Autumn dynamics of the number of hunting species of waterfowl in the North Kazakhstan Region

The paper discusses the results of studying the species composition and number of hunting species of waterfowl, their dynamics during the autumn migrations over a five-year period (from 2012 to 2016), as well as the conditions of migration. Some features of the seasonal migrations have been established. These features make it possible to supplement the ideas about migrations’ terms and patterns, the number and ratio of species, the relationship of migration intensity with the state of the habitat in key migration areas. A number of natural and anthropogenic factors affecting birds and their habitat are identified. For only 5 seasons of autumn migrations, 472813 birds of the considered group were counted. A characteristic feature was the steady growth of indicators from 2013 to the present, from 34319 individuals to 68144 individuals, that is, almost 2 times. This had a clear correlation with the filling of water bodies and the creation of favorable conditions for local and migratory birds. The maximum rate was noted in 2012, when the number reached 253754 individuals, and it fell on the period of a deep depression of water bodies. Taxonomic composition was represented by 3 species of Podicipediformes, 20 species of Anseriformes and only 1 species of Gruiformes. The main part in the general population was occupied by Anseriformes - 443660 individuals, which made up 93.83% of all counted birds. Gruiformes were represented by a significantly smaller number - 23550 individuals, or 4.98%, and Podicipediformes - 5603 individuals - 1.18%. For the period of counting, the greylag goose Anser anser was the dominant species in the general population. Its number was 85639 individuals or 18,11% of total number of counted birds. The indicators of the Gadwall Anas strepera were slightly less - 78413 individuals, with a share in the total population - 16.58%.[...]Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta