Russia




Autumn count on migrating birds of prey at South Baikal migratory pass 51.44N, 103.43E

Observers: Marina Alexeyenko (Krasnoshtanova) (Pribaikal'ski National Park), Viktoria Malysheva, Igor Fefelov (Irkutsk State University)

Observation site: Kultuk (Irkutsk Region, south-east margin of Lake Baikal)

Terms: 23 August - 10 October 2003



Species

Total No.

%

Pandion haliaetus

4

0.03

Pernis ptilorhyncus
orientalis

1,214

9.9

Buteo buteo

6,952

56.5

Buteo lagopus

2

0.02

Buteo hemilasius

15

0.04

Milvus migrans

2,029

16.5

Accipiter gentilis

606

4.9

Accipiter nisus

1,036

8.4

Accipiter gularis sibiricus

>5

0.04

Circus (aeruginosus) spilonotus

2

0.02

Circus cyaneus

24

0.19

Aquila heliaca

38

0.31

Aquila chrysaetos

30

0.24

Aquila clanga

30

0.24

Aquila nipalensis

14

0.10

Hieraaetus pennatus

52

0.42

Haliaetus albicilla

5

0.04

Falco peregrinus

4

0.03

Falco tinnunculus

30

0.24

Falco subbuteo

25

0.20

Falco cherrug

1

0.01

Unid. eagle

2

0.02

Unid. falcon

5

0.04

Unid. raptor

75

0.6

Unid. harrier

1

0.01

Buteo buteo or Pernis ptilorhyncus

109

0.89

Total:

12,310

100


Comments:

The weather was somewhat average. However, a strong and short-timed temperature falling, to –10 –15 degrees under zero at night, was between 9 and 13 October (why the observation was finished 10 October), and a warming did came again in middle October; because of this, some part of Aquila chrysaetos, migrating late, could be underestimated. Migration terms for nesting eagle species (A.heliaca, A.chrysaetos) were later than usually in 2000s, but similar to ones having observed usually in late 1980s.

Bird counts in 2003 were supported by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, USA.