Expansion of the Paddyfield Warbler in Europe in the second half of the XX century. - D.N. Nankinov. - Berkut. 9 (1-2). 2000. P. 102-106.
The expansion is observed in whole Europe since 1962. The enlargement of the breeding range began on territories situated to east from the Volga river, where the population density was very high. The expansion went step-wise, isolated breeding areas appeared far from the main breeding range. Probably the next enlargement of the range will be accomplished through increasing the population density in these nesting places and the colonisation of the adjacent territories. The species forms new wintering areas now, that are situated far from natural wintering grounds. Some of the birds expanding their habitat to west, remain wintering in Great Britain, Italy and other west European countries, i. e, except the new, isolated nesting areas. It is supposed, that the present expansion repeats a similar one, which probably existed in Europe about a hundred years ago. It is possible, that during the next few decades the power of diversion to decrease and the species again to “hide” in its old breeding range. [English].
Key words: Paddyfield Warbler, Acrocephalus agricola, Europe, expansion, breeding range, wintering grounds.
Address: D.N. Nankinov, Institute of zoology, BAS, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria.