Ecological analysis of bird fauna in the territories of water treatment facilities at Kharkiv region

Abstract

Purpose. Analysis of the avifauna on the territory of water treatment facilities to assess their importance in the support and conservation of birds at Kharkiv region. Methods. Field survey: records of birds on permanent routes. Statistical analysis. Results. Avifauna of water treatment facilities (hereinafter WTF) at Kharkiv region in 2019 - 2023 amounted to 195 species from 17 orders and 44 families. Passeriformes birds dominated (37.7%; n=159), Charadriiformes (16.6%) and Anseriformes (12.1%) subdominated. A minority of other orders (Accipitriformes (4.5%), Ciconiiformes (3.2%), Columbiformes (3.2%)) was recorded. WTF are important for nesting of 80 species (53.3%; n=195), and are also a trophic base for 44 (27.7%) wandering, 28 (17.6%) migratory and 7 (4.4%) wintering bird species. Among 11 faunal groups, limnophilic 18.5% (n=159), boreal (15.9%) and tropical (13.4%) dominated. The nesting avifauna is formed mainly by tropical (16.9%; n = 80), limnophilic (13.0%) and forest-steppe - 13.0% groups. Conclusions. The research suggests that man-made areas of water treatment facilities are important for maintaining species diversity of birds, as they are a place of concentration of both widespread and rare species during all seasons of the year. In total, 159 species of birds were found nesting or staying in different seasons on the territory of water treatment facilities at Kharkiv region, most of which are rare and endangered: listed in the Red Book of Kharkiv region (15 species) and the Red Book of Ukraine (13 species); species of concern in Europe (Bonn and Bern Conventions).