BIRDS OF THE EASTERN PART OF SMALL POLISSYA AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES IN SUMMER AND AUTUMN 2024

Background. The article presents data on the number and landscape distribution of birds in eastern Little Polissia and adjacent areas based on surveys conducted in July-November 2024, and provides more detailed information on some species, including rare ones. Methods. Field surveys were conducted on road routes with regular stops at survey points to inspect open areas and water areas with 10-12-X binoculars and 30-X telescopes, combined with short walking routes (0.5-1 km) to survey tree-shrub and emergent reed beds. Birds recorded while traveling by car were included in the observations at the next survey point. Results. n total, 16224 individuals of 102 species of birds were recorded in July - November, the most numerous of which were Anas platyrhynchos (22.1%), Sturnus vulgaris (16.1%), Fulica atra (13.4%), Corvus frugilegus (5.0%), which together accounted for 56.7% of the recorded individuals. During the study, the number of recorded species decreased from 84 in July to 45 in November, and their total number, on the contrary, increased from 779 birds/day in July to 2098 birds/day in November. Conclusions. Most species and the highest number of birds were recorded in floodplain riverine landscapes - 10632 birds of 85 species, while in agro-landscapes - 4467 birds of 58 species, and in forest landscapes - only 1026 birds of 58 species. Obviously, the low number of birds in forest landscapes is caused by the fact that after the completion of nesting and during autumn migration, most forest species begin to feed mainly in adjacent agricultural landscapes and river floodplains. The same applies to wading species, which during this period of the annual cycle mostly move to the open waters of large reservoirs, primarily to the Netishynske wetland.