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Home , Collared lemming, Russky Island (Kara Sea)

Breeding conditions for waders in Russian tundras in 1993

Pavel S. Tomkovich(compfier) Elena A. Lebedeva (translation)

Tomkovich,P.S. (comp.) 1994. Breedingconditions for wadersin Russiantundras in 1993. WaderStudy Group Bull. 75: 27-34. The timingof springin 1993 was average. The weatherduring breeding period was goodin mostareas for whichthere is information:it was warm and dry in east-Europeantundras, at Yamal and in the Yenisey mouth,rather warm at the Indigirkaand furtherto the east. Rather cold or cold weatherwas observedonly at the Murmancoast and at the Taimyr. numbersin the majorityof areas in Europeantundras, at Yamal, at the Kotelnyisland, and at the Chukotkawere characterizedas low or at populationminima. At the Taimyr and their numberin many studyareas reached average levels. In 13 out of 32 areas an increasein numberswas reported. Numberand reproductiveperformance of predatorswas relatedto small mammaldistribution. Arctic Foxes Alopex lagopus were absentor scarce almosteverywhere west of the Yenisey, breedingwas observedonly at Novaya Zemlya. At Taimyr and Wrangelisland Arctic Foxes were comparativelyscarce, but occupiedon breeding up to 50% of dens (Pyasinariver mouth); single pairs bred also at the southof Anadyr'estuary. Breedingavian predatorswere mostlyalso scarce. Concerningestimates of breedingsuccess in waders,respondents consider that favourableweather conditions and low predationrate resultedin generallysuccessful breeding. Where exact data are presentestimates of breeding successrange from average to high;the latter seems true for the whole tundra zone of . The increasein lemmingpopulations recorded in differenttundra areas in 1993 indicatethat by summer1994 their numbers will reach a peak in at least some areas. If weather conditions are stillfavourable this will resultin a noticeabledecrease of predationpressure and thus enable highwader breedingsuccess. Tomkovich, P.S., Departmentof Ornithology,Zoological Museum of MoscowState University, Herzen Street, 6, Moscow 103009, Russia.

Summer 1992 was characterisedby bad weather and high but was highlysynchronous; numbers of migratingbirds predationrates (withdecreasing or low were similarto usual. Other wader specieswere scarce populations)almost throughout the wholetundra zone on migration,some of them even occurringonly as from north-easternEurope to the PacificOcean. This individuals. resultedin low wader breedingsuccess everywhere. It was expected,that mass mortalityof ArcticFoxes Alopex L P. Tatarinko va lagopuswould take place in winter1992/93; therefore favourableweather conditions permitting, good wader breedingsuccess was forecasted in Eurasia (Tomkovich 2. WESTERN COAST OF KANIN PENINSULA 1994). Now, with the 1993 breedingseason over it is possibleto evaluatethe real situationin terms of lemming numbers,predator pressure and consequentlywader The timing of springwas similarto the average for the breedingsuccess based on informationfrom respondents recent decade: by 10 June snow remainedonly at the workingin varioustundra areas of Russia (see localities Kanin Kamen' elevationand in dune depressions;the on Figure 1). latter meltedat the coast by 20 June. The weather in the first half of June was cold with storms, rains and fogs. The majorityof waders laid eggs between8 to 14 June duringthe stormyconditions. The second half of June 1. AYNOVY ISLES (WESTERN MURMAN) and the firstweek of July were mostlywarm, storms occurringonly on 20-21, 24 and 26 June and on 1-2 July. Activesnow-melting started early, i.e. in the middle of The weatherbecame cold and rainyimmediately •fter April,and the snowmelted completely at the open areas. mass hatchingof waders started on 4 July, and it At the end of Aprilcold weather returned and springwas remained so untilthe middleof the month. in generalcold and long. Lake ice melted at the end of and ArcticFoxes Alopex lagopus were both numerousin May, and snow remainedinland in hollowsuntil mid-June. winter 1992/93. However, most of the lemmingshad died The weatherin June remainedcold with prolongedstorms by the beginningof spring,and the ArcticFoxes left the and muchprecipitation; in contrastJuly was dry and area. There were high numbersof the large gulls (Lesser warm. Broodsof wadersgrew up successfullyand the Black-backedLarus heuglini and GlaucousL. hyperboreus overallreproductive success on the islandwas high. Gulls) in coastal Autumnmigration of DunlinCalidris alpina occurred later,

