Crimean birds photos and names

Which birds of Crimea are most often found in nature?

Birds of Crimea: today we will present you with photos and names of frequently encountered ones.
The Crimean Peninsula is an unusual place on the map of Europe, in which all the beauties of nature are intertwined.

High mountains, rare trees, alluring with their heights, animals and birds that were able to adapt to the local conditions.

Their diversity is so great and unusual that you want to learn as much as possible and call this territory a treasure peninsula.

Bottlenose dolphin. Mona Lisa Smile

“Whoever once met a dolphin will never forget this meeting”...

This is how it is sung in the Crimean folk song. Incredibly graceful, handsome mammals reach impressive sizes - from two to three, or even 3.5 meters in length. They have a noble gray color and a striped pattern on the sides. And their unforgettable signature smile “with all 32” – although, to be precise, 92 teeth – immediately and forever captivates so that you can’t help but fall in love with these lovely creatures!

If, while swimming at capes Meganom, Sarych, Tarkhankut, you are lucky enough to meet a flock of these “people of the sea”, consider yourself lucky - bottlenose dolphins are a species with reduced numbers.

It is in our power to love these amazing animals and not abuse their gullibility. A common picture is when they persistently push swimmers who have moved away from the shore out of the water. And we can thank them for their care quite realistically - saving the lives of exhausted dolphin calves, which are often washed up on beaches during a storm. There are always people who go into a stormy sea with a dolphin in their arms to help it return home...

How can one not remember the truth of goodness: “You and I are of the same blood – you and I!”

General characteristics of birds living in Crimea

Birds of the peninsula belong to 19 orders, the number of which reaches about three hundred species. Based on their lifestyle, birds can be divided into those that nest and those that do not.

The first number includes wintering, migrating and occasional migrants. The majority are nesting birds. This is about 60% of all feathered representatives. Over the many years of their stay on the peninsula, they have adapted to the climate and living conditions, reproduce and lead a full-fledged lifestyle.

Their presence in Crimea is also important, since they destroy pests and in some way serve as hunting objects. Only 10% are wintering birds, which include representatives of 17 species.

Foothills of Crimea

The fauna of the foothills is a conglomerate of representatives of forest zones and steppe regions. The wild animals of Crimea here have long been considered the aborigines of the peninsula.

Brown hare

Unlike their mainland counterparts, the local inhabitant has distinctive features that are not inherent in representatives of other habitats. Crimean hare retain their color almost all year round. An earthy gray coat with white and red ripples is characteristic of all native hares.

Snow rarely falls on the peninsula, and if snowfall does occur, it lasts no more than a week. During this time, the Russians do not have time to change their appearance. Object of hunting.

The number of hares has decreased significantly in recent decades, but its distribution is still considered widespread. It appears especially often at the borders of forest-steppe areas.

Stone marten

The animal received its affectionate name for the white fur on its chest and throat. Grace and elegance of movements are characteristic of a small predator, not alien to vegetarian food (he feasts on hawthorn, grapes, pears). The white bell does not climb tree trunks, but deftly sneaks into domestic chicken coops to instantly destroy bird families.

Badger

The animal has firmly established itself in the forests of Crimea. The body of a badger is approximately 70-90 cm in length, the tail is up to 20 cm. Powerful claws on the paws indicate the direction of its active actions. They dug multi-tiered holes with galleries, passages, warehouses, all corners were lined with grasses.

Raccoon dog

The short-legged animal took root on the peninsula after several attempts at introduction. A squat body up to 80 cm in length, a fluffy tail up to 25 cm. A sharp muzzle with a raccoon coloring in the form of a mask, fluffy ashy whiskers on the sides.

Lives in rock crevices, occupies fox holes or inhabits niches in tree roots. The raccoon dog is often found on the sea coast in search of food. The animal is considered an omnivore, but its preference is for animal food.

The bats

In Crimea, there are 16 species of bats. The activity of flying mammals is maximum at night. The leathery folds between the toes and hind legs along the side of the body act like the wings of birds.

In the subtropics of Crimea, bats feed only on insects thanks to ultrasonic echolocation. The largest individuals barely reach 10 cm in length. The flight speed of amazing mice reaches 50 km/h.

