Plants and animals of Buryatia. Flora and fauna. You bake delicious pies, Lyudmila
MBOU "Verkhneangarsk secondary school"
Meeting of the "Young Patriot" club.
Subject:
"Plants and Animals
from the Red Book of Buryatia"
Conducted by: Komaritsyna S.G.
With. Cumorah
Goal: Pintroduce the children to animals and plants from the Red Book of Buryatia.
Objectives: Learn to work in a team.
Develop speech, thinking, memory, artistic abilities.
Cultivate love for native nature.
Progress of the meeting:
Leading: Dear Guys! Today's meeting is about plants and animals from the Red Book of Buryatia.
Red color is a signal of alarm, prohibition, understandable to people all over the world. Therefore, this is the name given to the book of facts about the state of those species of animals and plants that are endangered or have become rare.
Extinction is a completely natural process. We know from fossils that there were many thousands of species of animals on earth that then disappeared. Man has nothing to do with their extinction. But over the past few decades, the rate of animal extinction has increased significantly. Since 1600, at least 36 species of mammals have disappeared and another 120 species are at risk of extinction. Every 4 out of 5 species that are threatened with destruction are included in this number either because of human selfishness or because of his thoughtless attitude towards them. The situation is no better with birds. Almost 350 species and subspecies of birds are at risk of extinction. IN last years On Earth, from one to ten animal species disappear every day and one plant species disappears every week. This is more than new ones appear.
Important role in the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants belongs to the Red Books, which began with the Red Book of Facts of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature created in 1948). The Red Book is not only a distress signal, but also a program to save rare species that are in danger of extinction.
In order to preserve typical or rare areas of nature with all types of plants and animals, the state declares them nature reserves. The territory of the reserve will forever remain in its natural form. There are about 155 nature reserves in our country. Each reserve has particularly valuable objects, the protection of which is given special attention.
In Buryatia, as of 1999, there are 3 reserves, 2 national parks, 20 reserves and 266 monuments.
In 1916, the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve was organized, which is located in the Severobaikalsky region. In 1986, it was given the status of a biosphere reserve, where, in addition to nature conservation, they carry out Scientific research. The main goal of organizing the reserve is to protect the natural complexes of the mountain taiga. The reserve is home to 39 species of mammals, 273 species of birds, 4 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians. Barguzin sable is subject to special protection.
Baikal biosphere reserve located in the Kabansky district of Buryatia. Organized in 1969 for the purpose of studying natural complex coastal strip of Baikal, Khamar-Daban ecosystem. The reserve is home to 48 species of mammals and 260 species of birds.
Dzherginsky state reserve, opened in 1992, is located in the Kurumkansky district, on the basis of the reserve (1974). The purpose of the creation is to preserve in its natural state the natural complex of the sources of the Barguzin River and the Ikot ridge. There are 437 species of animals: 134 are birds, 43 are mammals, etc.
Based on the importance of environmental issues and rational use biological resources of the Lake Baikal basin, in 1982 it was decided to create and publish the Red Book in Buryatia. A whole group of scientists (a total of 40 people) worked on the list of rare and endangered animals and plants of Buryatia. The book was published in 1988. All animals and plants are distributed according to a special scheme, into categories.
Mammals – 28
Birds - 72
Insects - 26
Pisces - 5
Reptiles and freshwater - 7
Plants - 134
Lichens - 6
Student: “Stop! Come to your senses! - the forests whisper to the man. “Don’t expose the earth... don’t turn it into a desert...” “Have mercy! - echoes the earth. “You cut down trees... it deprives me of moisture... I’m drying out, getting old... soon I won’t be able to give birth to anything... neither grain, nor flower...”
Leading: The humble inhabitants of the Earth give voices of prayer. They remind people of their blood relationship with nature. But modern people have forgotten how to understand the language of grasses, birds, the language of forests, animals, rustling autumn leaves, the talk of the stream, the singing of the sand... They do not hear the plaintive signal about the difficult life in modern conditions. Let us listen to the alarmingSOS! Listen, nature is asking for help.
Student: What is a pond without frogs?
What is a lake without fish?
Only the tears of old willows
They muddy the water.
What is an island without flowers?
Without nimble ants,
What is a tree without birds?
Without starlings and tits?..
Come to us, frogs,
Insects, animals,
Settle here, flowers,
Birds, fish and cats,
Come for a walk
Songs to sing and dance!
We will live here together.
Student 2: Please answer me
Without any hesitation:
Is a rocket more complex, or simpler than a blade of grass?
You will immediately say:
The rocket is more complicated.
Then you can hear
Perhaps it's new
What can't be done
Field blade of grass.
Leading : The famous nature writer Gerald Durrell wrote: “Animals and plants cannot go on strike, even a sit-in, there is no one to stand up for them except us humans.” Let's now listen to the animals that are in danger, which are listed in the Red Book of Buryatia and not only, let's listen to what messages our smaller brothers would leave in the "Complaint Book of Nature".
Student 1 . Reindeer. I am a large animal, I weigh up to 100 kilograms. The figure is squat, the legs are relatively short, the tail is short. I rare view, found in small numbers in high mountain ranges. We are present in 8 regions of Buryatia, including Severobaikalsky. In summer we eat mainly herbaceous plants, willows. In autumn we eat mushrooms, and the basis of winter nutrition is 25 species of lichens. We have survived in small numbers in hard-to-reach places because people are pursuing us, frequent fires are destroying the forest. We are included in the Red Book of the USSR.
Student 2 . Tolai hare. I am a rare species in the conditions of Buryatia. I differ from the hare and hare in its small size and sandy-gray color. For habitats I use stony placers and piles of rocks, as well as Mongolian marmot burrows. I am active during daylight hours and move quickly. I breed once a year. The main food is twigs and grasses. The main reason for the decline in numbers is human economic activity: plowing of land, poaching, stray dogs. I am a rare relic of the living nature of the republic, disappearing due to the fault of man.
Student 3 . Manul. I belong to the cat family. But of all wild cats- the smallest. I have lush fur, very soft. The number throughout the republic is very low and continues to fall. I inhabit steppes, rocky highlands, desert mountain ranges. I lead a sedentary lifestyle, active mainly at dusk and at night. I'm running away from danger. The main food is pika, rodents, ground squirrel, and small birds. I hunt them down by guarding holes and stones. The main reason for the decline in the number of my species is: changes and destruction of habitat as a result of plowing of land, persecution by humans, steppe fires and Forest fires, as well as the use of pesticides in agriculture. Listed in the Red Books of the USSR and RSFSR
Student 4 . Otter. I medium-sized, short-legged animal. My species is very rare everywhere in the republic. My body is spindle-shaped, flexible, with short limbs. There are swimming membranes between the fingers. Since I lead a hidden lifestyle, it is rare to see me in nature. I'm an excellent swimmer. It is very difficult to follow my rapid movement in the water. Speed in water is up to 12 km per hour. I am dressed in a warm grayish-white fur coat. The fur on the belly has a beautiful silver tint. The fur is very dense, with coarse hair and thick undercoat, very wearable. The main food consists of various types of fish. I used to be heavily hunted for my fur. My numbers are also decreasing due to river pollution, timber rafting, and unfavorable winter conditions on rivers.
