IVOLGA
Department for Environment Protection, Leningrad region - Russia
IVOLGA is a non-profit making scientific ecological organisation that carries out research and development works to enhance environment protection and efficient use of natural resources in Northwest Russia.
Aims of the organisation
The Autonomous Non-profit Scientific Ecological Organisation "IVOLGA" was founded in March 2000 for carrying out environmental projects in Russia
Woodcock is a traditional game both in Russia and in Western Europe. Woodcock has already been studied by specialists from the Biological Research Institute of St. Petersburg State University together with experts from the National French Hunting and Wild Fauna Board for nine years. This species is of international interest, as it dwells in southern countries in winter but migrate to Leningrad region in spring to breed in Russian forests.
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) - International Status
- Protected species of the Fauna according to the Bern Convention (Annex III)
- Classified in Appendix II of the Birds Directive (CE/79/409) and can therefore be hunted;
- Appendix II of the Bonn Convention, for which the Contracting parties shall endeavour to conclude Agreements covering the conservation and management of migratory species;
- Subject of a European Management Plan (European Commission — DG XI).
Project Status
- Indicator migratory species of international interest
Regional status
Woodcock is a common migrating and nesting species of the Leningrad Region. It represents a traditional hunting bag in breeding areas (Eastern Europe) as well as on wintry places (Western Europe). During the last few years there has been observed a diminution in the number of birds.
Explanation of such variation may be found in land use changes which took place in forest and agriculture management in Northwest Russia during the last decade. Bringing explanation to the fore may be done by studying much more precisely relations between bird and biotopes during the breeding season (census in Taiga) and also by the observation of autumnal migration and places of high concentration of birds during this period (from mid August to the end of October).
Capture and ringing of birds during autumnal migration offers the possibility to assess the structure of populations, and also to get information about birds wintering areas
Woodcock Census
Woodcocks breeding areas were localised for a part in June but this work continue until August 2000 that allowed scientists to localise some more places. During the time it took them to walk the 50 km of transects in June, the ornithologists found one woodcock's nest that contained a brood with baby birds. As an habit, all birds were ringed.
Geobotanical descriptions of the biotopes serving as breeding areas were systematically done. Such description will help understand which kind of biotopes are the most suitable for woodcock breeding.
In late summer and autumn, scientists will proceed to woodcocks' ringing using a particular manner of catching birds.
Census of roding males
There is only recent information on the total number of breeding woodcocks in the European part of Russia. Census method of species during the breeding season is developed only in France and Switzerland (Ferrand, 1993). Roding males census programme was launched in Leningrad region in 1999 thanks to Mr. Yves Ferrand and Francois Gossmann, the French experts from the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage.
A random census method (Ferrand, 1993) was applied on 23 quadrates of 12x12 km placed in Leningrad region (see Results of the roding census stated below). Observations were carried out on 181 listening points.
Woodcock spring display, or «roding», in the north-western regions of Russia starts usually in the middle of April, i.e. just on birds arrival, or a little bit later, if the weather is cold. Besides local birds, transit migratory males also take part in the roding. The earliest beginning of the roding period was registered on April 5th in the Karelian isthmus (Malchevsky, Pukinsky, 1983). It usually continues up to the end of June - beginning of July (Rodionov, 1955); then, in the middle of July, the activity of the birds is noticeably reduced. The latest roding display was registered in upstream of Pskova river on August 2, 1980 (Malchevsky, Pukinsky, 1983; Iljinsky et all. 1985). Thus, the woodcock roding season in north-west Russia lasts about 3 - 3,5 months (Malchevsky, Pukinsky, 1983 et all.).
In North-western region the roding may continue for 2,5 - 3 hours. The woodcocks begin "to rode" even before sunset and finish it in full darkness, the overall duration of the roding takes more than two hours, depending on weather, wind and temperature conditions. The twilight and lunar lighting have strong influence on roding duration. Some display beginning is observed when the sun altitude reaches +2,5o (it comes 28-38 minutes before sunset). In the beginning of the roding the light exposure makes 600 lux when the weather is clear, and 250 lux when it is cloudy. The roding ended when the sun reach a position of -5,5o (50 minutes after sunset (April 30th) or 1 hour 20 minutes (June 22nd) (Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, 1953). In the Karelian isthmus, on Kuznechnoe station, the beginning of the roding period in June was twice observed: at 19 o'clock (Malchevsky, Pukinsky, 1983), and at 21.30 - 22 o'clock that is more usual.
According to the data stated in literature, and the resolutions of 1999, the daily census period starts half an hour before sunset and finishes an hour and half after sunset. The observations are carried out between May 20th and June 20th.
Out of 181 points placed in Leningrad region only 14 of them (7,5 %) had negative results (0 contacts). The minimum number of daily contacts is 0, the biggest - 39. Males' activity in June has increased in comparison with May. It might be related to the bad weather conditions and the resulting loss of nests and chicks.
Selected Census
Along with census of roding males the ornithologists conducted selected census of adult birds and broods on line transects (mainly in July-August 2000), similar to capercaillie brood census on line routs but this time the width of census strip was less. Such census was ineffective - only 3 woodcock nests were counted on 5 line routes of 60 km long all in all. Additionally a woodcock nest was found in May with eggs laying done in April. In all cases the biotopes were described.
Study of woodcock migration; catching and ringing at night.
Study of woodcock migration, catching and ringing was carried out from September 1st untill November 9th,2000 on model areas in Vyborgsky, Gatchinsky, Kirovsky, Lomonosovsky, Luzhsky, Priozersky and Tosnensky districts. During this period 231 birds were caught (28 adults, 192 juveniles, 1 non-definedd) and 224 birds were ringed (see Table 3); 6 birds were caught for the second time and 1 bird was not ringed.
While catching and ringing woodcocks, LenFauna ornithologists also made the complete description of the birds: weight, length of wing, beak, tarso-metatarsus, state of the plumage, presence of fat, etc.
Autumn migration of woodcocks in 2000 started 10-15 days later than in previous years. Birds of light weight, without fat reserves, were met during a longer period. On the whole, judging by the counted number of birds, flight intensity was low.
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