Species composition and numbers of birds captured at Durankulak ringing camp, NE Bulgaria during autumn 2019

Abstract

This is a report of a bird ringing camp results held in the period of August - October 2019 at Durankulak lake in Bulgaria.

Full text

Species composition and numbers of birds captured at
Durankulak ringing camp, NE Bulgaria during autumn 2019
Peter Shurulinkov, Patrick Bergkamp, Nayden Chakarov, Andrey Ralev,
Nikola Alexandrov, Petko Tzvetkov, Girgina Daskalova, Ivaylo Tonev,
Krassimir Hristov, Pavel Simeonov, Mihail Iliev & Marta Dimitrova
With contribution by the following zoologists, ringers and volunteers:
Georgi Dilovski, Miroslav Dravecky, Milan Oleksak, Diana Simeonova,
Rosena Tomova, Hristo Dinkov, Jivko Gradinarov, Boris Nikolov,
Kristiana Kaydzhieva, , Liliana Vassileva, Meinolf Ottensman, Tony
Rinaud, Maria Dilovska, Konstantin Popov, Elena Uzunova, Martin
Martinov, Vera Staevska, Elitsa Maximova, Boris Hotinov, Teodor
Trifonov, Maria Naumova, Yana Yordanova, Irina Ivanova, Anton
Sokolov, Maya Slavova, Dimitar Dimitrov, Efrosina Hristova, Yana
Lefterova, Hans Noldus, Kiril Bedev, Zdenek Vaclav, Rosen Tzonev &
Radoslav Stanchev
Introduction
Autumn passerine migration is not systematically studied along the Northern Black Sea
Coast. There is no even one functioning ringing station at that region and also in the
whole Varna and Dobrich provinces. Until now occasional short term ringing activities,
mostly during summer and autumn, has been completed at Durankulak Lake and
Shabla Tuzla Lake (organized mostly by the scientists from Institute of Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Research and Bulgarian Ornithological Centre –Bulgarian Academy of
Science) (Dimitrov et al.2018, own unpublished data). Although these studies didn’t
cover long periods of time, they clearly show that these sites are very good resting
stations for a high diversity of migratory birds, especially passerines and waders. Thus
we decided to start long –term research there aiming to study the characteristics of
autumn migration of passerine birds. In August-October 2019 we organized first
autumn ringing session at Durankulak Lake ringing camp. Our aim is to obtain
information about the species composition of migrants and local birds, their numbers,
timing and seasonal dynamics of migration, the existence of migration waves and their
dependence of climatic factors, origin and flight direction of the migrants, time of
resting of particular species at the site, etc. In the present report we provide data about
the species composition, numbers and some data on timing of migration from the 2019
autumn season.
The ringing activities at Durankulak Lake will be used also for education of students
and volunteers how to ring and identify birds, their sex, age and specific subspecies

features from a hand. During the field studies in 2019 about 45 experts and volunteers
from Bulgaria and abroad took participation.
Materials and methods
The ringing camp was organized at the south-eastern part of Durankulak Lake, Dobrich
province, NE-Bulgaria, at coordinates: N 43°39'38.49 E 28°33'56.81. A total of
19 mist nets with overall length of about 200 meters were set in two separate lines in
two different habitats. Nine nets (100 m.) in a reed massif along a dike dividing a
shallow south-eastern bay of the lake from the main lake. Ten nets (100 m.) were set in
low mixed broad-leaved forest with bushes close to the sea shore. The forest was
dominated by Fraxinus sp., Robinia pseudoacacia and other low trees. The distance
between the two lines of nets was approximately 700 m.
Nets in the reed massif, Durankulak Lake, October 2019, photo: Mihail Iliev
The nets were set in the whole period of the research 24.08.2019 - 14.10.2019. Every
day all the nets were opened before sun rise (about 6 AM) and were operating until 11
AM. In the evening only the line of nets at the reed habitat was opened, after 5-6PM
until the full darkness. Only on two days (27.09.; 8.10.) there were no catches because
of unfavorable weather conditions (rain, strong wind).
Sound imitation was used to attract the migratory birds. At the reed net line in the
evening we used constantly sound mix of Motacilla flava & Riparia riparia or

