and nature in his homecountry Hungary, while Juliana is translating © Wieland Heim

at the end every participant received a certificate signed by Svetlana Yakovenko as the Park´s director and me as the ABP´s coordinator © Julia Schröder

a great week with a great group © Julia Schröder

But the children were not the only visitors during these days: on Wednesday many people came to the Park, together with General Muravyov-Amurskys descendant. Nikolay Nikolayevich Muravyov-Amursky played a major role in the expansion of the Russian empire along the Amur river, and the village Muraviovka and so also the Park was named after him. 

One of the visitors brought us an unlucky Amur Falcon - just fledged, the bird was hitten by a car and all wing-feathers are broken. We will feed this bird until we will find somebody who could take care of it until are feathers are renewed. If you have any ideas who could help, please write us!

some of the visitors that came with Muravyov-Amurskys descendant © Wieland Heim

the migration of the Amur Falcon and the threats along that way was one central topic in our summer school © Friedrich Eidam

Julia is feeding the Amur Falcon chick with insects © Wieland Heim

During all these activities we were still busy with checking our mist-nets every hour all day and night. The nocturnal migration of the Siberian Rubythroats starts slowly, while Thick-billed Warblers and Pallas´s Grasshopper-warblers are still the most common species. The species diversity is extremely high now, since we trapped already many migrants from the far north like the Arctic Warbler but also observed still several of the summer birds, like Black-naped Oriole, White-throated Needletail and Gray´s Warbler. Nice was also a family of Azure Tits - this species was only a winter visitor during the last years but has bred at the Park in 2014.

this years first Grey Nightjar © Julia Schröder

and the first Baillon´s Crake, a juvenile © Friedrich Eidam

migration of the wagtails has started, here a juvenile Eastern Yellow Wagtail - probably taivana © Friedrich Eidam

juvenile Asian Brown Flycatcher © Julia Schröder

a beautiful misty morning © Julia Schröder

a juvenile Siberian Bush-warbler davidi - 4th record for Muraviovka Park © Wieland Heim

while the local breeders were not seen since the end of July, some Yellow-breasted Buntings are now migrating through © Wieland Heim

an aberrant Pallas´s Grasshopper-warbler with complete yellow bill and legs (r) with a normal colored bird (l) © Wieland Heim

busy with birds © Wieland Heim

While writing this, I´m already in Japan to take part at the International Ornithological Congress, where I will be talking about some of the ABP´s results, while my team will continue the field work. I left the Park with the children on Saturday - but my bus from Blago to Khabarovsk was cancelled after hours of waiting. Once again, all you need in Russia are good contacts. And so I called a friend, who called a friend, who called a friend who was ready to drive me all the way to the Khabarovsk airport. After a non-stop over-night 11-hours-drive I reached my plane to Tokyo - thank you, Vitja!

