Spatial distribution of birds on the sea coasts of the north-east of Russia during the winter period

The ecological and geographical regularities of the spatial differentiation of bird fauna of Northeastern Russia seas in late winters of 1987 and 1988 were studied. Birds were almost never found in the Arctic Ocean, while 22 bird species were recorded in the Bering Sea (24% of all marine avifauna of the Russian Far East). The winter avifauna of the Bering Sea includes species that nest in the summer on the islands and coastal seas of Northeast Asia and northwestern North America. 17 species, i.e. 77% of the total species list, were recorded both in 1987 and 1988. Three areas of wintering birds concentration have been identified, namely near the southeastern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula, with clusters of many thousands birds, southeast of the Navarin Cape and south of the St. Lawrence Island. The taxonomic structure of winter avifauna in the Bering Sea is in line with the ecological characteristics of the North Pacific marine areas, located at the northeastern margins of Northern Asia, and is represented by the families of Procellariidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Anatidae, Laridae, and Alcidae. The Alcidae are quite typical of the avifauna of subpolar marine areas of the Palaearctic and prevail in terms of the number of species represented (n = 9). Winter avifauna of the Bering Sea includes representatives of 6 ecological-geographical groups, namely marine species of the continental and island coasts of the North Pacific and the Arctic Ocean, marine species of the North Pacific, species widespread in the tundra zone of Eurasia and North America, species of the islands of the Arctic Ocean, species of the Asian coast of the Arctic Ocean, species of the inland mountain streams. The population density over the autumn ice is 0.4 birds per 1 km² and 21.8 birds per 1 km² over young ice. The maximum bird population densities in young ice are due to the presence of open water areas which are easily accessible forage habitats. Northern Fulmar, Common Guillemot and Brunnich’s Guillemot predominate in bird populations over all types of the surveyed ice. According to the extrapolation data, in 1987–1988 1 500 000 birds wintered annually within the ice-covered water area of the Bering Sea.

1. Abdurakhmanov G.M., Myalo E.G., Ogureeva G.N. Biogeografiya: uchebnik dlya studentov uchrezhdenii vysshego obrazovaniya [Biogeography: a textbook for students of higher education institutions], Moscow, Akademiya Publ., 2014, 448 p. (In Russian)

2. Antipin M.A. Zimovka serokryloj chajki Larus glaucescens na jugo-vostoke Chukotskogo poluostrova [Greywing gull wintering in the south-east of the Chukotka Peninsula], Russkij ornitologicheskij zhurnal, 2019, Express issue 1839, no. 2, p. 981–984. (In Russian)

3. Artjuhin Ju.B. O sostojanii zimovki guseobraznyh ptic na ostrove Beringa [On the state of wintering of Anseriformes on the Bering Island], Kazarka, 2003, no. 9, p. 377–392. (In Russian)

4. Artjuhin Ju.B. Okolosudovye skoplenija morskih ptic na zimnem tralovom promysle v Ohotskom more [Nearvessel seabird aggregations in the winter trawl fishery of pollock in the Okhotsk Sea], Izvestiya TINRO, 2018, no. 193, p. 50–56. (In Russian)

5. Artyukhin Yu.B., Burkanov V.N. Morskie ptitsy i mlekopitayushchie Dal’nego Vostoka Rossii: polevoi opredelitel’ [Seabirds and mammals of the Russian Far East: field guide], Moscow, AST Publ., 1999, 224 p. (In Russian)

6. Belopol’skij L.O., Shuntov V.P. Pticy morej i okeanov [Birds of the seas and oceans], Moscow, 1980, 185 p. (In Russian)

7. Bogoslovskaja L.S., Votrogov L.M. Massovye zimovki ptic i kitov v polyn’jah Beringova morja [Mass wintering of birds and whales in the openings of the Bering Sea], Priroda, 1981, no. 1, p. 43–47. (In Russian)