27 Figure 1. Location of study areas.

areas, while the numbers of skuas (mainly of Parasitic breedingwas recordedalmost in all rodent-feeding Skua Stercorariusparasiticus) were rather low. These predators:in Rough-leggedBuzzard Buteo lagopus, birdspredated many clutchesduring the storms,although SnowyOwl Nyctea scandiaca,four speciesof skuas they preferredduck eggs, and to a lesser extent influenced (adultswith fledged young birds remainedthat time on largewader speciessuch as OystercatcherHaematopus breeding territories). At Gusinaya Land we also observed ostralegusand TurnstoneArenaria interpres. In general breedingof Short-eared Owl Asio fiammeus. On the waders bred rather successfully,there were few wholethe numbersof breedingpredators varied replacementclutches (most often in Oystercatcher),and noticeablyin differentareas. Numbers of Arctic Foxes average brood size did not differ from usual estimates. were extremelylow. Breedingwas successful(broods with unfledgedchicks)in Purple Sandpiper Calidris V.G. Vinogradov& V.O. Avdanin maritima,Turnstone, Ringed Ploverand Dotterel Eudromiasmorinellus, and was probablysuccessful also in LittleStint. Numerousrecords of one to three fledged 3. EUROPEAN ARCTIC (FROMKANIN NOS POINT youngRuffs at GusinayaLand indicatedprobable TO UGORSKYPENINSULA AND THE VAIGACH) breedingof Ruff in that area.

Weather conditions in summer 1993 were favourable, and V.N. Kalyakin numbersof lemmingsand ArcticFoxes were extremely low. Predatorswhich feed on rodentsmostly did not breed. Duringaerial countson 4-5 June singlebirds and 5. NOVAYA ZEMLYA pairs of Oystercatcherswere few and recordedto the east up to Kolguyevisland and MedynskyZavorot. Between Weather conditionsin Augustwere favourable. During 20-25 July broods(/.e. successfulbreeding) of Red- shortvisits to the Southernisland (Belushya, neckedPhalarope Phalaropus Iobatus, Ruff Philomachus Besymyannaya,Gribova, Pomorskaya gulfs, and pugnax,Little Stint Calidrisminuta, Dunlin and Ringed Gusinaya Land) and to the Northernisland (Serebryanka Plover Charadrius hiaticula were recorded near Varandei Bay) an increase in numberof SiberianLemming was settlement. observed;breeding Snowy Owls were recorded(one nestlingfound). Breedingwas thoughtto have occurred V.N. Kalyakin also in Rough-leggedBuzzard (a pair of worriedbirds in the area of Besymyannayagulf), and in Long-tailedSkua StercorariusIongicaudus (several pairs mobbedobservers 4. NOVAYA ZEMLYA (FROMGUSINAYA LAND TO at the Southernisland). Breedingof three otherspecies of THE MATOCHKIN SHAR OF THE SOUTHERN ISLAND skuas was not confirmed,although immature birdswere AND AT THE SOUTH-WESTERN PART OF THE recorded. Short-earedOwls, includingtwo juveniles,were NORTHERN ISLAND) observedon 1 Septemberat GusinayaLand. ArcticFoxes were recordedin many places, but only at GusinayaLand was one inhabitedden fcund;these mammalsfed mostly Weather conditions in summer 1993 were favourable. In on the eggs of BarnacleGeese Brantaleucopsis and Bean Augustnumbers of lemmings(especially of Siberian Geese Anser fabalis. Waders were thoughtto breed LemmingLemmus sibir/cus)were increasing, and

28 successfully,although visits to the coast were too short to find any broods. 8. THE COAST OF BAIDARATSKAYA BAY OF THE (THE UGORSKYAND THE YAMAL A.B. Savinetsky COASTS)

Springwas early and warm, and snow melted completely 6. SOUTHERN ISLAND OF NOVAYA ZEMLYA in the first ten days of June. The weather duringthe whole of June was calm, warm and sunny without At the westernpart of the MatochkinShar straitthe precipitation.July and Augustwere also warm but rainy numberof lemmingsafter the 1992 populationlow point with frequentstrong winds. Lemmingnumbers were reached average levels, and continuedto increase. In the average or a bit larger. As Arctic Foxes were actively Matochkariver mouthSiberian Lemmingsprevailed, while hunted duringthe 1992/93 winter, they were not observed CollaredLemmings Dicrostonyx torquatus were distributed in summerat all and appeared in small numbersonly in sporadicallyin suitablehabitats. Birdsfeeding on September- October. Birdsthat fed on small bred: one Long-tailedSkua chickwas found, glaciologists bred. Thus, seven nests of Rough-leggedBuzzard were observedSnowy Owl with one nestlingand Rough-legged foundin a 50 km2 areain the Yarayakha river mouth Buzzard further inland along Matochka river. (69ø15'N).Judging by the numberof birdsin the tundra, and from the numerousflocks of waders in September, L.G. Emelyanova breedingconditions for birds in summer 1993 were favourable.