Tokyo Narita Airport, southern part © Wieland Heim

//Wieland

11.08.-17.08.2014, Total traps: 674 birds out of 50 species

Dickschnabel-Rohrsänger	Thick-billed Warbler	Толстоклювая камышевка	198
Streifenschwirl	Pallas´s Grasshopper-warbler	Певчий сверчок	63
Brauenrohrsänger	Black-browed Reed-warbler	Чернобровая камышевка	55
Gelbbrauen-Laubsänger	Yellow-browed Warbler	Пеночка-зарничка	42
Braunwürger	Brown Shrike	Сибирский жулан	33
Dunkellaubsänger	Dusky Warbler	Бурая пеночка	33
Rubinkehlchen	Siberian Rubythroat	Соловей-красношейка	22
Wanderlaubsänger	Arctic Warbler	Пеночка-таловка	22
Maskenammer	Black-faced Bunting	Седоголовая овсянка	19
Feldsperling	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Полевой воробей	17
Kohlmeise	Northern Great Tit	Большая синица	16
Spießbekassine	Pintail Snipe	Азиатский бекас	13
Eisvogel	Common Kingfisher	Обыкновенный зимородок	10
Karmingimpel	Common Rosefinch	Обыкновенная чечевица	10
Ussurilaubsänger	Pale-legged Leaf-warbler	Бледноногая пеночка	10
Lasurmeise	Azure Tit	Князек	8
Schwarzkehlchen	Common Stonechat	Черноголовый чекан	8
Sumpfmeise	Marsh Tit	Черноголовая гаичка	8
Middendorff-Laubsänger	Two-barred Warbler	Двупоясковая пеночка	7
Zwergschnäpper	Red-breasted Flycatcher	Восточная малая мухоловка	7
Goldschnäpper	Yellow-rumped Flycatcher	Желтоспинная мухоловка	6
Mandschurenammmer	Ochre-rumped Bunting	Рыжешейная овсянка	6
Braunschnäpper	Asian Brown Flycatcher	Ширококлювая мухоловка	5
Chinarohrsänger	Oriental Reed-warbler	Восточная дроздовидная камышевка	5
Rauchschwalbe	Barn Swallow	Деревенская ласточка	5
Rötelammer	Chestnut Bunting	Рыжая овсянка	4
Wendehals	Eurasian Wryneck	Вертишейка	4
Gelbbrauenammer	Yellow-browed Bunting	Желтобровая овсянка	3
Mandschurendommel	Schrenck´s Bittern	Амурский волчок	3
Meisengimpel	Long-tailed Rosefinch	Урагус	3
Strichelschwirl	Lanceolated Warbler	Пятнистый сверчок	3
Waldohreule	Northern Long-eared Owl	Ушастая сова	3
Azurelster	Asian Azure-winged Magpie	Голубая сорока	2
Feldlerche	Eurasian Skylark	Полевой жаворонок	2
Gebirgsstelze	Grey Wagtail	Горная трясогузка	2
Pallasammer	Pallas´s Bunting	Полярная овсянка	2
Weidenammer	Yellow-breasted Bunting	Дубровник	2
Amurdrossel	Grey-backed Thrush	Сизый дрозд	1
Amurfalke	Amur Falcon	Амурский кобчик	1
Davidbuschsänger	Siberian Bush-warbler	Малая пестрогрудка	1
Dschungelnachtschwalbe	Jungle Nightjar	Большой козодой	1
Flussuferläufer	Common Sandpiper	Перевозчик	1
Habicht	Northern Goshawk	Тетеревятник	1
Orient-Zwergohreule	Oriental Scops-owl	Восточная совка	1
Orientturteltaube	Oriental Turtle-dove	Большая горлица	1
Riesenschwirl	Gray´s Warbler	Таежный сверчок	1
Schafstelze	Yellow Wagtail	Жёлтая трясогузка	1
Sperber	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Перепелятник	1
Spornpieper	Richard´s Pipit	Степной конек	1
Zwergsumpfhuhn	Baillon´s Crake	Погоныш-крошка	1

ABP 2014: Week 3

this years August team and ABP´s 20.000th trapped bird: a Yellow-browed Warbler © Wieland Heim

The week started with the arrival of Friederike and Julia, two students from Germany, and Laszlo, bird ringer from Hungary. And they came just in time: during all week weather conditions were perfect - sunny and calm days with clear nights. We started to trap during the night, too, using tape-lure, and the first Eurasian Skylark and Siberian Rubythroats were trapped. In general, most of the species seem to be two weeks earlier than last year - we already trapped many Yellow-browed Warblers and Red-breasted (Taiga) Flycatchers. Juri, a volunteer working for Muraviovka Park since many years, helped us to get fuel and made our car working again. So we checked several lakes and mudflats in and around the Park, but failed to find Baer´s Pochard. But the waders were noteworthy: we found Sharp-tailed and Terek Sandpipers as well as Long-toed and Red-necked Stints, and even in our mist-nets we got some, like Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers. In total we catched more than 500 birds during the last week, including the Amur Bird Projects 20.000th trapped bird! Next week we will have our Bird Ecology Summer School, so stay tuned for the update.

//Wieland

a very early Brambling © Friedrich Eidam

ABP´s first ringed Common Sandpiper © Friedrich Eidam

always a good catch: Schrenck´s Bittern © Friedrich Eidam

the first visitors came to our ringing station © Julia Schröder

Friedrich had to fix our old bikes at least once a day © Wieland Heim

Friedi and the Japanese Quail... © Wieland Heim

...a beautiful male. At least six are still calling around the headquarters each morning © Wieland Heim

Susi and a first-year Eurasian Sparrowhawk © Wieland Heim

watching waders © Wieland Heim

the place were found Baer´s Pochard in 2013. White-winged and Common Terns are still breeding here © Wieland Heim

our old friend, Long-tailed Rosefinch XP87825: this bird was ringed by an American ornithologist at the Park in 2009 and was re-trapped by us several times each year © Wieland Heim

