Great Bustard in territory to the east of the Volga opposite Saratov: numbers and biotopic trends before migratory displacement. - V.G. Tabachishin, A.V. Khrustov, E.V. Zavyalov, Y.A. Andryushchenko, G.V. Shlyakhtin, Malikov A.N., T.A. Kapranova, O.A. Ruban. - Berkut. 10 (1). 2001. P. 84-90.
The present estimate of the Great Bustard numbers has its base in the route records, performed in September, 15 – October, 15 1999 over the territory of 45000 km2 to the east of the Volga opposite Saratov and makes 2647 birds. As this being so, Great Bustards distribution over the territory is patchy at the time. The species distribution has demonstrated evident dependence on various agrocenoses, where cereal and industrial crops are cultivated. Fragmented distribution of the birds results from a number of both natural and man-induced factors, the governing one of which is food sustainability of the territory. High values of both abundance rate and population density of Great Bustards to the east of the Volga opposite Sa-ratov testify that the studied territory is of vital importance in existence and conservation of the Bustards species. The results obtained in the course of the study should hopefully serve as a reliable basis for further research and monitoring of breeding Great Bustard for the purpose of conservation intervention for this population. [Russian].
Key words: Great Bustard, Otis tarda, Saratov region, abundance, ecology, habitat distribution, arable landscape.
Address: V.G. Tabachishin, Severtsov Research Institute for evolution and ecology problems, Saratov branch, RAS, Rabochaya str. 24, 410028 Saratov, Russia.
E-mail: hrustovav@forpost.ru.