F.A. Romanenko 7. EASTERN PART OF BOLSHEZEMELSKAYA TUNDRA

9. WESTERN PART OF THE MIDDLE YAMAL Springpassed very quickly:semi-winter conditions, which (LOWER REACHES OF THE MUTNAYA AND MORDA- remainedby 29 May alteredabruptly to give warm and YAKHA RIVERS) sunny weather; such warm weather without even light frosts remained for about a month. At that time there was noprecipitation, temperature reached 17 - 23o C at mid- The timing of springwas average. Duringthe nesting dayand fell to 4 - 10ø C at nights.The wholesummer periodthe weather remainedwarm, Julywas even hot. was dry and warm almostwithout precipitation, and cold Increases in Collared Lemming and vole numbers were wet weatherwith prolongedrains came only after 10 recorded, while Siberian Lemmings were absent. Arctic August. In springand summer,numbers of lemmingsand Foxes did not breed. Snowy Owls were not recorded; other small mammals (Narrow-skulledMicrotus gregalis singlepairs of Rough-leggedBuzzard and ParasiticSkua and Northern RedbackedVoles Clethrionomysglareolus bred, whilst at the same time the departureof Rough- and Arctic Shrew Sorex arcticus)were very low, but an legged Buzzardsand all skua specieswas observed. increasewas observedin autumnindicating a probable Numbers of Herring Gulls Larus argentatus s.I. were peak of lemmingnumbers in 1994. Numbersof Arctic noticeablylow. Breedingwas recordedfor Common Foxes remainedvery low and breedingwas not recorded. Snipe and PintailSnipe. Numbersof Dunlinremained The number of birdsfeeding on small mammals, (Hen stable, while the number of Golden Plover, Little Stint, Harrier Circuscyaneus, Rough-leggedBuzzard and Red-neckedPhalarope •nd especiallyof Temminck'sSt;qt skuas), was also low. Snowy and Short-eared Owls were increasedand that of Ruffdecreased compared with not recordedat all. Singlepairs of Rough-leggedBuzzard previousyears. For the majorityof wader species bred mainly at the northernedge of forest-tundraand in breedingwas successful. the mountainsof the Polar Urals; nestingwas mostly unsuccessful. Successfulbreeding was observed only in V.G. Shtro some pairs of Hen Harriers,which nested alongthe river valleys. Long-tailedSkuas in most cases did not breed, they moved in groupsaround the tundra concentrating 10. NORTH-EASTERN YAMAL - "YAIBARI" FIELD near the rubbishdumps in the vicinityof human STATION(71ø04'N) settlements. Favourable weather conditions and the ecologicalsituation resulted in successfulbreeding in the Springstarted a littleearlier than usual. Tundra areas majorityof waders of this area. Large numbers of Ruff, became mostly (80%) free from snow by 12 June and ice Common Snipe Gallinagogallinago and Pintail Snipe G. broke up on the river on 13 June. Summer was dry and stenura were recorded. ratherwarm, withoutsharp decreases of temperature. Lemmingswere few, their populationshad only just V. V. Morozov & A.N. Petrov started to increase. Arctic Foxes and other terrestrial predatorswere almost absent; the usual numbers of Parasiticand Long-tailedSkuas bred, while Pomarine Skuas Stercorariuspomarinus were scarce. Owls were absent; Rough-leggedBuzzards were more common than usual at the start of the breedingseason, but the majority