Student 5 . Red Wolf. I'm a very rare species. In Buryatia I meet you only in the Eastern Sayan Mountains. I am shorter in height than a gray wolf, but my tail is longer and looks like a fox's. From a distance I appear red. Listed in the Red Books of the USSR and the RSFSR. I live in high mountain areas, closer to the forest. I feed on mountain goats and young animals of other animals. But since there are fewer mountain ungulates, my numbers are also decreasing sharply.
Competition No. 1. Crossword “Guess the animals”
Student 6 . White Owl. I'm a rare species. I appear here in winter, having migrated from the tundra zone. I am a very careful bird, I rarely let a person get closer than 50-80 meters. I differ from all owls in being white. I go hunting at dusk and at night, and am rarely active during the day. I watch for my prey sitting on a hill, or look out from above. My prey includes mice, pikas, small birds, sometimes hares and black grouse. I am a wintering bird; I appear in your republic in October and November. You can meet me in the fields, in the steppe, along the banks of lakes and rivers, in swamps. Hunting for us is prohibited everywhere, but once upon a time there were many of us. But poaching is ruining us
Student 7 . Golden eagle. We are one of the largest and most majestic eagles of the fauna of Buryatia. In Buryatia, we spend the winter in the southern part of the republic. I - strong predator, capable of catching such large animals as foxes, roe deer and others. However, my main prey is gophers, hares, tarbagans, and some birds. We also willingly eat carrion. I was included in the Red Book of the USSR and the RSFSR, because I die at the hands of hunters, and from the use of various chemicals in agriculture, and because I eat poisoned animals, and from pollution environment. I need special protection.
Student 8. White-tailed eagle. I am the largest bird of prey in the region. Distributed within the forest zone. We arrive at Baikal in March, early April, when many reservoirs are still covered with ice. Sometimes we stay for the winter on Lake Baikal. We eat fish, which we catch at the surface of the water and in shallow water. We often attack young birds, wounded animals, and muskrats in traps. We need special protection. The number of white-tailed eagle is declining with a decrease in fish stocks in reservoirs and an increase in disturbance from humans
Student 9. Peregrine Falcon. I am a large falcon the size of a crow. My wings are long and sharp, my tail is short. In Buryatia I am a rare nesting bird. My numbers are declining sharply and are not recovering. I live in forests, making nests in trees and steep rocks. I can take over crows or rooks' nests. We hatch 3-4 eggs. The male passes the prey to the female, and she, tearing off the meat in small portions, feeds the chicks. We feed on birds - pigeons, seagulls, crows, jackdaws, etc. We rush at prey from a height, reaching speeds of up to 300 km per hour. The numbers of our species continue to decline due to the use of chemicals in agriculture; poachers shoot us for stuffed animals. We are listed in the Red Book not only of Buryatia, but also in the Red Book of the USSR.
Student 10 . Black stork. I large bird. The plumage is predominantly black with a metallic tint, the ventral side is white. I settle in hard-to-reach places among swamps, rocky places in the forest, along the banks of rivers and lakes. I am a nesting bird, I arrive in Buryatia in the first half of April. We feed on marsh plants, small fish, frogs, their tadpoles, and other aquatic insects. Our numbers are declining everywhere due to economic development of habitats, deforestation, drainage of swamps, and poaching. Listed in the Red Books.
Student 11 . Whooper swan. In Buryatia I meet only in the northern regions, but even here it is a very rare nesting species. For nesting I prefer large lakes overgrown with vegetation, as well as deep forest lakes. We feed on bottom plants in shallow waters and various invertebrates. The low number is due to environmental features; due to the increasing disturbance factor, our former nesting sites are being reduced.
Student 12. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I am a very rare resident bird, about the size of a sparrow. I differ from all woodpeckers not only in size, but also in color. My knock is not loud and can only be heard from a short distance. I am subject to protection as a “sanitary” of the forest, destroying pests that are inaccessible to other birds. But cutting down old trees suitable for my hollow, and deforestation in general, causes us great harm.
Student 13 . Bustard. I am one of the largest and most valuable birds in Russia. But I am in danger of extinction due to human economic activity. I am a cautious, silent bird. I take off hard, with a running start, but my flight is light and fast. I am a typical inhabitant of open spaces, but due to severe persecution by humans, I began to explore atypical habitats. I feed on young shoots of weeds and other grasses, seeds of wild and cultivated cereals, various types of beetles and locusts. I can eat both a lizard and a frog.
Competition No. 2 . Solve the puzzle. (guess the words on the topic “Birds”)
In the summer I live with Aunt Lyuda and Uncle Petya in the village. Aunt Lyuda takes care of the housework: milks the cow, feeds the pigs, feeds the chickens owl rit. But her favorite pastime is cooking. And Uncle Petya’s is to watch TV. Aunt Lyuda loves loaf ai st put into the oven. Then they turn out lush and beautiful. Dia for tel. The TV watcher watches, eats and praises:
- Yes, that's enough. eagle“Okay, now I’ll finish watching the program, and then let’s go,” the uncle grumbles dissatisfied, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the TV.
Host: Guess the riddle:
I'm swimming under the bridge
And I wag my tail.
I don't walk on the ground
There is a mouth - I’m not saying
I have eyes - I don’t blink,
I have wings, but I don’t fly.
That's right, it's a fish. Now let's listen to the guys' reports about fish listed in the Red Book.
Student 14. Baikal sturgeon. Included in the Red Book of the RSFSR. Lives in Baikal, the Selenga River, Barguzin. There are, but they are small in number in the Upper Angara and Kichera rivers. The basis of nutrition consists of mollusks, insect larvae and gobies. This is a commercial fish and there is a danger of the sturgeon completely disappearing due to its large prey. A ban on fishing for this fish has been introduced.
Student 15. Davatchan. Included in the Red Book of the RSFSR. Lives mainly in mountain lakes, this is a predator. Feeds on young fish. It goes to spawn for the first time at 6-7 years old. Small in number, subject to protection. Fishing is prohibited in Lake Frolikha.
Student 16. Siberian taimen. Found in many rivers of Buryatia with fast current. This is purely river fish. It feeds on aquatic insects, and from the age of 4 it is already a predator, consuming a wide variety of fish. This is a fish species whose numbers are rapidly declining despite the ban on limiting the recreational fishing of taimen.