8. Bogoslovskaja L.S., Zvonov B.M., Konjuhov N.B. [Bird colonies on the eastern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula], Izuchenie i ohrana ptic v jekosistemah Severa [Study and protection of birds in Northern ecosystems], Vladivostok, Far Eastern branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences Publ., 1988, p. 24–27. (In Russian)

9. Chernov Ju.I. Klass ptic v arkticheskoj faune [Class of birds in the Arctic fauna], Zool. zhurn., 1999, vol. 78, no. 3, p. 276–292. (In Russian)

10. Ctepanjan L.S. Konspekt ornitologicheskoj fauny Rossii i sopredel’nyh territorij [Abstract of the ornithological fauna of Russia and adjacent territories], Moscow, Nauka Publ., 2003, 727 p. (In Russian)

11. Dobrovol’skij A.D., Zalogin B.S. Morja SSSR [USSR seas], Moscow, Moscow State University Publ., 1982, 192 p. (In Russian)

12. Gorbunov Ju.A., Belikov S.E., Shil’nikov V.I. Vlijanie ledovyh uslovij na raspredelenie i chislennost’ belogo medvedja v morjah Sovetskoj Arktiki [Impact of ice conditions on the distribution and abundance of polar bears in the seas of the Soviet Arctic], Byul. MOIP. Otdel Biologicheskii, Moscow, 1987, vol. 116, no. 5, p. 354–372. (In Russian)

13. Howell Steve N.G., Zufelt K. Oceanic birds of the world, Publisher, Princeton University Press, 2019, 361 p. Jahontov V.D. Uchet zimujushhih morjanok v zalive Korf Beringova morja [Count of wintering long-tailed ducks in the Korf Bay of the Bering Sea], Resursy vodoplavajushhih ptic SSSR, ih vosproizvodstvo i ispol’zovanie, Moscow, Moscow State University Publ., 1972, no. 2, p. 121. (In Russian)

14. Kishhinskij A.A. [Bird counts from aircraft], Metody ucheta ohotnich’ih zhivotnyh v lesnoj zone [Counting procedures for game animals of the forest zone], Moscow, Moskovskij rabochij Publ., 1973, p. 197–235. (In Russian)

15. Koblik E.A. Raznoobrazie ptits (po materialam Zoologicheskogo muzeya MGU), ch. 1-4 [A variety of birds (based on materials from the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University), parts 1–4], Moscow, Moscow State University Publ., 2001. (In Russian)

16. Koblik E.A., Arkhipov V.Yu. Fauna ptits stran Severnoi Evrazii v granitsakh byvshego SSSR: spiski vidov [The fauna of birds of the countries of Northern Eurasia within the borders of the former USSR: lists of species], Moscow, Tovarishchestvo nauchnykh izdanii KMK, 2014, 171 p. (In Russian)

17. Koblik E.A., Red’kin Ja.A., Arhipov V.Ju. Spisok ptic Rossijskoj Federacii [List of birds of the Russian Federation], Moscow, Tovarishhestvo nauchnyh izdanij KMK Publ., 2006, 256 p. (In Russian)

18. Konjuhov N.B. Vodoplavajushhie poberezh’ja Vostochnoj Chukotki [Waterfowl on the coast of Eastern Chukotka], Kazarka, 1998, no. 4, p. 319–330. (In Russian)

19. Konjuhov N.B. Zimovka morskih ptic v Sirenikovskoj polyn’e [Wintering of seabirds in the Sirenikovskaya Polynya], Izuchenie morskih kolonial’nyh ptic, Magadan, Far Eastern branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences Publ., 1990, p. 36–39. (In Russian)

20. Morskie klyuchevye ornitologicheskie territorii Dal’nego Vostoka Rossii [Marine key ornithological territories of the Russian Far East], Yu.B. Artyukhina (ed.), Moscow, M.A. Menzbir Russian Society for the Conservation and Study of Birds Publ., 2016, 136 p. (In Russian)

21. Nechaev V.A., Gamova T.V. Ptitsy Dal’nego Vostoka Rossii (annotirovannyi katalog). [Birds of the Russian Far East (annotated catalog)], Vladivostok, Dal’nauka Publ., 2009, 564 p. (In Russian)