29 of pairsthen abandonedtheir nests. There were average wader densitieson surveyplots. Surprisinglylarge 13. SOUTHERN YAMAL - THE SCHUCH'YA RIVER numbersof CurlewSandpiper Calidris ferruginea were BASIN recorded- c. 6 nestsper km 2, andfor the first time in northernYamal breedingPectoral Sandpiper Calidris Springphenology was average. In Junethe weatherwas melanotoswas recorded. Breeding of waders was rather warm and dry. July was also warm with thunder-storms. successful: chicks hatched in 95 of 113 nests under Lemmingnumbers were stillat a low point. Rough-legged observation(84%). Incubationsuccess calculated Buzzardbred in singlepairs, Long-tailedSkuas were accordingto Mayfield-Paevskymethod (n=125 nests)was scarce, Parasitic Skua, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl 72%. Conditionsfor growthof chickswere favourableand were rare. Amongwaders, Wood SandpiperTringa many of them fledgedsuccessfully. glareolaprevailed (5.7 pairs/km2),Golden Plover (2.6 pairs/km2) andPintail Snipe (2.1 pairs/km2) were V.K. Ryabitsev,M. Gromadzki& H. Beimann common. Numbers of Ruff and Temminck's Stint Calidris temm/nckiiwereless than usual (0.8-1.5 pairs/km2),the samewas true alsofor Red-neckedPhalarope (0.2-0.5 11. EASTERN PART OF MIDDLE YAMAL - pairs/km2).Both good weather conditions and low "HANOVEY"FIELD STATION (68ø40'N) predator pressure favoured the successfulwader breeding. The timingof springwas as usualwith no late frosts recorded. By 8 June 90% of tundra was free from snow S.P. Paskhalny and riverice had disappearedby 9 June. On 10-11 June extremelyhigh water levels were recordedwhich resulted in a large part of the studyplot being flooded. Summer 14. SOUTH-WEST FROM YAMAL - was warm,unusually dry, and withoutsharp temperature SURROUNDINGS OF SALEKHARD TOWN drops. Numbersof rodents,especially lemmings, were extremelylow. ArcticFoxes and otherterrestrial predators The timingof springwas normaland it passedquickly. were almost absent. Skuas bred at low densities, and Mayturned cold, floating ice passingdown the Ob' river duringthe whole season a lot of nomadicbirds were on 1 June. The weatherwas warm and dry by 25 June, present. On the whole conditionswere favourablefor and remainedwarm althoughwith thunder-stormslater. wader breeding. Slightdecreases in breedingdensity of The majorityof wadersarrived in the lastten daysof May. somewaders (Ruff,phalaropes) was probablyconnected Only LittleStint and Temminck'sStint appearedlater, on withthe lossof clutchesduring the springflood, which 3 June and 6 June respectively.Only three wader happenedexactly at the time of egg-laying. LittleStints species,i.e. WoodSandpiper, Ruff and TerekSandpiper did not breed. The average breedingsuccess of waders Xenus cinereuscommonly bred, the number of Whimbrels was ratherhigh: chicks hatched in 87% of nests(n=37). in tundra areas was alsocomparatively large (0.5-1.0 Incubationsuccess calculated according to Mayfield- pairs/km2).Numbers of rodentswere low. Breeding Paevskymethod (n=40 nests)was 90%. The most conditions for waders were considered favourable. noticeablefailures happened in the post-nestingperiod, when skuasand buzzardsfed alternatively(and mostly) on bird chicks due to the lack of rodents. S.P. Paskhalny

N.A. Alekseeva,Yu.A. Tyul'kin,A.V. Odintsov& E.A. Polents 15. TAIMYR PENINSULA

Springphenology was similarto other years. Julywas 12. SOUTH-WESTYAMAL (LABOROVSKAYA rather cold and windy. Lemmingswere rather scarce in MULDA BETWEEN THE KHARAMPE AND THE the typicaltundra subzone and furthersouth in Western BOLSHOYSAPKEY RIDGES) Taimyrtheir population density was comparativelyhigher onlylocally (on the leftshore of PyasinoLake). As a resultthere was an almostcomplete absence of breeding Favourableweather conditions together with low numbers ArcticFoxes in the southernpart of the Taimyrpeninsula of ArcticFox and increasinglemming numbers enabled (to the middleparts of the typicaltundras), while further to successfulwader breeding. Almostall the - the northbroods of ArcticFoxes were recordedonly in eating birds (Rough-leggedBuzzard, Short-earedOwl, 20% of dens. Moreover,breeding of ArcticFox was and skuas)bred. In late July- earlyAugust broods were almosttwice as successfulon the EasternTaimyr than the observedalmost in all the localwader species, i.e. in Western. Breedingof birdswas generallyrather GoldenPlover Pluvialis apricaria, Spotted Redshank successful,and similarto average estimates. Tringaerythropus, Red-necked Phalarope, Ruff, Whimbrel Numeniusphaeopus, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Ya.L Kokorev and snipes.

