Migrations of the Long-tailed Duck in the European North-East of Russia

Arctic Russia is home to more than 90 % of all Long-tailed Ducks in the Clangula hyemalis species from the Western Siberia/Northern Europe population. The main wintering grounds of Long-tailed Ducks are situated in the Baltic Sea. The principal migratory routes of the Long-tailed Duck between the breeding and wintering grounds are relatively well-studied and follow the so-called Norwegian route along the Barents Sea coastline via the Pomorskij Strait, over the Kolguyev Island, the Kaninskij Peninsula and the White Sea. The secondary migration routes are still understudied. It has been determined that a portion of the population regularly migrates through the eastern part of Ukraine and European Russia, including the Komi Republic, the Kirov Region, the Nizhny Novgorod and Perm Regions, and the Republics of Udmurtia, Mari El, and Bashkortostan. Thus, a portion of the population utilises the «Volga-Caspian» migration route. This migration route is not as massive and covers a broad area. Long-tailed Ducks migrate in flocks of 4 to 56 individuals. Sometimes, there may be a higher intensity of migration. It is highly likely that the wintering grounds of these birds are located in the Caspian and Black Seas, where 4-5 thousand Long-tailed Ducks were counted within a relatively small area. A detailed study of all relevant ecological aspects is needed to contribute to the conservation of the Long-tailed Duck.