22. Pesenko Yu.A. Printsipy i metody kolichestvennogo analiza v faunisticheskikh issledovaniyakh [Principles and methods of quantitative analysis in faunal studies], Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1982, 287 p. (In Russian)

23. Polevoj opredelitel’ guseobraznyh ptic Rossii [Field Guide to Anseriformes of Russia], Rabochaja gruppa po guseobraznym Severnoj Evrazii, Vserossijskij nauchnoissledovatel’skij in-t ohrany prirody, Zoologicheskij muzej MGU, E.E. Syroechkovskij (ed.), Moscow, 2011, 223 p. (In Russian)

24. Ravkin Ju.S., Babenko V.G., Stishov M.S., Pronkevich V.V., Ljalina M.I. Ekologo-geograficheskaja izmenchivost’ letnego naselenija ptic Pritihookeanskoj chasti Rossii [Ecological and geographical variability of the summer bird population in the Near-Pacific region of Russia], Sibirskij ekologicheskij zhurnal, 2020, no. 6. p. 689–703. (In Russian)

25. Shuntov V.P. Biologija dal’nevostochnyh morej Rossii [Biology of the Far Eastern seas of Russia], Vladivostok, Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography Publ., 2016, 604 p. (In Russian)

26. Shuntov V.P. O zimovkah ptic v dal’nevostochnyh morjah i severnoj chasti Tihogo okeana [About wintering of birds in the Far Eastern seas and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean], Zool. zhurn., 1966, vol. 45, no. II, p. 34–45. (In Russian)

27. Shuntov V.P. Pticy dal’nevostochnyh morej Rossii [Birds of the Far Eastern seas of Russia], Vladivostok, Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography Publ., 1998, vol. 1, 423 p. (In Russian)

28. Stishov M.S., Pridatko V.I., Baranjuk V.V. Pticy ostrova Vrangelja [Birds of Wrangel Island], Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., 1991, 253 p. (In Russian)

29. Truhin A.M., Kosygin G.M. [Distribution of seabirds in the waters of the western part of the Bering and Okhotsk seas], Raspredelenie i biologija morskih ptic Dal’nego Vostoka [Distribution and biology of seabirds in the Far East], Vladivostok, Far Eastern branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences Publ., 1987, p. 6–21. (In Russian)

30. Uspenskij S.M., Shil’nikov V.I. Raspredelenie i chislennost’ belyh medvedej v Arktike po dannym avianabljudenij ledovoj razvedki [Distribution and abundance of polar bears in the Arctic according to aerial observations during ice survey], Belyj medved’ i ego ohrana v Sovetskoj Arktike [Polar bear and its protection in the Soviet Arctic], Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat Publ., 1969, p. 35–37. (In Russian)

31. Zaharova D.N., Mamaev E.G. [Number of wintering anseriformes on the Bering Island in 2013], Biologija i ohrana ptic Kamchatki [Biology and protection of birds of Kamchatka], Moscow, Centr ohrany dikoj prirody Publ., 2014, iss. 10, p. 78–79. (In Russian)

32. Zelenskaja L.A. Tihookeanskaja chajka (Larus schistisagus Stejneger, 1884) [Pacific gull (Larus schistisagus Stejneger, 1884)], Magadan, Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2008, 213 p. (In Russian)

33. Yakhontov V.D. Accounting of wintering sailors in the Gulf of Corfu of the Bering Sea // Resources of waterfowl of the USSR, their reproduction and use. Moscow: Publishing House of Moscow. un-ta, 1972. Issue. 2. pp. 121-128.

34. Nomenklatura morskih l’dov [Sea ice nomenclature], URL: http://www.aari.ru/gdsidb/glossary/r1.htm (access date 11.01.2021) (In Russian).

35. Zapovednaja Rossija [Reserved Russia], URL: http://www.zapoved.net (access date 12.01.2021) (In Russian).