V.N. Kalyakin

3O snowfalls. Such weather conditionscaused mortalityof 16. BREKHOVSKY ISLANDS IN THE YENISEY some chicks, at least those which were still in nests. DELTA Numbersof Siberian and Collared Lemmingswere low (respectively0.78 and 0.32 ind./100trap/day), but the numberof pregnantfemales allowed the predictionof an Springwas ratherearly and warmaccording to local increasein numbersafter late August. About half the information.During studies from mid-Julyto mid-August ArcticFox dens were occupiedand the familysize was the weather remainedwarm and dry, the temperatures reached 15 - 20 ø C in the afternoonand fell to 5 - 8ø C at large. Amongwaders LittleStint, PacificGolden Plover, nights;it rarelydecreased at nightsto 0ø C. It became Dottereland CurlewSandpiper were the mostnumerous. Nest-failureof wadersfrom predationwas low:calculated colderand more rainy in the secondweek of August. The probabilityof nest survivalup to hatchingwas 78% (data numberof Siberian Lemmingsand voles was not high; combinedfor all species),and 80% for LittleStint. Rough-leggedBuzzards did not breed althoughthey remainedin the vicinityof old nests. Arctic Foxes were not observed, but one abandoned den was found. K. Van-Dijk, I. Popov & P. Venema Breedingsuccess of waders was consideredto be high, as mostobserved pairs had broodsof three to four chicks. 19. ISLANDS OF THE KARA SEA - IZVESTIY, TslK, SVERDRUP, RUSSKY V. Karpov& H. Vonk Breedingconditions for birdswere generally favourable. At the first two groups of islandssnow startedto melt 15 17. NORTH-WESTERN TAIMYR (MEDUZABAY TO to 20 days earlierthan in the very cold 1992. No long THE SOUTH FROM DIKSON) frosts and extensive snowfalls occurred. Lemmings do not occur on the IzvestiyTslK islandswhile at Sverdrup ' island old signswere recorded in 1992, and at Russky In the arctictundras there was muchspring snow. As a island a few winter lemming nests were found in 1993. consequencesnow started to meltonly about 9-12 June, AlthoughArctic Foxes do not breed on these islands,the howeverby 22 June most of tundrawas free of snow. animalswhich remainedthere for summer1992 predated Probablyas a resultof this springsnow, numbersof the majorityof birdclutches. In 1993 no ArcticFoxes breedingwaders were lowand patchilydistributed. were observed on the islands and waders bred Summerturned cooler than usualwith a prevalenceof successfully.At leastfive territorialDunlin were recorded northernwinds and frequentfogs. Only late in Julydid the at Sverdrupisland. At Russkyisland Purple Sandpiper weather became warm, but with much rain. The lemming commonlybred, in Augustbroods of this wader consisted populationwas increasingand reachedan average of one to three chicks. Singlepairs of Turnstone, populationsize in August. At the beginningof summer SanderlingCalidris alba and LittleStint bred there were too few of these mammalsto support concentrationsof predators. Most Rough-legged Buzzardsabandoned clutches during incubation, although E.E. SyroechkovskyJr. & E.G. Lappo one or two pairs of PomarineSkuas bred (one chick found). A pair of SnowyOwl and BrentGeese Branta berniclabred only on the islandsof Yenisey Bay. Arctic 20. ARCHIPELAGO - Foxes were observed near dens, but their numbers were BOL'SHEVIK, KOMSOMOLETS, OCTOBER Iowo Breeding successwas highfor most waders: chicks REVOLUTION, SEDOVA ISLANDS hatchedfrom 94% of Curlew Sandpipereggs, from 81% of Turnstone and Little Stint eggs, from 67% of Grey The dates of springnature development and Julyweather PloverPluvialis squatarola eggs, from 63% of Pacific were similar to the long-term average; no events Golden Plover Pluvialisfulva and Ringed Plover eggs, and unfavourablefor the breeding of birds occurred. Collared from 40% of Dotterel eggs. The main cause of egg-losses Letomingsand Arctic Foxes were rare as in the two was predationby Long-tailedSkuas. Chickmortality also previousyears. Parasiticand Long-tailedSkuas bred, occurredduring a sharpdrop in temperaturearound 10-15 although they were scarce. In contrast to summer 1992 July. On the whole reproductivesuccess was average. BrentGeese bred as well. Only one wader species,i.e. PurpleSandpiper was recordedbreeding; dates of T. Sviridova,A. Rybkin, G. Kosareva, M. Nurov & breedingwere as usual:chicks hatched at Bolshevik M. Melnikov islandafter 23 July.