Student 17 . White Baikal grayling. Included in the Red Book of the RSFSR. It is distributed unevenly across different regions of Lake Baikal. Grayling spawns from 6-7 years of age. Pollution of spawning rivers and the catching of this fish at the time of spawning lead to the fact that it becomes scarce.
Student 18. Tench. A rare species for Buryatia. Its characteristic feature is its ability to change color after being caught in the air, which is why its various names are associated - lin, molt, linina. In Buryatia, its populations are preserved in Lake Irkana and in the lakes of the Barguzin River. This is a lake fish. It feeds on insect larvae and mollusks. The main factor reducing the number of this species is the late warming of water bodies.
Leading: Everything about nature is beautiful because it creates in eternity: it takes millions of years to create something new and correct mistakes. Therefore, her creations are immaculately perfect. Among them, her creations, there are nondescript and unattractive, but none are ugly. Nature created butterflies, fish, snakes, birds, flowers. How many valuable trees do we have in Buryatia? This includes pine, which loves light, and cedar, from the seeds of which high-quality edible oil is extracted. This is the most valuable species of our forests, and not only in Buryatia, but also in Russia. Floral beauty delights and calms, it pleases the eye, the soul is drawn to it. There seems to be nothing wrong with the desire to pick a flower, but if garden flowers are cut carefully, then wild flowers are usually torn wildly, and from such treatment they no longer grow. When February-bokogray enters the forest and caresses the dark tree trunks with gentle warmth, then first near the very foot, and then further away, the tips of the first flowers pierce the grainy half-snow and half-ice.
Student 19. The blue primrose has a book name, but it's better than snowdrop, you can't find one for him. Snowdrop is the first flower. It is also called sleep grass. There is nothing mysterious in the name: just large, fluffy flowers close and droop at night, as if falling asleep. The leaves of sleep grass will appear after flowering, so the plant is very tenacious. But we will see this beauty less and less if we do not take care of it.
Student 20 . Corydalis peonyfolia. Another primrose. This decorative look, whose numbers are declining. Grows in damp, shady forests, near forest streams. Economic use territory, collecting beautiful inflorescences for bouquets has made this type of plant rare. Listed in the Red Book of Buryatia.
Student 21 . Cotoneaster brilliant. It grows only in Buryatia, in light pine and larch forests, along steppe and rocky slopes. It is rare due to human economic activity in its habitat. Listed in the Red Book of the USSR. Used in landscaping throughout the USSR.
Student 22 . Water lily pure white. This is a rare species with declining numbers. Perennial aquatic plant with rhizome rich in starch. Grows in well-warmed bodies of water: lakes, ponds. It is under threat of extinction due to the collection of beautiful flowers and rhizomes for medicinal purposes.
Student 23. Siberian cedar– this is Siberian pine. He was named Cedar for his tall stature and grandeur. . We have few continuous cedar forests. Most of it is in the mountains of Khamar-Daban, Ulan-Burgasy and Tsagan-Daban. Cedar is called Siberian pine, because he is very similar to her. Cedar cones are large, with tasty nuts. The wood of this tree is extraordinary: light and soft, it is used for manufacturing different ships, musical instruments, pencils.
Student 24 . Lobaria pulmonary. This is a species of lichen with declining numbers. IN folk medicine used as a remedy against pulmonary diseases. In Buryatia, it was found in our Severobaikalsky region. Lives on deciduous and coniferous trees, on mossy rocks in areas with humid climate. Disappears due to environmental pollution. It is listed in the Red Book of the USSR and is protected in the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve.
The forest is not just for fun,
He is the wealth of the whole country,
All the trees and grass in it
Raised for our benefit.
Forest like fairy kingdom
There are only drugs around here.
In every grass, in every branch
And medicine and pills.
Test “Know, love and take care!”
Pine occupies the top tier because she:
a) loves shade
b) loves light
c) moisture-loving
a) Scots pine
b) Siberian cedar
c) Palace pine trees
a) where the air is clean
b) where the air is polluted
Blitz – questions “The very best”
Name the most beautiful tree in our country? (birch)
Name the most terrible enemy of the forest? (fire)
What is the most valuable species of our forests? (cedar)
The most shade-tolerant conifer? (fir)
What is the most light-loving breed in our forest? (pine)
Which animals remain the most dangerous and most numerous enemies of the forest? (insects)
Well done boys! You answered very well. And now, while the jury is summing up the results, listen to the information from “In the World of Interesting Things.”
Did you know that in terms of calories, pine nuts are superior to eggs, beef, cream and even lard. Pine nuts contain substances necessary for the treatment of tuberculosis, kidney disease and other diseases. Milk does not sour for a long time in dishes made of cedar, moths do not grow in a cabinet made of this wood, ticks and mosquitoes do not approach cedar, and bees feel best in a cedar hive.
All animals try their best to keep themselves clean. The birds take turns swimming in the puddle. Polar bears pick up snow in their paws and rub it around their ears and eyes. Many animals love to swim, but for this purpose they often choose a swamp, sand, or bask in sun rays. For example, a deer that swims well will rush into the water only as a last resort. But the swamp attracts him irresistibly - it’s so nice to splash around here! Snowshoe hares love to waddle from side to side on dried plowed land.
Any blade of grass, any tree is shrouded in an invisible network of ecological connections where the life of animals and plants is intertwined. For example, cedar appears and grows only thanks to pine birds, which take away and lose seeds and nuts.
Final test.
A) eagle b) raven c) magpie
A) grass b) mushrooms c) salt
A) tongue b) beak c) paw
A) badger b) hedgehog c) bear
Application. (task cards)
In the summer I live with Aunt Lyuda and Uncle Petya in the village. Aunt Lyuda takes care of the housework: she milks the cow, feeds the pigs, and cooks millet for the chickens. But her favorite pastime is cooking. And Uncle Petya’s is to watch TV. Aunt Lyuda loves to put loaves of bread in the oven. Then they turn out lush and beautiful. Uncle watches TV, eats and praises:
- You bake delicious pies, Lyudmila.
“Hey, neighbor, let’s go fishing,” Uncle Misha shouts to him through the window.
“Yes, stop bawling, I’ll watch the program now, and let’s go,” my uncle grumbles dissatisfied, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the TV.
Test “Know, love and take care!”
Pine occupies the top tier because she:
a) loves shade
b) loves light
c) moisture-loving
2. High quality edible oil is extracted from the seeds of:
a) Scots pine
b) Siberian cedar
c) Palace pine trees
3. In which forest do lichens grow?
a) where the air is clean
b) where the air is polluted
c) where there is a lot deciduous trees
Final test.