04.08.-10.08.2014, Total traps: 522 birds of 42 species

Dickschnabel-Rohrsänger	Thick-billed Warbler	Толстоклювая камышевка	144
Streifenschwirl	Pallas´s Grasshopper-warbler	Певчий сверчок	45
Brauenrohrsänger	Black-browed Reed-warbler	Чернобровая камышевка	36
Braunwürger	Brown Shrike	Сибирский жулан	36
Gelbbrauen-Laubsänger	Yellow-browed Warbler	Пеночка-зарничка	33
Dunkellaubsänger	Dusky Warbler	Бурая пеночка	25
Rötelammer	Chestnut Bunting	Рыжая овсянка	23
Ussurilaubsänger	Pale-legged Leaf-warbler	Бледноногая пеночка	23
Maskenammer	Black-faced Bunting	Седоголовая овсянка	21
Zwergschnäpper	Red-breasted Flycatcher	Восточная малая мухоловка	18
Goldschnäpper	Yellow-rumped Flycatcher	Желтоспинная мухоловка	14
Rauchschwalbe	Barn Swallow	Деревенская ласточка	11
Braunschnäpper	Asian Brown Flycatcher	Ширококлювая мухоловка	10
Meisengimpel	Long-tailed Rosefinch	Урагус	8
Rubinkehlchen	Siberian Rubythroat	Соловей-красношейка	7
Wanderlaubsänger	Arctic Warbler	Пеночка-таловка	7
Feldsperling	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Полевой воробей	6
Karmingimpel	Common Rosefinch	Обыкновенная чечевица	6
Chinarohrsänger	Oriental Reed-warbler	Восточная дроздовидная камышевка	6
Gelbbrauenammer	Yellow-browed Bunting	Желтобровая овсянка	6
Spießbekassine	Pintail Snipe	Азиатский бекас	4
Eisvogel	Common Kingfisher	Обыкновенный зимородок	3
Rußschnäpper	Dark-sided Flycatcher	Сибирская мухоловка	3
Sumpfmeise	Marsh Tit	Черноголовая гаичка	3
Elster	Common Magpie	Сорока	2
Kohlmeise	Northern Great Tit	Большая синица	2
Schwarzkehlchen	Common Stonechat	Черноголовый чекан	2
Mandschurendommel	Schrenck´s Bittern	Амурский волчок	2
Middendorff-Laubsänger	Two-barred Warbler	Двупоясковая пеночка	2
Bruchwasserläufer	Wood Sandpiper	Фифи	2
Strichelschwirl	Lanceolated Warbler	Пятнистый сверчок	1
Rohrammer	Reed Bunting	Камышовая овсянка	1
Bergfink	Brambling	Юрок	1
Flussuferläufer	Common Sandpiper	Перевозчик	1
Feldlerche	Eurasian Skylark	Полевой жаворонок	1
Sperber	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Перепелятник	1
Buntspecht	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Большой пестрый дятел	1
Waldwasserläufer	Green Sandpiper	Черныш	1
Japanwachtel	Japanese Quail	Японский перепел	1
Kleinspecht	Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Малый пестрый дятел	1
Orient-Zwergohreule	Oriental Scops-owl	Восточная совка	1
Bartlaubsänger	Radde´s Warbler	Толстоклювая пеночка	1

ABP 2014: Week 2

a juvenile Dark-sided Flycatcher, the first one ever trapped within the Amur Bird Project © Friedrich Eidam

Finally, I made my way to Muraviovka Park. But Friedrich and Susanne already built up the mist-nets together with Marketa and started trapping last week. The weather was not very good for catching birds, very hot but with rainfalls and thunderstorms. Only during the last two days we had noticeable migration and ringed a lot. The first Yellow-browed, Pale-legged and Arctic Warblers arrived, as well as different Flycatchers - most interesting was a juvenile Dark-sided Flycatcher. This species was recorded for the first time at Muraviovka Park in May 2012 by the German ornithologists Roland Speck and Ulrich Pittius, and a second one was noticed by us in August 2013. Waders also started to pass by, including Far Eastern Curlews, Whimbrel and Marsh Sandpiper. But for some species breeding season is not over yet. Pallas´s Grasshopper-warblers, Ochre-rumped Buntings and Japanese Quails are still calling, and Amur Falcons and Barn Swallows are feeding their chicks in the nest. The bad thing was that we couldn´t use our car due to lack of fuel and some papers. And even worse: last saturday some of our mist-nets and groceries were stolen from the summer camp where we live. Together with all the visa problems we had during the last weeks it was really not an easy start. At least there seem to be less mosquitoes than last year...