Motacilla alba (after 15 September). At the forest nets we used three different mixtures
of bird calls for August, September and October periods. In all cases these mixtures
included 6-8 species of birds expected to be the most common migrants for the
particular period. The sound attraction in the forest was switched on after midnight, at
1 AM., and played until the end of the mourning catch session.
Results
A total of 9344 birds of 84 species were captured and ringed. Their composition and
numbers as well as the species numbers per 7 day periods are presented in Table 1.
In the total number we included additionally 20 birds belonging to order
Charadriiformes that were captured at Shabla Tuzla Lake (at 11 km. to the S-SE from
the ringing camp) during the night of 27/28 August.
Table 1. Species composition, numbers and seasonal distribution of birds
captured during autumn migration at Durankulak ringing camp, 2019
species
24.08.
–
30.08.
31.08-
6.09.
7.09.
–
13.09.
14.09.
–
20.09.
21.09.
-27.09
28.09.
- 4.10.
5.10.-
14.10.
Total
Riparia riparia
227
300
138
1
2
0
0
668
Hirundo rustica
88
93
181
3
29
7
2
403
Anthus trivialis
0
10
3
6
1
0
1
21
Motacolla flava
690
729
303
385
133
17
2
2259
Motacilla alba
0
0
1
114
363
433
321
1232
Motacilla citreola
2
1
2
0
0
0
0
5
Troglodytes troglodytes
0
0
0
0
0
2
47
49
Erithacus rubecula
0
0
0
2
7
40
425
474
Luscinia luscinia
6
4
12
9
3
1
0
35
Luscinia megarhynchos
7
1
0
0
0
0
0
8
Luscinia svecica
1
1
2
0
4
2
9
19
Phoenicurus ochrurus
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
2
1
7
16
32
12
14
84
Saxicola rubetra
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Oenanthe oenanthe
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Turdus merula
2
2
5
7
1
6
34
57
Turdus philomelos
4
7
2
7
3
14
44
81
Cettia cetti
5
1
0
3
1
2
17
31
Locustella fluviatilis
4
3
0
1
1
1
0
10
Locustella luscinioides
34
54
32
18
13
7
48
206
Hippolais icterina
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
Acrocephalus
melanopogon
0
0
0
1
0
7
78
86
Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus
104
97
95
77
65
68
148
654
Acrocephalus agricola
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Acrocephalus palustris
17
26
15
21
7
0
2
88
Acrocphalus scirpaceus
350
158
58
22
50
25
51
714
Acrocephalus
arundinaceus
126
52
25
12
13
8
14
250

species
24.08.
–
30.08.
31.08-
6.09.
7.09.
–
13.09.
14.09.
–
20.09.
21.09.
-27.09
28.09.
- 4.10.
5.10.-
14.10.
Total
Sylvia nisoria
4
5
0
3
1
0
0
13
Sylvia curruca
8
8
6
17
9
10
8
66
Sylvia communis
2
3
1
3
2
0
0
11
Sylvia borin
8
12
15
12
12
0
7
66
Sylvia atricapilla
32
74
75
124
76
70
78
529
Phylloscopus trochilus
64
15
12
55
42
27
52
267
Phylloscopus sibilatrix
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
Phylloscopus collybita
0
0
0
2
9
50
274
335
Regulus regulus
0
0
0
0
0
2
13
15
Regulus ignicapilla
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
Muscicapa striata
4
3
5
13
2
0
0
27
Ficedula parva
5
29
56
83
42
8
6
229
Panurus biarmicus
3
0
0
0
3
0
3
9
Cyanistes caeruleus
3
0
1
1
19
3
8
35
Parus major
0
2
2
1
2
1
2
10
Remiz pendulinus
1
0
0
0
1
0
5
7
Oriolus oriolus
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
3
Lanius collurio
36
16
13
15
11
8
3
102
Garrulus glandarius
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
3
Sturnus vulgaris
1
0
0
5
0
0
0
6
Passer domesticus
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Passer hispaniolensis
2
5
1
1
2
0
0
11
Fringilla coelebs
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
Carduelis chloris
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
Carduelis carduelis
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Carduelis spinus
0
0
0
0
0
0
25
25
Coccothraustes
coccothraustes
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Emberiza hortulana
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Emberiza schoeniclus
1
0
0
0
0
0
9
10
Miliaria calandra
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
3
Ixobrychus minutus
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
3
Accipiter brevipes
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
Accipiter nisus
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Rallus aquaticus
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Porzana porzana
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Porzana parva
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Crex crex
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Alcedo atthis
9
12
10
6
4
8
9
58
Upupa epops
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Dendrocopos major
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Dendrocopos syriacus
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Dendrocopos minor
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Jynx torquilla
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
5
Caprimulgus europaeus
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1