Which bird is considered the smartest?
A) eagle b) raven c) magpie
2. What is the best treat for elk, deer, and roe deer?
A) grass b) mushrooms c) salt
3. How does a woodpecker extract insects from cracks in the bark of trees?
A) tongue b) beak c) paw
4. What animal can fly?
A) flying squirrel b) lynx c) bat
5. Which of these animals goes into hibernation for the winter?
A) badger b) hedgehog c) bear
Buryatia is one of the most beautiful regions of Eastern Siberia, a land of mountains and steppes. The nature of Buryatia is distinguished by its amazing diversity, in which the beauty of Lake Baikal is organically combined with the endless taiga spaces, wide rivers and the snowy peaks of the Sayan mountain ranges.
The terrain is predominantly mountainous. Most high point in the Eastern Sayan Mountains is Mount Munku-Sadyk, located on the border with Mongolia. Buryatia neighbors the republics of Mongolia and Tyva, and also borders the Irkutsk region and the Trans-Baikal Territory.
The territory of Buryatia accounts for the bulk (approximately 60 percent of the coastline) of the largest freshwater lake on the planet, Lake Baikal, which has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Flora of Buryatia
Among the natural zones of the republic one can distinguish steppe, forest-steppe, taiga, high-altitude zones, as well as tundra. At the same time, transitions from one natural area to the other they are smooth, so it is impossible to distinguish their clear boundaries.
The main part of the entire territory of Buryatia is occupied by mountain taiga. The trees here are dominated by pine, spruce, cedar, larch, fir, birch, aspen and poplar. Numerous bushes rise along the mountain slopes. In the spring, among the awakening taiga, wild rosemary (Daurian rhododendron) begins to bloom in pinkish-purple color. IN summer time forests and mountains, and especially the mountain plateaus of Buryatia, are full of flowers. Here you can find entire meadows covered with orange, fiery red and bright yellow lilies of amazing beauty.
The forests contain many medicinal plants widely used in folk medicine (hawthorn, thyme, plantain, celandine). You can also mention among them: Rhodiola rosea, Ural licorice, peony marina root, Thermopsis lanceolata, etc.
In autumn, many wild berries ripen: lingonberries, blueberries, blueberries, swamp cranberries, Altai honeysuckle, wild currants, wild raspberries, sea buckthorn, bird cherry. Less common are wild apple trees and Siberian apricots. There are a lot of mushrooms in the Buryat forests. IN steppe zone Typical plants are fescue, wormwood, Bogorodsk grass and cinquefoil. Lake Baikal is surrounded on all sides by mountains covered with taiga, consisting of cedars, pines, birches, aspens and larch.
The territory of the Dzherginsky Nature Reserve, located in the north of Buryatia, is dominated by high-altitude plant belts. Forest-steppes, birch and deciduous forests are replaced by steppes. The most common trees here are pine and aspen. Forest-steppes are replaced by pine and deciduous forests, and then thickets of dwarf cedar.
The mountains are covered with rocky scatterings, interspersed with areas of mountain moss-lichen tundra and rare patches of heather, cinquefoil and dryads. Tunkinsky National Park is dominated by taiga vegetation, consisting mainly of Siberian cedars and larch. On the mountain peaks there are areas of tundra and alpine lawns.
More than 1,800 species of especially valuable higher vascular plants, listed in the Red Book of Russia and Buryatia, have been discovered in the republic. Many ornamental shrubs grow here. You can list: bird cherry, rose hips, Siberian apple tree. In some places in the mountains there are preserved relict species rare plants, including horsetails and ferns.
Fauna of Buryatia
The fauna of the republic is extremely diverse. Here you can see the inhabitants of the steppes, inhabitants of the taiga, tundra and rocky mountains.
For example, gophers, foxes, and pikas live in the Mondin Basin. Squirrels, martens, weasels, and muskrats hide in forest areas. There are Barguzin sable, hares, brown bears, wild boars, lynxes. Ungulates: elk, wapiti, roe deer, musk deer. Birds: black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridges, jays, nutcrackers, woodpeckers. Inhabitants of the high mountain zone: reindeer and Siberian mountain goats. Most of them are included in the Red Book of Buryatia. Among other endangered species, we should remember such animals as: otter, wolverine, Baikal seal, saker falcon, greater spotted eagle, Altai snowcock, long-eared owl, scops owl, chough, common viper, sharp-faced frog.
A particularly rare guest among the mammals of Buryatia, listed in the Red Book of Russia, is Snow Leopard. In addition to him, no less rare argali and red wolves live in Buryatia. Common commercial species here include muskrats, long-tailed gophers, wapiti, deer, roe deer, musk deer, weasel and mountain hare.
The steppes are home to many rodents, such as jerboas, ground squirrels, tolai hare, and tabargan. Predators include ferrets, solongoi, weasels, stoats, wolves and foxes. Among the steppe birds typical representatives are partridges, larks and bustards.
The real symbols and treasures of Baikal are considered to be the omul, the viviparous fish - golomyanka, as well as the Baikal seal - a unique freshwater seal, the mystery of whose appearance in the lake has not been revealed to this day. Here you can also find: Baikal sturgeon, pike, catfish, bream, perch, carp, as well as white Baikal grayling, davatchan, sorog and whitefish.
Birds of prey include the white-tailed eagle and many other rare species.
Climate in Buryatia
The Republic of Buryatia has a sharply continental climate. Winters here are cool, with little snow, and dry frosts. Spring is cold, windy, sunny, with frosts and virtually no precipitation. The short summer is characterized by alternating dry and rainy weather, hot sunny days and cool nights. The onset of autumn occurs imperceptibly; without sudden changes in weather, with its arrival the deciduous taiga acquires a golden color. Autumn itself is usually warm, clear, quiet, and gets cold only in the second half of October.
The average July temperature in Buryatia is + 18.5 degrees Celsius, average temperature in January -22 degrees. In most of the territory of Buryatia, it is well monitored vertical zonality, the temperature and amount of precipitation that falls here varies depending on the altitude. The entire republic is characterized by a long period of sunshine corresponding to the southern Russian regions.
Description of different species of animals living near the village of Zarubino
Mongolian foot and mouth disease
The species is included in Red Book of Buryatia as small in number. Identification signs. The total body length is 129.2-137 mm, the body length is 60-63 mm, the tail is 72-74 mm. The abdominal scutes are located at an angle to the midline of the abdomen; by this feature, it is well distinguished from the viviparous lizard, in which the abdominal scutes are located more or less straight. The color of the back is brownish, less often olive-gray. On the back there are up to 10 longitudinal rows of light round spots or dashes, trimmed in black. The belly is light or yellowish. There are round white spots on the top of the legs.