A.E. Volkov & J. de Corte 18. THE PYASINA RIVER DELTA

Springwas ratherlate: by 17 June only 50% of snow had 21. SOUTH OF CENTRAL BYRRANGA melted, but due to warm weather in the last week of June MOUNTAINS (THE LEVINSON-LESSINGLAKE) the remainingsnow melted quickly and riverice brokeup on 1 July). Julywas dry and cold (averagetemperatures The weather in July remained cold, the monthly about0 ø C). Frostsoccurred between 15 to 20 Julyand temperatureaveraged in 5.6 ø C, frostsoccurred every were accompaniedby strongstormy winds and frequent nightand north-westernwinds prevailed. In Julythe lake

31 remained covered with ice. Lemming numbersvaried by a sharpdrop in temperaturein the last ten days of July from 20 to 80 ind./ha in differenthabitats and populations In the first half of June abundanceof breedingand were increasing.Siberian Lemmings prevailed, while migrantwader speciesin the mosttypical habitats was CollaredLemmings were trappedoccasionally. Arctic 8 ind./km2 for PacificGolden Plover, 32 for Ruff,20 for Foxeswere rare (two records)and did not breed. Among Temminck'sStint, 9 for PectoralSandpiper and 13 for the birdsCurlew Sandpiper and Grey Ploverwere most Bar-tailedGodwit. On the whole good weather conditions, numerousin the river valleys and Snow Buntings a lack of ArcticFoxes, and low numberof skuasand gulls P/ectrophenaxn/vafis and Rough-leggedBuzzards in the in the second half of the summer favoured successful mountains.The densityof the latterspecies was breeding of waders. estimatedas fivepairs per 10 km2. A.A. Gavrilov Mo,Koroleva

24. THE KHATANGA AND POPIGAI RIVER 22. CENTRAL TAIMYR - THE MALAYA LOGATA MOUTHS RIVER The weather during most of the summerwas cold with AverageAugust temperature was 11.2ø C. In August strongwinds and rains. Lemming numberswere rather there was much precipitationand the water level in the low and variablein differentparts of the studyarea. In river increasedby 2 m. During this month a slight total 18 nests of Rough-leggedBuzzard (each with three increase in lemming numberswas recorded;their to five nestlings)were found. Long-tailedSkuas populationdensity ranged in differenthabitats from 1 to commonlybred, while ParasiticSkuas were recordedonly 20 ind./100 traps/day. Three inhabitedArctic Fox dens in transit in small flocks or in pairs. Herring Gulls in the with one to three puppieswere foundwithin 10 km from studyarea were not numerous. ArcticFoxes were scarce the camp. Rough-leggedBuzzards bred in large numbers: and only one inhabitedden was found. Among breeding six nests (containingtwo nestlingson average) were waders Grey Plover, PacificGolden Plover, Ruff, Little recordedon a 25 km survey route. Stint, Dunlin,Grey Phalarope Pha/aropusfurlcar/us and PectoralSandpiper were common;Bar-tailed Godwit, M. Koroleva Red-neckedPhalarope, Temminck's Stint, RingedPlover and CurlewSandpiper were comparativelyscarcer. Althoughweather conditionswere unfavourableand the 23. SOUTH-EASTERN TAIMYR - THE ARY-MAS number of lemmingswas low, wader breeding success turned out to be average. AREA (SOUTHERN TUNDRA SUBZONE)

Springstarted earlier than usual. The mean daily LI. Chupin temperatureexceeded 0ø C levelfor the first time on 7 June. As a resultthe snow meltedon the plainson 8 June, and on 11 June ice break-upstarted at the Novaya 25. KOTELNY ISLAND (NOVOSIBIRSKIYEISLANDS) river. Lemmingnumbers were extremelylow in May and June, later they were recordedoccasionally. Arctic Foxes In the innerparts of the island(the upperand middle were few duringspring and summer,only two or three out reaches of Balyktaakhriver) the weather remained of 13 denswere occupied in a 120 km2 area. Breedingof relativelydry, cold and windyfrom 21 July to 22 August. waderswas successful,although it was partlyinfluenced Precipitationwas observedonly as a kindof foggy drizzlingor snowing. The lemmingpopulation was at a low point;few ArcticFoxes bred (onlythree younganimals were recorded),their numberwas estimatedat 0.8- 0.9 ind. per 10 km survey route. Among Snowy Owls only 14.3% were young. Althoughthe abundance of Pomarine Skuas and Long-tailed Skuas was high (in the last ten days of July their number reached locally 64 ind./km2),only one breeding pair of the latterspecies was recorded. Among territorialpairs of HerringGulls successfulbreeding was observedonly in threepairs. Breedingsuccess of waders was probablyaverage: broodsof Grey Plovers,Turnstones, Grey Phalaropes were recorded. Startingin early August,flocks of young CurlewSandpipers and Turnstoneswere observedand between10-20 Augustsuch post-breedingmovements were recordedalso for Sanderlingsand Grey Plovers.

