Denis Bogomolov

Bird Diversity in Neglected Areas of Russia

Nests like this one (Montagu`s Harrier) are found in nettle beds.

This is a neglected forest road (Tver Region).

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Russian FederationBirds, Europe1 Mar 2002

The overall aim of this project is to prepare and publish a paper on communities of birds on neglected areas, which will be based upon detailed study of distribution, diversity and peculiarities of ecology of the birds inhabiting such lands.

Various types of neglected habitats, which contain different species of common and endangered birds, occur in Europe. In Russia they appeared about fifteen years ago as a result of agricultural degradation and the abandonment of villages.  Once the land stopped being cultivated, it became extremely attractive for birds because its thick vegetation and almost no human interference makes an ideal breeding ground.

Today the situation with these areas is swiftly changing and it is very important to study them for further conservation of these unique habitats.

For further information contact Denis_bogomolov@myu-net.ru

Project Update: April 2003

In many regions of Central European Russia we can watch now very interesting and swiftly changing process - appearance and transformation of so called "neglected areas".

This is very new type of habitats wich has been formed after different processes with the equal result -disappearance of any kind of human activity. The basis for it can be different in different cases: total destruction of agriculture, neglecting of settlements because of Chernobyl pollution, depopulation and migration of people from the contryside to cities etc.

Neglected forest roads are very attractive for shrikes, harriers (the Hen harrier and the Pallid harrier) and various species of Passerines. In several years, this road will be completely unreachable because of young trees, bushes and ruderal herbs.


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