Distribution in Buryatia. Distributed in the southern and central regions.
Number. In the last 10-12 years, there has been a noticeable decline in numbers throughout the habitat.
Lifestyle Settles in areas of rocky steppes, hillsides overgrown with bushes; found on the outskirts of pine forests. Shelters include emptiness under stones and rodent holes. Active during the day, hides in extreme heat. It reproduces by laying eggs in June - early July. Young ones appear in late July - August. There are 5-9 eggs in a clutch. It feeds on ground beetles, weevils, and click beetles; from Hymenoptera - ants. Limiting factors have not been studied. It is necessary to preserve foot and mouth disease as a zoological species.
ORDINARY
Included in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare.
Identification signs. Body length up to 70-80 cm. The color of the back is dark, sometimes almost black. On the sides of the head behind the temples there are two yellow or orange spots. The snake is non-venomous.
Distribution in Buryatia. Southern and central regions (Bichursky, Selenginsky, Dzhidinsky). Local populations are noted in the Barguzin Valley near hot springs - Allinsky, Kuchigersky, Garginsky, Umkheysky. Found on the eastern and northeastern coast of Lake Baikal at the exit thermal waters.
Number. The abundance of the species has not been studied.
Lifestyle Adheres to the banks of reservoirs and swamps. often stays near hot water springs. For the winter it moves away from the water, hiding under stones, in rodent burrows, in voids under tree roots. From hibernation awakens in April-May. Oviparous snakes. Their reproduction and nutrition in the republic have not been studied.
Limiting factors of protection measures. Not fully studied, but the species requires widespread protection.
PATTERNED SLIDER
Included in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare, with a limited range.
Identification marks. Body length 588.2–655.2 mm. There is a dark arched stripe on the head (along the prefrontal and frontal scutes). On the sides of the head dark stripe from the eye to the corner of the mouth. The color of the back is gray or gray with a brownish tint. Along the ridge there are narrow, irregularly shaped transverse spots of black color. The belly has small dark spots. The snake is non-venomous.
Distribution in Buryatia. It lives in the southern and central regions of the republic, also in the Barguzin depression.
Number. The number of habitat areas is low throughout.
Lifestyle. Lives in mixed and coniferous forests, steppes, wet and dry meadows, along the edges of swamps. In the river valley Barguzin and on the eastern coast of lake. The Baikal snake is found near the outlet of thermal waters, for example, at the Allinsky, Kuchigersky, Garginsky hot springs. The snake reproduces by laying eggs in the second half of July - August, in a clutch of 2 to 17 eggs, covered with a white parchment-like shell, through which the yolk is often visible. The incubation period is 3-4 weeks. The snake feeds on rodents (voles), chicks and eggs of ground-nesting passerine birds, and insects. Adults moult in June-July.
Limiting factors and protection measures. The patterned snake has never had a high population on the territory of the republic. At the moment, it is often destroyed by uninformed people who mistake the snake for a poisonous snake. The species should undoubtedly be taken under protection.
COMMON VIPERA
The species is included in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare, with a limited range.
Identification signs. The snake is 420–780 mm long. The color of the dorsal side is grayish-brown, with a dark zigzag stripe running along the ridge. There is an x-shaped pattern on the head. Scales. covering the body, with ribs. The subcaudal scutes are located in 2 longitudinal rows. A dark layer stretches from the eyes to the corner of the mouth. The snake is poisonous.
Distribution in Buryatia. In Buryatia, throughout the republic, but the distribution is spotty. It is more common in mountainous regions - Tunkinsky, Zakamensky, Barguzinsky, Kurumkansky, and is not numerous in other areas.
Number. Accounting data was not carried out.
Lifestyle: Common viper lives in the mountains, in the foothills among rocky placers, on the plain - in damp ravines, meadows, brook forests, along the edges of swamps, and is sometimes found in steppe areas with low bushes. Active from late April - early May to late September. In spring and summer, on warm days, it often comes out of its shelter to bask in the sun. It reproduces by giving birth to live young; this process in Buryatia lasts from July to the end of August. One female gives birth to 7-9 cubs. For the winter, the viper hides in abandoned burrows of long-tailed gophers, sometimes in the burrows of tarbagans, in deep crevices of rocks, in depressions under the roots of trees, under large stones. It goes hunting at dusk or at night. The viper feeds on voles, wood mice, and eats eggs and chicks.
passerine birds nesting on the ground. Beetles and juvenile Mongolian toads were found in the stomachs of young vipers.
Limiting factors and protection measures. Throughout its life, the viper sticks to the same places, moving within 60-100 m. It must be assumed that this feature of the snake’s biology is one of the reasons for the reduction in its numbers. The habitats of vipers are often called snake habitats, and here they are easily destroyed by humans. It is necessary to establish the main foci of the spread of vipers, take them under protection and conduct widespread propaganda among wide circles of the population about the protection of snakes.
STEPPE KESTEL
Listed in the Red Book Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic As an uncertain species, its condition is little known.
Identification signs. Slightly smaller in size than a pigeon. It is very similar to the common kestrel, the most common and relatively numerous falcon in the republic, but smaller and slimmer. In males, the back is bright red without streaks (in the common kestrel - with streaks), the head is dark gray, the throat is buffy-white, the chest is red with a bluish coating, the belly and sides are buffy-red with sharp small streaks, the tail is gray, with a wide black preapical stripe and white border at the end. Females are buffy-red above, with wide brown transverse spots; the chest, sides and belly are pale buffy with longitudinal brownish stripes on the chest and teardrop-shaped spots on the belly. In general, females of the steppe and common kestrel are very poorly distinguished in nature. The best distinguishing feature of these two species is the coloring of the claws; the steppe kestrel has white ones (sometimes for this reason it is called the white-clawed kestrel), and the common kestrel has black ones. The flight is very varied, sometimes it stops in the air and flutters ( common kestrel- too), a cry - a sonorous ki-ki-ki or chi-chi-chi'.
Distribution in Buryatia. It is found in the southern regions of the republic, in the north it reaches the Gusinoozersk Basin. Most often observed in the Kyakhta region..
Number. There are no exact data. In the 30s, according to the observations of A.I. Skalon, in the vicinity of the city of Kyakhta, the steppe kestrel belonged to ordinary birds. Currently, these falcons are not often seen. Apparently, the number is subject to large fluctuations from year to year. This is evidenced by data on their frequent occurrence in some years and absence in other years.
Lifestyle. In Buryatia, information about ecology is very scarce. Migrant, arrives in early May..
rocks and coastal cliffs. Tends to form small colonies of 2-4 or more pairs. The clutch contains 4-6 yellowish-red eggs with dark spots. The female incubates and is rarely replaced by a male.
