Findings of birds (Aves) in the Northern Azov region (Ukraine) during 2004-2022

Oleksandr Bronskov1, Oleksii Marushchak2

1 Meotyda National Nature Park, Urzuf, Ukraine; 2 I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, Vul. B. Khmelnytskogo, 15, 01030, Kyiv, Ukraine

Corresponding author(s): Oleksandr Bronskov (albron2015@gmail.com)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

Bronskov O (2022): Findings of birds (Aves) in the Northern Azov region (Ukraine) during 2004-2022. v1.2. Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (NGO). Dataset/Occurrence. https://ukraine.ipt.gbif.no/resource?r=pryazoviabirdsbronskov1&v=1.2

Abstract

The database includes records of 251 bird species and 5 subspecies in 58 families and 21 orders in the Northern Azov region. The avifauna was surveyed mainly in the Meotyda National Nature Park located in the south of the Donetsk region of Ukraine and its vicinity. The Northern Azov region is located in the south of the steppe zone of Ukraine on the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov and includes the Azov Upland and the Azov Lowland. This is mainly an agricultural area and about 80% of it is plowed. Only about 12% of the studied area remains in a more or less natural state. The territory of the park includes 21301.2147 hectares of land, including approximately 14400 hectares of adjacent shallow water areas of the Sea of ​​Azov, 3800 hectares of wetlands, 1800 hectares of steppes and other grasslands, 500 hectares of artificial forests. There are 2 Ramsar wetlands situated in the area, where the surveys were conducted: "Bilosarais'ka Bay & Bilosarais'ka Spit" and "Kryva Bay & Kryva Spit". Some surveys were conducted in the south of Zaporizhzhia region, including those territories within the Pryazovskyi National Nature Park and the Ramsar wetland “Berda River Mouth & Berdians'ka Spit & Berdians'ka Bay”.

Keywords: Occurrence, birds, Aves, Azov, Northern Azov, Donets'k region, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, biodiversity, migration, nests, avifauna, ornithology, zoology, Sea of Azov, Meotyda National Nature Park, registrations, observations, steppe, wetlands, Observation

Data published through GBIF: https://ukraine.ipt.gbif.no/resource?r=pryazoviabirdsbronskov1

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: The dataset consists of exclusively findings of birds (Aves).
Taxonomic ranks
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: The dataset consists of findings registered within the southern districts of Donetsk and Zaporzhizhia regions (Oblast’) of Ukraine.
Coordinates: 46°15'7.2''N and 49°14'9.6''N Latitude; 34°12'21.6''E and 39°3'21.6''E Longitude 

Temporal coverage: October 19, 2004 - February 14, 2022

Methods

Method step description: 
- . 	Conducting of field surveys.
- . 	Visual, audial and other registrations of birds.
- . 	Indentification of species (subspecies, genus, family, morph).
- . 	GPS-tracking, counting, georeferencing.
- . 	Organizing of a dataset according to Darwin Core standards.
Study extent description: Most of the material was collected during bird counting while driving at low speed and stops of various durations. Stoppages made it possible to determine accurately the species (subspecies, morphs) of birds, their number, age, and sex, as well as to maximum observation of the area,
especially in conditions of poor visibility. All species of birds at any distance were registered.
The author of this dataset cooperated with Andriushchenko Yu. O., Bronskova O. M., Bui H. O., Chaika M. O., Molodan H. M., Mosin H. H., Popenko V. M., Pylypenko D. V., Shabanov O. V. and my other colleagues who participated in separate bird counts. 
This dataset was prepared and published with the help of Olin gGmbH foundation in order to save the scientific data on Ukrainian biodiversity from scientists who had to relocate from their homeland as a result of war (Russian invasion to Ukraine). Olin gGmbH is a funding organisation for environmental protection and conservation, that supports environmental and sociopolitical organisations.
Sampling description: The coordinates of each registration were recorded only in some particular cases. In vast majority of registrations each bird encountered was assigned to a certain accounting area of ​​any shape, but recorded and visualized using GIS-software. The configuration of the accounting areas generally coincided with certain landscape features that are characterized by more or less homogeneous natural and anthropogenic conditions. The areas considered too large were divided into parts regarding the convenience of bird accounting. The area of ​​accounting plots ranged from 8 to 3,500 hectares and averages 510 hectares. The coordinates of the site centroid were determined in the free QGIS software. Selective bird counts were conducted on hiking trails. The dataset also includes some random observations of birds that may be valuable for the inventory of avifauna of the region during the study period. The information provided in the database is not comprehensive.
Observations were carried out with the help of 10-12-X binoculars. If possible, photographs were taken. Geographical locations were indicated by GPS-navigator in decimal degrees according to the WGS84 coordinate system. The route was recorded using various free mobile applications, which, if necessary, allows to calculate the number of birds encountered at certain length of the route within each accounting area.
The nomenclature follows the Catalog of Life.
Quality control description: The author is fully responsible for the quality of data provided within the published dataset.

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive Findings of birds (Aves) in the Northern Azov region (Ukraine) during 2004-2022
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: https://ukraine.ipt.gbif.no/archive.do?r=pryazoviabirdsbronskov1
Publication date of data: 2022-08-29
Language: English
Licences of use: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2022-05-20
Hierarchy level: Dataset