Body control allows you to fly accurately in the narrow labyrinth of a cave, without touching the walls with your wings. Mountain forest zones are the favorite habitats of completely harmless bats.

Swamp turtles

They inhabit mainly mountain reservoirs. Unlike land animals, there are swimming membranes between the toes of a turtle. The average inhabitants measure up to 15 cm in shell diameter. At night it sleeps at the bottom of a pond or other body of water, and during the day it hunts small fish and eats greens. For the winter it is buried in silt.

Pets of the Crimea include swamp turtles, which also hibernate and spend the winter somewhere in a secluded place in the basement until the first warmth of spring.

Noble deer

The oldest inhabitant of the peninsula is the pride of Crimea. The large animal grows up to 1.4 meters tall at the withers. Branched horns adorn his head. The thickness and length of the shoots indicate the age of the deer. The main decoration of males is updated annually.

In the mountain forests of Crimea, the powerful roar of the largest artiodactyls is often heard. Herds gather here and feed on vegetation. In winter, deer approach gardens and thickets near populated areas, where there is more food and it is warmer. Graceful animals decorate the forest thickets.

Mouflon

The mountain sheep was acclimatized in Crimea even before the revolution. Difficulties in settling in and difficulties with reproduction made European settlers specially protected objects. The animals' habits are the same as those of domestic sheep.

During the day, in hot weather, they spend in the shade of rocks, under trees, and in the evenings they nibble grass near mountain ridges, on grassy slopes. In winter they suffer from fallen snow and go down to human habitation to feed.

The main decoration of the animal is its spirally twisted horns backwards and upwards. Large individuals reach 200 kg. Rare animals of Crimea are under protection.

Roe

Graceful animals once inhabited the steppe part of the peninsula. People pushed the animals onto the mountain slopes. Remarkable mirrors (white fur around the tail) of animals running away from humans are often visible in forests.

Excellent hearing serves as protection against many enemies. Roe deer suffer the most from poachers. Along with deer, which they are very similar to, artiodactyls are favorites of foresters, who affectionately call them “goats.”

Doe

For now, the relict animal is still rare in the foothills of Crimea. Several attempts to acclimatize the beautiful artiodactyls have not yet been completed. Larger than roe deer, but smaller in size than deer, fallow deer are cautious, agile, and adapted to steppe and forest habitats.

Without human protection, the spread of animals is unlikely to be successful, but Crimeans are doing a lot to preserve the species.

A wild boar

The original inhabitants of the peninsula were exterminated by the 19th century. About a century later, wild pigs were successfully returned to these lands. Omnivores feed on nuts, mushrooms, roots, bird eggs, and rodents.

When meeting a person, wild boars carefully move away, but if a fight cannot be avoided, then the animals know no fear. Meetings with females protecting piglets are especially dangerous. You can only survive on the branches of a tall tree.

Rock lizard

Lives exclusively in the Crimean mountains. A brave traveler on rocks and steep slopes. Rocky shores, deposits of boulders, gorges, outcrops of various rocks are the favorite places of lizards. You can meet beautiful individuals at an altitude of up to 3000-3500 meters above sea level. The speed and ease of movement has no equal.

Steppe birds: species, habitat

The Crimean steppe is quite poor in bird species. Many explain this by the fact that this territory rose from the depths of the sea much later than the mountainous one. Another version is that few bird species can adapt to life in the steppe; in open space they become easy prey for animals and predators.

Steppe birds face enormous difficulties on their way to survival; first of all, they nest near bodies of water, where they can often become easy prey for predators. Since the climate in Crimea is dominated by a temperate continental climate, and in some places subtropical. The steppe dries out, has rather poor vegetation cover, as well as a lack of moisture and air.

The extraordinary “common flamingo”

This is how simply the scientific literature calls this fabulous feathered creature - an infrequent visitor to the “Swan Islands”, backwaters in the north-west of Taurida, as well as the Black Sea and Saki regions of Crimea.

Stately, with a large beak and exotic plumage, completely unexpected, even for Crimeans, the bird flew here irregularly. But in February 2022, the “children of sunset” (a pair of flamingos) stayed for the first time for the winter in Sevastopol, in the area of Kazachya Bay. To the delight of ornithologists and the delight of everyone who was lucky enough to see “guests” from fairy-tale countries...