It feeds mainly on insects, catching small animals and birds.
Limiting factors and protection measures. Their numbers probably depend on the number of animals they feed on. They do not experience negative influences from humans. These falcons, of course, are subject to strict protection. In nesting areas, especially in group settlements, it is necessary to create a rest zone.
KORSAK
Rare species in Buryatia.
Identification marks. The corsac is similar in general appearance to the fox, but differs significantly from it in a number of characteristics. It is approximately the size of a domestic cat: body length 50-60 cm, tail length 25-35 cm, shoulder height about 30 cm. The ears are large and wide at the base. The back side of the ace is black, like a fox, and reddish-gray. The tip of the tail is dark, not white, like a fox's. The general color of the fur is left-gray with an ocher tint, the underparts are white or with a slight yellowish tinge. The size and coloring of females and males are almost the same.
Distribution in Buryatia. The northern border of the Mongolian part of the corsac's range lies on the territory of Buryatia. It is distributed in the southern part of the republic, from the borders with Mongolian People's Republic to Mukhorshibirsky and Selenginsky districts. In some years, migrations to the north are observed, to the Tarbagatai and Ivolginsk depressions.
Number. Scarce species. Corsacs are more often found in the Tugnui depression, less often in the Kyakhta region, and are very rare in other areas. Approximately 200-250 animals live in the republic in the summer; by winter the number decreases. With the onset of cold weather, individual animals migrate to Mongolia.
Lifestyle In the republic, corsac inhabits steppe landscapes, the bottoms of intermountain basins and mountain slopes.
It usually settles in old burrows of tarbagans, foxes and badgers. Leads twilight image life, is active during the day.
The female and male form a permanent pair and live together until one of them dies. The rut takes place at the end of February - March. Pregnancy lasts 50-55 days. At the end of April - May, the female brings from 2 to 10, more often 4-6 cubs. The young ones grow quickly. At 5 months of age they are almost no different from adults. At the end of summer, the young animals disperse.
The animal feeds on steppe rodents (narrow-skulled vole, Daurian hamster, young tarbagans, etc.) and the Daurian pika. On occasion, it catches birds and eats plants. In winter, it does not neglect carrion and various refuse. Usually he catches his prey by hiding. Not far from the victim, he jumps up and overtakes her in several jumps. It tries to squeeze small animals with its front paws.
Limiting factors and protection measures. The number of corsacs in Buryatia has changed significantly several times over the past 50-60 years. It fell especially sharply in the late 40s and early 50s, when the mass extermination of wolves with pesticides was carried out, which killed many other predators, including the corsac. In the 60s and early 70s, there was an increase in the corsac population, then it decreased again. The decline in numbers is associated with deterioration of living conditions caused by plowing of the steppes, intensive grazing and excessive hunting.
Due to the reduction in the number of corsac fish in the republic, it is necessary to limit its production; in some places, for example in the Selenga region, hunting for it is completely prohibited.
MANUL
Rare view. Included in the Red Books of the USSR, RSFSR and Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
Identification signs. quite often this animal is incorrectly called the steppe cat. Manul and steppe cat absolutely different types. The latter does not live in Buryatia.
Manul belongs to the genus of small cats. Weight is 2500-4500 g, body length 50-62 cm, tail length 23-31 cm, ear height 4-5 cm.
The general appearance of the Pallas's cat is unique. In winter, its long and lush fur gives it a rather heavy and massive appearance. The head is small, spherical in shape. The legs are relatively short and wide, the tail is thick and bushy.
The color of the fur is a complex combination of light gray with more or less pale-ocher or pale-reddish admixture. Across the back, moving to varying degrees on the sides, there are 6-7 narrow black transverse stripes .
Distribution in Buryatia. The northern border of the Pallas's range lies on the territory of the republic. It is found in the southern and central regions approximately to the latitude of Ulan-Ude. Very rarely enters the Kizhinginsky and Khorinsky districts. There is only one known case of meeting a Pallas's cat in the upper reaches of the river. Barguzin.
Number Within its entire range in Buryatia, the Pallas's cat is very rare. Relatively often observed in the Borgoi steppe and in the steppes between the Selenga - Chikoy - Khilok rivers. There are no accurate data on population dynamics over the last decade. Judging by the survey data, the number does not tend to increase; most likely, it is declining.
Lifestyle. The most typical habitats of the Pallas's cat are steppe areas with bedrock outcrops and the presence of bushes. Such places in the republic are usually confined to small hill massifs, individual mountains, spurs and foothills of ridges. Depth has a significant influence on the distribution of Pallas's cat. snow cover. It is not adapted for rapid movement on loose and deep snow; in such places it is difficult for him to get food. Pallas's cat lives in tarbagan burrows, in rock crevices and under large stones. The nest is lined with dry stems and leaves, sometimes with the skins of rodents and pikas. Manul leads a predominantly crepuscular lifestyle. In winter, he also goes hunting during the day. It catches its prey by hiding or lying in wait near holes and stones. The main food of Pallas's cat is Daurian pikas, mouse-like rodents, insectivores and birds. It eats small animals whole. He tears the pika into three parts: the head and two halves of the body with limbs. In years when there are a lot of pikas, the manul cat throws out the head of its prey. At one time he is able to eat up to 410 g of food (4-5 pikas or 16 voles). The Pallas's rutting season apparently occurs in March-April. During this period, many traces of Pallas's cat are observed. Pregnancy lasts about 60 days. Kittens appear in late May and early June. There are up to 9 cubs in a litter, but more often there are 3-4. In the Borgoi steppe, hybridization of the Pallas's cat with a domestic cat is known (in remote herds during the Pallas' cat's rutting period, female domestic cats sometimes go into the rocks in the absence of males). Limiting factors and protection measures. The main reason for the decline in the number of Pallas's cats is human development of land (plowing, grazing livestock, etc.).
suitable for these cats to live in. Many animals become prey to stray dogs. There are also cases of poaching.
Hunting for Pallas's cat is prohibited everywhere. It is necessary to identify the most typical areas for Pallas's cat habitat to organize reserves.
SPEAKERS
The kolonok is a small animal, body length 28-30cm. The body color is dark red. Winter fur is lighter than summer fur, but longer and thicker. Distributed everywhere in Buryatia, lives in forests and forest-steppes, preferring cluttered areas or forests with dense undergrowth, and makes seasonal movements.