//Wieland

Susi and Friedrich in the ringing station © Wieland Heim

many birds are moulting now, like this Reed Bunting © Wieland Heim

Barn Swallow © Wieland Heim

a still flightless Pallas´s Grasshopper-warbler chick © Wieland Heim

we are searching and searching for rare Manchurian or Streaked Reed-warblers, but so far we trapped only Black-browed Reed-warblers © Wieland Heim

lucky ringers with an amazing Gray´s Warbler © Friedrich Eidam

Susi and a Pintail Snipe © Friedrich Eidam

this juvenile Eurasian Sparrowhawk just fledged from the trees behind our buildings © Friedrich Eidam

26.07.-03.08.2014, Total traps: 242 birds out of 27 species

Dunkellaubsänger	Dusky Warbler	Бурая пеночка	41
Streifenschwirl	Pallas´s Grasshopper-warbler	Певчий сверчок	37
Dickschnabel-Rohrsänger	Thick-billed Warbler	Толстоклювая камышевка	32
Maskenammer	Black-faced Bunting	Седоголовая овсянка	25
Brauenrohrsänger	Black-browed Reed-warbler	Чернобровая камышевка	22
Goldschnäpper	Yellow-rumped Flycatcher	Желтоспинная мухоловка	13
Rauchschwalbe	Barn Swallow	Деревенская ласточка	11
Rötelammer	Chestnut Bunting	Рыжая овсянка	9
Meisengimpel	Long-tailed Rosefinch	Урагус	7
Azurelster	Asian Azure-winged Magpie	Голубая сорока	6
Feldsperling	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Полевой воробей	6
Gelbbrauen-Laubsänger	Yellow-browed Warbler	Пеночка-зарничка	5
Ussurilaubsänger	Pale-legged Leaf-warbler	Бледноногая пеночка	4
Rubinkehlchen	Siberian Rubythroat	Соловей-красношейка	4
Eisvogel	Common Kingfisher	Обыкновенный зимородок	3
Elster	Common Magpie	Сорока	2
Rußschnäpper	Dark-sided Flycatcher	Сибирская мухоловка	2
Sumpfmeise	Marsh Tit	Черноголовая гаичка	2
Kohlmeise	Northern Great Tit	Большая синица	2
Zwergschnäpper	Red-breasted Flycatcher	Восточная малая мухоловка	2
Wanderlaubsänger	Arctic Warbler	Пеночка-таловка	1
Braunwürger	Brown Shrike	Сибирский жулан	1
Riesenschwirl	Gray´s Warbler	Таежный сверчок	1
Strichelschwirl	Lanceolated Warbler	Пятнистый сверчок	1
Mandschurenammmer	Ochre-rumped Bunting	Рыжешейная овсянка	1
Spießbekassine	Pintail Snipe	Азиатский бекас	1
Rohrammer	Reed Bunting	Камышовая овсянка	1

ABP 2014: Week 1

Black-browed Reed Warbler - a common breeder at Muraviovka Park. All photos © Marketa Tichackova

The first ABP team members arrived on Friday at Muraviovka Park - but without me. While Friedrich and Susi received their visa in time, I had to cancel my flights and will hopefully be able to start my eastward migration during the next week.
But Marketa, the Czech ringer, continued the mist-netting activities. This is what she found:

"I caught only 55 birds (8 retraps) more until 25th of July. We had one day with heavy rain, and two days with smog from fires in Yakutia. Not so many Thick-billed Warblers like before, and even one day without them. No special species were recorded, only the local breeders - but one funny bird: a Wryneck! And I caught my first Azure-winged Magpie. Also interesting was a family of Brown Shrikes."

The Wryneck - a funny bird indeed

Azure-winged Magpie, 1Y

Brown Shrike

We will see what the next week will bring - migration of Leaf Warblers and Flycatchers should start very soon.

//Wieland

Bird ringing season has started!

Black-faced Bunting, adult male. All photos © Marketa Tichackova

While my team and I are getting ready for our next weeks trip to Far East Russia, there is already ornithological work carried out at Muraviovka Park: Marketa, bird ringer from the Czech Republic, came in May to the Park to work with cranes. Now she put up some of our mist-nets and made some nice catches - here is what she wrote:

"Ringing birds at Muraviovka park was started during the last week. At the beginning of the week it was very rainy but then sunny weather has come back. 139 birds were captured (including 26 that already had rings from previous years). The most frequent species were Thick-billed Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Black-faced Bunting. Some young birds were caught, even a young Daurian Redstart came to the pine trees. But the best surprise in the net was a Chestnut-flanked White-eye!"

For the latter species we confirmed breeding at Muraviovka Park for the very first time in 2013, migrant White-eyes usually occur in late August and early September. 

one of the Park´s most iconical birds: Long-tailed Rosefinch, here an nice adult male

There is more to come - for the next three months you will find here again weekly updates from the Amur Bird Project fieldwork!

//Wieland