Species composition and distribution of birds in the city of stepanakert and adjacent territories

Abstract

This article is devoted to the identification of the species composition of the birds population in the city of Stepanakert and the seizure of their territories. The study of bird biodiversity within certain limits is of particular importance, changing in the urban environment. The material for this work was collected on the administrative borders of the city of Stepanakert and its surroundings from April 2017 to April 2023. All year round, birds were counted along routes in residential areas, gardens, squares, cemeteries, on river banks, in wooded areas, and thickets of shrubs. As a result of observations, it was revealed for the first time that the bird fauna is represented by 117 species, which belong to 14 orders and 37 families, representing 52,4% of the bird fauna of Nagorno Karabakh. The results of the research made it possible to identify the main bird species that determine the habitat, as well as to assess their occurrence, seasonal changes and prevailing ecological properties. An analysis of the urban environment by bird populations and possible measures to protect them was also carried out. The results obtained can be useful for developing strategies for sustainable human-nature interaction in the urban environment, as well as for conducting broader environmental research in the region.