The Siberian weasel is often found in populated areas, where it catches rats and mice, and at the same time attacks poultry. His hunting area is limited. The daily mileage of the pump does not exceed ten or a little more kilometers. It makes nests in rodent burrows, under tree roots, in wells, among stones. It feeds mainly on rodents. Willingly eats frogs, fish, various invertebrates, fruits and berries. Active in the evening and at night, but sometimes hunts during the day. Moves by jumping and is able to climb trees. The rut takes place in March - April. The duration of pregnancy is 40 days. There are from 3 to 10 blind cubs in a litter. Their eyes open after a month, but they feed on milk for about two months. Siberians reach sexual maturity at the age of one year. The animal sheds in spring and autumn.
Speakers are useful because they destroy harmful rodents. On the other hand, they cause harm hunting management, exterminating upland game. Game animal. Brushes made from kolinsky tail hair are highly valued by painters.
SOLONGAY
The solonga is smaller in size than the kolonka, body length 22-28 centimeters, weight 30 grams. The coat in winter is pale fawn-ocher on top, lighter towards the bottom. The top of the head is slightly darker than the back, the muzzle is white below. The summer color of Solongoi is darker and more intense than the winter color.
Found around Lake Baikal, but very few in number. Lives By mountain slopes overgrown with bushes, in river valleys, along ravines and gullies. Active both at night and during daylight hours, moves by jumping, swims and climbs well through the bushes and trees.
It makes nests among stones and in rodent burrows. It feeds on rodents and birds, sometimes insects. Solongoi has a rut in early spring. Pregnancy lasts about 40 days. A litter usually contains 5-8 cubs, which stay with their parents until late autumn. Molting occurs in spring and autumn. Solongoi is a useful animal; it destroys harmful rodents and benefits agriculture. A valuable fur-bearing animal, although commercial value there is not much of it.
ORDINARY HEATER
The wheatear is slightly larger than a sparrow. The male is very bright. The top of the head and back are ash-gray, the wings are dark brown, almost black. A black stripe, the “frenum,” runs from the beak through the eye. The ventral side is white with a fawn or buffy tinge, especially on the throat and crop. The tail is bicolored, the base of the tail is white, the tip is dark. The female is buffy-brown. The common wheatear is widely distributed throughout the territory of Buryatia. It is a common breeding bird in many areas. Wheatears live in dry steppes and steppe meadows with rock outcrops, and in pine and elm forest-steppes with rock outcrops. In recent years, wheatears have been observed approaching human settlements; they willingly nest in the territory of construction dumps, where there are many piles of broken sand-lime brick, slate, waste formwork and other construction waste. Common wheatears arrive in the second half of April. During May, males actively sing while performing lekking flights. The song of the wheatear contains a loud whistle, a chirping sound, and a neighing sound. Nest building and egg laying occur in the first half of May. Nests are made in piles of stones, in stone wells
pillars, in woodpiles of firewood, in stacks of boards, in piles of construction waste. it is difficult to get to the nest.
The nest is a loose structure made of dry grass, animal hair and bird feathers. A full clutch contains 5-6 eggs of a pure pale blue color.
In the first ten days of June, chicks appear on the wheatears. From mid-June, chicks have been observed emerging from their nests. During the first days they usually stay near the nest and, if there is danger, hide among the stones.
Wheatears feed on various insects that are found among the grass. The diet of wheatears is dominated by beetles, in particular ground beetles, flies and spiders.
Living in our Trans-Baikal steppes, wheatears greatly enliven this monotonous landscape with their beautiful appearance and a loud whistle.
Yesterday, October 6, was International Habitat Conservation Day. Using the example of the rarest animals of the republic, the site decided to show how humans influence nature through their activities
Red color is a signal of alarm, impending danger, warning. The Red Book includes plants and animals of which there are very few left on Earth; they are in danger of extinction. Buryatia also has its own Red Book. In our republic there is practically no place where no human has set foot. Every extinct species is a severe and irreparable loss. We are conquering space, we have learned to print houses and body organs. But can we recreate the snow leopard or sagaan-dali? For now, everything that disappears in the animal world disappears forever. We present to readers the rare decorations of the nature of Buryatia: snow leopard (irbis), manul, steppe bustard, red wolf.
Snow Leopard
In the category of species extinction in the Red Book of Buryatia, the snow leopard ranks first. There are only 20 to 30 of them left in Buryatia. Protected on the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park and natural park national significance "Shumak". Two areas of stable habitat for the snow leopard are known: western (ridges of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, Okinsky and Tunkinsky regions) and eastern ( West Side Malkhansky ridge, Bichursky district). Over the past 20 years, one snow leopard has died every year due to human fault. And the future forecast for the state of the species is disappointing.
Manul
Globally, the status of this species is assessed as rare and declining in numbers. Pallas's cat prefers to live in forest-steppe spaces with rocky areas. In Buryatia, its main habitat is the Selenginsky, Dzhida, and Kyakhtinsky districts. His main food is field mice. He is a food competitor of the fox; they share the same habitats due to the food supply. It is extremely rare, because by nature this small animal is very mysterious and secretive. The threat of extinction of the Pallas's cat is hunting, killing by people during a chance meeting, death from dogs, any trapping, steppe fires, and the disturbance factor.
Steppe Bustard
The number in Buryatia reaches 30 - 40 individuals. Although even before the 60s and 70s it lived in all areas of the south of Buryatia, in the north to the delta of the Selenga River and the Vitim Plateau, as well as in the Barguzin region. Later, the range shrank almost everywhere, with the exception of the southern regions. Currently, it constantly nests in the Dzhidinsky and Mukhorshibirsky regions, sometimes reaching Ulan-Ude. Experiments were carried out in the Daursky Nature Reserve and it was found that the bustard feeds well on rapeseed fields (weed). Previously, collective farms specifically planted it for harvesting. Now the steppe bustard serious problems with food supply. Scientists believe that the main threat to the bustard is agriculture. Because in its nesting places there are steppe burnings or grazing. And for her, the disturbance factor is very important, because she nests on the ground. If a bustard is scared away from its nest, it will never return there. The chicks are dying. During autumn rains The wings of the steppe bustard get wet and freeze. Birds cannot fly and become easy prey even for children. There are known cases when such defenseless bustards were driven into courtyards and beaten to death with sticks.
Red Wolf
Its numbers and distribution are also declining globally. The red wolf never howls; his voice is a mixture of barking, whining and squealing. Outside the mountains, the red wolf cannot compete with the ordinary wolf, which is capable of taking prey even from a pack of red wolves. It has also been established that red wolves die from invasive diseases and are sensitive to anthropogenic impact: they leave their habitats when people visit them. Their food supply has been undermined by widespread poaching of the main species of ungulates. In Buryatia, the red wolf is occasionally found in the highlands and mountain taiga of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, as well as in the south of the Tunka Valley. According to Olga Martynova, head of the department of state environmental assessments and biodiversity conservation, some types of nature are inclined to reproduce, some are not. The habitat of these animals is simply extremely cruel and they cannot produce large offspring.
