Ornithofauna in the zone of active combat actions in the vicinity of the village of Makiіvka, Luhansk region, in 2024

Ornithofauna in the zone of active combat actions in the vicinity of the village of Makiіvka, Luhansk region, in 2024. - Yu.O. Kovalenko, D.V. Medovnyk, M.V. Prychepa. - Berkut. 34 (1). 2025. - The observations were carried out under the conditions of daily artillery shelling, drone attacks, and episodic shooting battles in July, September, and October 2024. In total, 21 bird species from 7 orders were registered. 2 species from them (Imperial Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle) listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Despite active hostilities, some species maintained stable populations due to their ecological plasticity and ability to adapt to altered anthropogenic landscapes. Great and Blue Tits remained stable in shelterbelts with relatively unchanged microclimates, while Pheasant continued breeding in fragmented shrub habitats. Granivorous species (European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Tree Sparrow) maintained their populations due to food availability in destroyed grain storage facilities, although this concentration may be temporary. In contrast, Little Owl, Common Raven, and European Robin showed decreased abundance due to reduced food availability and noise pollution. Species with narrow ecological requirements (Mallard, Grey Heron, Imperial Eagle) left the area due to habitat loss and changes in food resources. High ecological plasticity in some species and vulnerability to environmental changes in others, shaping their response to the conditions of military conflict. [Ukrainian].