Distribution Trends of Breeding Bird Species in Belarus under Conditions of Global Climate Change

Abstract

Over the past 100 years, obvious changes in population numbers have been recorded for 112 breeding bird species in Belarus, i.e. almost half of the country's 225 breeding species. Forty nine bird species demonstrated negative trends. Three of them Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), and Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) are becoming extinct. Positive population trends were recorded for 63 bird species. Numbers of 23 species grew, and 33 species were extending both their quantity and ranges. Seven species were scarce and irregular breeders. Twenty seven new breeding bird species were recorded in Belarus during the past 100 years and 25 of them. over the past 50 years. 69.2% of bird species have spread over the territory of Belarus from the south. New breeding species were recorded most frequently in 1971.1980, however at the end of the 1990s the trend declined. As to habitation, 84% of the above species are closely connected to water bodies or wetlands. Global climate change has broug...