Cheetah
A predatory “intellectual” and gourmet. It is difficult to imagine that several centuries ago there were cheetahs in our steppes. And they became extinct on our territory, according to scientists, because they were gourmets - they hunted mainly ungulates: steppe antelopes, gazelles. Their abundance disappeared with the plowing up of the steppe, for hunting in which cheetahs are ideally suited, never feeding on carrion. They don't even return to the remains of their own prey. Today, the free cheetah can only be found in Africa in remote places and in protected areas. In Asia it has disappeared or is very rare. The cheetah is the fastest dying species. Firstly, although cheetahs run fast, they get tired quickly. Secondly, they only hunt gazelles; thirdly, it is more difficult for them to hide their cubs, because they don't climb trees. The cheetah is called the "intelligent" in the world of predators. That is why it is so difficult for him to withstand numerous external influences. Flocks of vultures flock to the cheetah's hunting area and push it back. It's sad to think that cheetahs have to change their habits due to their growing popularity with tourists. Hearing loud sounds, a cheetah often abandons its prey, leaving it to be eaten by other animals. The claw of the first toe always remains sharp, as it never comes into contact with the ground. It is with its help that the predator knocks down its prey. This feature explains the images in the paintings when the cheetah calmly rests on a horse behind the rider. The most famous painting of Kublai Khan hunting.
Tiger
Now he is associated exclusively with the Ussuri region. Although the first name of such a tiger is “Siberian”. “The Babr is the rarest of all animals in the Irkutsk region and surpasses them in its strength and courage. It has irregularly located blackish transverse stripes along its white-yellowish fur; does not exceed height big wolf“- this is how the evidence of those years is described. As you can see, according to the descriptions, the babr resembles a tiger. “Siberians call babr without distinction between leopard and tiger... It has been known since ancient times that tigers and leopards often enter Dauria from Manchuria, Tibet and other parts of the celestial empire,” confirms in late XIX century A.A. Cherkasov in the famous “Notes of a Hunter of Eastern Siberia”. “Eastern Siberia is adjacent to Mongolia and Manchuria, which constitute the last northern limit of the tiger's habitat. We have had cases of tiger appearances both in Transbaikalia and in the mountain spurs of the Sayan Mountains,” wrote scientist I.S. back in 1896. Rural.
Extinction threat by the numbers
During the 19th centuries AD, the following disappeared on Earth:
150 species of mammals, mostly large 139 species of birds
In 1 day, about 100 species of plants and animals disappear on Earth.
The following may disappear in the near future:
5435 animal species 5611 plant species
In the Red Book of Buryatia:
140 animal species 139 plant species
They are not yet extinct, but require monitoring of their condition:
185 species of animals 282 species of plants and fungi
Baikal fauna natural area. Birds
Taxon rank. The class Birds (Aves) belongs to the subtype Vertebrata of the Chordata type.
General appearance. Birds are the most numerous class of terrestrial vertebrates (almost 9 thousand species). They evolved from higher reptiles, most likely from small predatory dinosaurs(from 150 to 180 million years ago), from which birds inherited many features in the hind limbs (three-fingered, parasagittal), the bones of most of the body, many elements of which are conservative, and the skin, depleted of glands; Birds are also similar to dinosaurs in the structure of the circulatory (4-chambered heart, the presence of only one, right, aortic arch), digestive, and excretory systems.
But the birds also developed many unique features: a keratinized beak, devoid of teeth; a kind of shoulder girdle - clavicle - “fork”, a powerful sternum and a modified forelimb, a wing, where the role of the supporting element is largely played by feathers, and the phalanges of the fingers are rudimentary; flying birds have strong and long feathers on their wings, while poorly flying birds have flightless birds softer; the tail has lost its bone base and is also formed by feathers; the original function of feathers is thermoregulation; the lungs have peculiar “air sacs” that normalize gas exchange in the lungs during flight. The skeleton is often lightweight; many bones are hollow, thin-walled tubes.
Birds are warm-blooded and therefore inhabit almost any climatic zones, including those that are inaccessible to reptiles. The ability to fly allowed them to occupy such diverse ecological niches that were not mastered even by many mammals, which in an evolutionary aspect provided birds with great systematic and morphological diversity. The division of ecological niches left an imprint on many features of their behavior. One of the most interesting is sound signaling: it is known that birds, even of outwardly similar species, can be clearly distinguished by their voices (apparently, the birds themselves use this). They reproduce by laying and incubating eggs in a hard shell, in which the development of the fetus occurs; mature chicks usually break the shell themselves and are born. In some birds (raptors, cuckoos, woodpeckers, passeriformes, etc.), the chicks are helpless outside the nest, and the adults feed them until they begin to fly. In others (Gulliformes, waders, etc.), chicks can almost immediately move on the ground or (in many waterfowl) enter the water after their parents. For the winter, many birds fly to their wintering grounds ( South Asia, Australia, Africa), roam or stay near sources of available food, incl. near human settlements.
How many of them stay for the winter?
At the source of the Angara there is an ice-free section of the river up to 10-15 km long. They remain on this stretch waterfowl who from other areas fly to the winter southern countries: goldeneyes, mergansers, long-tailed ducks, long-tailed ducks, tufted ducks, etc. During the day, birds swim, diving into the water column or to the bottom for food: gammarids, oligochaete worms, caddisfly larvae, mollusks, etc.
At night, birds fly away into open spaces. In calm weather they can probably spend the night on open space, and when it’s windy they take cover in hummocks. The number of wintering birds varies from year to year. If there is sufficient food, up to 15 thousand of them remain, in lean years - two to three times less. However, not everyone survives until spring. Many of them die during overnight flights: when severe frosts and the winds, the birds are exhausted, fall onto the ice and, exhausted, freeze. Many die later in the daytime, when a strong northwest wind drives water onto the ice. By spring, there are barely half of the birds remaining for the winter.
Which non-waterfowl birds can run underwater and why?
On the banks of the river and, especially at the source of the Angara, live dippers (Cinclus cinclus) from the order of passerines. These birds dive into the water for food, run along the bottom, collecting gammarus, caddisfly larvae, oligochaetes and other worms, and do not disdain small fish. They can stay under water for up to 15-20 seconds. Dippers live on the banks of the Angara all year round.
Are there nightingales in area a and how do they sing?
In the vicinity of a live the ruby-throated nightingale and the blue nightingale. Their singing is probably different from the singing of the Kursk nightingale. After all, birds, even of the same species, but from remote areas, differ in language and often do not understand each other.
Are there cuckoos in the Baikal region?
Cuckoos live in the Baikal region. In addition to the usual one, it is also inhabited by the deaf cuckoo, its cuckooing is very low in tone and deaf.