V.L Pozdnyakov

32 numbersof WillowGrouse Lagopuslagopus and Rock 26. THE INDIGIRKA RIVER DELTA PtarmiganL. mutuswere low. Largequantities of berries ripenedin the centralparts of the studyarea. The number Dates of springwere almostthe same as long-term and breedingsuccess of most wader specieswas similar averagesexcept for the timingof ice break-up:as the to average estimates. It is probablethat reproductionwas water levelwas low,floating ice startedto pass later than less successfulfor those waders breeding in the usual (on 14 June near Chokurdakh and on 21 June near mountains south of the northern tree-line of larch Tabor); no large floods were observed. June was in (Whimbrel,Common Sandpiper Actit/s hypoleucos, Terek general warm with short-termfrosts. In July strong winds Sandpiperand Grey-rumpedTattler Heteroscelus were frequent. Extensiverains occurredat the beginning brev/pes). of August. Arrivaland breedingof waderstook place on usualdates: complete clutches of Grey Phalaropeand A.I. Artyukhov& S. V. Zagoskin Ruffwere foundon 12 June. Grey Phalarope,Ruff, PectoralSandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceusand Grey Ploverwere the most common 29. SCHUCHY MOUNTAIN RIDGE - UPPER breedingwaders. Numbersof lemmingsand ArcticFoxes REACHES OF THE ANADYR' RIVER were ratherlow, hencepredator pressure was insignificant,and as a resultwaders bred successfully. In the mountaintundras June and July were warm with smallamounts of precipitation.Numbers of SnowyVoles A.G. Degtyarev ,Northern Mouse-hares ¸chotona hyperborea and AmericanSousIlks Citellusparriwere increasing. Several predatorspecies were rarely recordedin the montane 27. THE LOWER KOLYMA RIVER tundras (Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Common Weasel Mustelaerminea, Raven Corvuscorax, Long-tailed Skua, Thefirst half of summerwas warmer than usual (8 - 14o Rough-leggedBuzzard and PeregrineFalcon), and their C at thecoast and up to 250 C inland):in the larch influenceon the few wader speciesbreeding in this areas woodlands with scattered stands at the Omolon river was minimal. Goodweather conditions and low predation valley, in montanetundras of the Ukagirskyupland and in pressure favoured high breeding success in Great Knot, the coastaltundras, lemming numbers were largerthan in PacificGolden Plover, Solitary Snipe Gallinagosolitaria 1992, those of Arctic Fox average, and the numberof and in single breeding Dotterels. skuashigh. At the sametime SnowyOwls, Rough-legged Buzzardsand PeregrineFalcons Falco peregrinus were P.S. Tomkovich & D.A. Shitikov not numerous. The numberof breedingGreat Knots Calidristenuirostris was consideredto be large (five broodsof oneto threechicks were recorded on 1 km2); 30. SOUTHERN COAST OF THE ANADYR' high breedingdensities were observedalso for ESTUARY Whimbrels,Grey Phalaropesand Temminck'sStints. Dotterel,Spotted Redshank, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidrisacuminata, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Stint and In tundrasin the area of the Avtatkuul'river, spring was late and with much snow. In June the weather was cola CurlewSandpiper were rare. In the last ten days of July large concentrationsof Long-billedDowitchers were and windy,while in July it was ratherwarm and calm. observedat the marinecoasts. Judgingby the numberof The lemmingpopulation was stillat a lowpoint, youngbirds, breeding was successfulfor mostwaders. neverthelesssome pairsof ArcticFoxes were breeding, and no wanderingArctic Foxes were recordedin June. Breedingsuccess of waterfowland waders was S.I. Mochalov consideredaverage.

A. V. Kondrat/ev 28. BILIBINO DISTRICT (WESTERNINLAND CHUKOTKA) 31. EASTERN CHUKOTKA In the mountainsthe depthof snowand dates of spring snow melt were similarto average long-termvalues. The highestwater level in the riverswas either average or In the majorpart of the regionthe end of June and July lowerthan usual. Summerwas warm,in the easternparis were unusuallywarm which resulted in numerous tundra of this area it was very dry until 13 August,however rains, fires. Populationsof both lemmingspecies were starting snow/alland strongwinds occurredthere later. The to increase;in several localities(the vicinityof Uelen numberof small rodentswas greater than in 1992, settlement,Anadyr' river mouth etc.) large numbersof Root Vole oeconomus were observed also. althoughstill did not reach maximal level. Arctic Foxes were ratherscarce in northernparts; Long-tailed Skuas Judgingby the numberof broodsof mostspecies, commonlybred in montaneareas; breedingsuccess of breedingwas successfulover the majorpart of the Eastern Chukotka. Rough-leggedBuzzard was higherthan in 1992. Few Snowy Owls were throughtto breed at the seacoast. The L V. Dorogoi

33 were there indicationsof rather large and increasing 32. WRANGEL ISLAND number of voles.