species
24.08.
–
30.08.
31.08-
6.09.
7.09.
–
13.09.
14.09.
–
20.09.
21.09.
-27.09
28.09.
- 4.10.
5.10.-
14.10.
Total
Otus scops
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
Asio otus
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Gallinago gallinago
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Streptopelia turtur
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Total
1857
1738
1082
1050
975
842
1780
9324
Number of species
36
40
32
37
42
30
44
In Shabla Tuzla
Calidris minuta
5
Calidris temminckii
1
Calidris ferruginea
2
Calidris alpina
2
Charadrius dubius
6
Charadrius alexandrinus
1
Actitis hypoleucos
1
Haematopus ostralegus
1
Chroicocephalus
ridibundus
1
20
Total
1877
1738
1082
1050
975
842
1780
9344
The most common bird species captured as percentage from the overall catch are
presented at Fig.1. For presenting the graphs of particular species timing of autumn
migration more autumn seasons are needed to be included in the research.

Figure 1. Most numerous bird species captured at Durankulak Lake in autumn
migration, 2019 (in %)
Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes), captured on 4.09.2019 (Photo: Nayden
Chakarov)
M.flava
24%
M.alba
13%
A.scirpaceus
8%
R.riparia
7%
A.schoenobaenus
7%
S.atricapilla
6%
Erithacus
rubecula
5%
H.rustica
4%
Ph.collybita
4%
Ph.trochilus
3%
A.arundinaceus
3%
F.parva
2%
Loc.luscinioides
2%
L.collurio
1%
others
11%

River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis), captured on 1.09.2019 (photo: Peter
Shurulinkov)

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), captured on 21.09.2019, photo: Jivko Gradinarov

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva), captured at Durankulak Lake on
30.09.2019, photo: Pavel Simeonov
Conclusion
Durankulak Lake and its surroundings are very suitable place for setting a long-term
ringing camp during autumn. Average number of birds captured per day per 100 m. of
mist nets was 89.9. At the neighboring Chituc ringing camp in Romania the same value
for 2019 autumn was 54.4 . (https://www.facebook.com/chitucringingcamp/ ;
https://milvus.ro/en/am-incheiat-cu-succes-al-saselea-sezon-consecutiv-de-inelare-pe-
grindul-chituc/?fbclid=IwAR2xdvKvV8s4vD5wrIPp_bixVBMa1TluO-
9cUTAu9QNhCeQQ4DdTtqL_tNI). High numbers were reached not only for many
common long-distance migrants for the whole Europe but also for some much more
rare and locally abundant species as Ficedula parva, Locustella luscinioides,
Locustella fluviatilis,Acrocephalus melanopogon, Luscinia svecica. Special interest
represents also the capture of five Motacilla citreola – a very rare transitional migrant
in Bulgaria. Timing and scale of autumn migration of that species over our country still
remains unknown.
In future we can obtain good data for seasonal dynamics and other migration
characteristics for these species at Durankulak Lake. Our purpose about the future
activities is to gather data about the species composition and timing of the passerine
migration comparable to the results obtained in the neighboring functioning stations as
Atanasovsko Lake (BG), Kalimok (BG), Chituc (RO), Agigea (RO) and Kizil Irmak
delta (TR).

References
Dimitrov D., Ilieva M.,Ivanova K, Brlik V. & Zehtindjiev P. 2018. Detecting local
transmission of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites (Apicomlexa,
Haemosporida) at a Special Protection Area of Natura 2000 network.
Parasitol.Res. 117(7): 2187-2199.
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), captured on 5.10.2019
Photo: Diana Simeonova

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), captured on 10.10.2019, photo:
P.Shuruinkov
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola), captured on 29.08.2019, photo: P.Shurulinkov

Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus),captured on 21.09.2019 ,photo: Jivko
Gradinarov

Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon), captured on 11.10.2019,
photo; P.Shurulinkov