Key ornithological territories in western Priokhotye

Abstract

The results of studying the current state of the habitats of waterfowls and semiaquatic birds in the western part of the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk are reviewed. These habitats are of crucial importance for the reproduction of the birds, as well as for their massive migratory concentrations on the East Asian-Australian migration route in the summer-autumn period. A description of the natural conditions of these territories is provided and the most valuable biotopes are identified, including drying zones rich in marine invertebrates, waterlogged coastal grass fields and moss bogs with karst lakes. Especially significant clusters of birds are formed in the large sea bays – Shchastya, Nikolaya, Ulbanskii, Konstantin, Tugurskii Bays, Udskaya guba, on the Mukhtel Lake, and in the Amur liman. The state of these territories is currently considered as satisfactory, but nonetheless there are certain threats for the ornithologic fauna and bird population. We propose measures for the conservation of birds at the “Okhotsk section” of the East Asian-Australian migration route. We also suggest to organize wetlands of regional significance “Nikolaya, Ulbanskii and Konstantin Bays” in Tuguro-Chumikanskii district and the natural park “Shchastya Bay” in Nikolaevskii district of Khabarovsk Krai.