Abstract
During migration, the availability of food that affects the success of bird movements, the nature and timing of their movements, is critical for many bird species. The relationship between migration routes and the ripening of fruit and berry plants along the route is important. Four types of forest belts were studied: wind-blown maple-ash, latticed maple-linden, dense oak-maple-linden, wind-blown oak-maple-poplar. During the study 43 bird species were identified consuming 9 major fruit and berry plant species: Sambucus nigra, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus laevigata, Rosa canina, Prunus padus, Sorbus aucuparia, Rhamnus cathartica, Morus nigra, Prunus cerasus. The highest average number of birds feeding in forest belts (4.14 ind./km) was registered in oak-maple-linden dense forest belts, while the lowest number (1.48 ind./km) was recorded in wind-blown maple-ash ones. Maple-linden latticed forest belts characterize the best index data of α-diversity of birds. In the summer-autumn diet, succulent fruit are the most important: Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 11.8% of the total number of birds observed to feed on this food resource, Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – 11.3%, Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – 9.3%, Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) – 7.3%, Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 7.1%, Blackbird (Turdus merula) – 5.4%. 42 species of birds were observed to feed on black elderberry. More than half (51.2%) of the species composition of birds feeding on fruit and berry plants were migratory birds. Consequently, juicy berries are an important food during bird migrations.
Highlights
Each year, billions of seasonal migrants connect the continents, transporting different substances, energy and pathogens between remote communities and ecosystems
We have identified the nine main fruit-berry plant species which are the most common feeders of birds during summer movements and migrations
Conservation status of the studied species: 9 bird species are protected by the Bonn Convention, i.e. U. epops, F. albicollis, F. parva, S. rubetra, and others). species are listed in the Berne Convention (II), namely: M. alba, L. collurio, L. minor, P. major, S. europaea, and others; species are protected by the Berne Convention (P. montanus, F. coelebs, Ch. chloris, E. hortulana, and others). 1 species is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (C. oenas), 2 species are in Red List of Kharkov region (C. oenas, E. calandra). 6 species have no conservation status
Summary
Billions of seasonal migrants connect the continents, transporting different substances, energy and pathogens between remote communities and ecosystems. About 20% of bird species are migratory and their seasonal movements influence the redistribution of species diversity, which radically changes the composition of the ornithofauna of certain areas. Given their significant movements, migratory birds, in principle, have a wide range of possible breeding and wintering locations, but each species migrates within the limits of its range (Somveille et al, 2019). Contemporary migrants are uniquely able to respond to temperature conditions throughout the year, avoid local competition, and reach areas with the best access to food resources by minimizing the distance travelled according to the species' geographical location (Chevallier et al, 2010; Somveille et al, 2019). The tendency towards warmer winters in northwestern Europe is leading to a reduction in the distance between suitable wintering areas and breeding sites for many bird species, which has a positive impact on the conservation of chicks from late broods (Visser et al, 2009; Rotics et al, 2017)
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