Springwas rapidand earlywithout late frosts; tundra Numberand reproductiveperformance of predatorswas areas were 50% free of snow by 20 May. Summer was related to the distribution of small mammals. Arctic Foxes warm, but autumn and winter came rather early as it were absent or scarce almosteverywhere west of the began snowingin the middleof August. Bothlemming Yenisey, breedingwas observedthere only at Novaya specieswere presentin averageor slightlyabove average Zemlya. At the Taimyr and on Wrangel island, where numbersand were stillincreasing. There were few Arctic lemmingnumbers were larger, Arctic Foxes were also Foxes and they bred as well as a few Snowy Owls and comparativelyscarce, but duringthe breedingseason Pomarine Skuas. Records of unfledgedchicks of Grey occupiedup to 50% of dens (the Pyasina river mouth). Plover, Turnstone, Knot Calidris canutus and Pectoral Single pairs bred also southof the Anadyr'estuary. Sandpiper(the latterwas unusuallynumerous at suitable sites) indicatedsuccessful wader breeding. Amongthe avian specializedrodent-feeders, such as and (or) Pomarine Skua, breeding occurred in V. V. Baranyuk low numbers at Novaya Zemlya, Northern Yamal, north- westernTaimyr, Wrangel island,and probablyKotelny island and the extreme north-west of Chukotka. For other speciesrespondents mentioned that they rarelybred. As CONCLUSIONS for breeding in Rough-leggedBuzzard, the data are different: in some areas these birds did not breed at all, in Summarizingthe resultsof these observationswe noticed the others (east of the Middle Yamal, Central and Eastern the decrease in numberof respondentsfrom Chukotka. Taimyr)they were numerous. Breedingfailures and This is evidentlythe resultof the economicsituation in abandonmentof nestswere reportedfrom Russiawhich has reducedthe possibilitiesof reaching Bolshezemelskayatundra, north-easternYamal, and the these remote areas. Little information is still available surroundingsof Dikson. from Yakutia and some areas of the Europeannorth; in recent years ornithologicalstudies have ceased at the As for estimatedbreeding success in waders, respondents Gydan Peninsulaand this has resultedin the complete are surprisinglyunanimous and considerthat favourable absence of data from this vast area of the West-Siberian weatherconditions and the low predationrate resultedin tundras. The best surveyedregions are the Yamal and successfulbreeding for these birds. In areas where Taimyr Peninsulabut even withinthese regionsthere are precisedata are available,estimates of breedingsuccess importantareas for whichdata is stillabsent. rangefrom average to high;the latterseems to be true for the whole tundra zone of Russia. Thus forecasts were The timingand durationof springwas nearlyeverywhere correct,although breeding success was not the highest. similarto the long-termaverage. At the Baidaratskaya Gulf, at NorthernYamal, in the Yenisey river mouth,and The increasein lemmingpopulations recorded in different especiallyon Wrangelisland it was earlierthan usual, tundra areas in 1993 indicatethat they will reach peak while at the north-westernTaimyr it was later than usual numbersby summer 1994, at least in some areas. If the due to large amountsof snow. A late and cold springwas weather conditions are favourable this will result in a observed also at the Murman coast of the Barentz Sea noticeabledecrease of predationpressure enabling high and at Anadyr'estuary, while rapidsnow-melt occurred in wader breedingsuccess. Time will tell. Bolshezemelskayatundra and in several areas of Yamal. The weatherduring the breedingperiod was good in most areas for which there is information:it was warm and dry in east-Europeantundras, at Yamal, in the Yenisey REFERENCE mouth;rather warm at the Indigirkaand further to the east. Rather cold or cold weather was observed only at Tomkovitch,P.S. (comp.) 1994. Breedingconditions for waders in the Murmancoast and at the Taimyr. Rapidfalls in Russiantundras in 1992. Wader Study GroupBull. 75: 20-26. temperature,which occurred in the middle/endof July at the northern,central and south-easternTaimyr probably caused limitedadditional mortality of chicks. Early onset of winter at Wrangel islandcould also have affectedthe survival of late broods of waders.

Lemmingnumbers in most of the Europeantundras, at Yamal, on Kotelnyisland and at Chukotkawere characterizedas low or at populationminima. At the Taimyr and Novaya Zemlya their number in many study areas reached average levels. In 13 out of 32 areas an increasein numberswas reported,and onlyat Wrangel island did the increase last for a second year. Other small mammalshad depressedpopulation levels almost every- where; only for Yamal and for some areas of Chukotka

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