Flamingos are monogamous birds, and the local, even warmer climate should strengthen their mating bonds so that wintering on the peninsula becomes familiar to them. Oh, if only they could find their home in Crimea!

Experts say that it was the flamingo that became the prototype of the fabulous Phoenix bird. Our sensitivity when meeting these magical birds in their natural environment will help revive the endangered bird species. The fairy tale must not end...

Inhabitants of the shores of the Black and Azov Seas

A distinctive feature of the bird is its crest, which is why it is nicknamed the “crested cormorant.” There is no better place for the cormorant to live than the Crimea. After many years of stay, he can safely be called an old-timer.

Cormorants hunt young fish. They always look out for prey and are ready to dive for it to a depth of 8-10 meters. These are very smart birds. To protect their offspring from the scorching sun, they cover the nest with wet algae, which provide additional moisture and disarm the hot rays of the sun.

Birds rarely nest in Crimea. Basically, the place for raising offspring is the north. They spend the winter on the peninsula, since the local winters are not severe. At the moment, the swan is a representative of the Red Book, and hunting it is strictly prohibited. Watch a video about the birds of Crimea.

Source

Owl. Fragile crystal owl of Crimea

This night bird looks sternly and calmly from under its shaggy eyebrows - a symbol of wisdom. The only order of birds that has a facial disc, like a person, and is capable of turning its head 360 degrees.

Who wouldn’t want to take a funny “me and the eagle owl” photo as a souvenir? Yes, and street photographers with a bird on their shoulder are luring in every possible way, and from friends on the Internet you want to get “likes” for a wonderful photo... But you shouldn’t indulge photographers and their allies - poachers. Currently, this bird in Crimea is under threat of complete extinction. There are only 7-10 pairs of eagle owls on the peninsula!

And the benefits from them are considerable. One eagle owl destroys more than 1000 rodents per year, saving people several tons of grain. And if you adopt the wisdom of an owl and do not abdicate the responsibility for preserving the “class” of eagle owls, then you will not want to take pictures with a “white-headed owl” caught by a clever hunter who breaks the law.

But you shouldn’t deny yourself the pleasure of admiring this “feathered miracle.” In the Crimean Nature Reserve “Ayu-Dag” you can do this without harming the night “watchman”.

The eagle owl has no natural enemies in the Crimean forests. Let us also become friends with this rare bird, whose gaze is so open.

Birds of Crimea

Birds of Crimea are systematically classified by scientists into 19 orders, which include 300 species of birds. Based on the nature and duration of their stay on the peninsula, birds are divided into nesting and non-breeding . Among the first are sedentary and summer-nesting birds, the second includes migratory, wintering and occasional migrants. Naturally, for any region, nesting birds are the most important due to the duration of their impact. Migratory birds that visit the Crimea at certain times are interesting because in resting and feeding areas they destroy pests en masse and, in addition, some of them serve as objects of hunting.

Nesting birds predominate numerically in Crimea; they make up approximately 60% of the total bird population. There are equal numbers of resident and migratory birds among nesting birds. The share of migratory species is 30% and only 10% (17 species) are wintering.

Ninety species of Crimean birds are rare. These include all large predators: the snake eagle, the steppe eagle, the osprey, the dwarf eagle, the imperial eagle, the white-tailed eagle, the golden eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the griffon vulture, the saker falcon, the peregrine falcon and the nocturnal predator - the eagle owl. The black vulture and griffon vulture are endemic species.

Representatives of rare species of Crimean birds: griffon vulture, osprey, short-eared snake eagle.

The diversity of Crimean landscapes determines to a large extent the species composition of birds, diet, timing of migrations and their biology in general.

There are not very many birds “assigned” only to mountain habitats in Crimea These include scavenger birds: the black vulture, the griffon vulture, and the vulture. “High-flying birds”—white-bellied swifts—love to settle in rocks. Of the chickens, guests of the Crimea live in the mountains - gentle beautiful chukars, feathered natives of the peninsula - gray partridges, acclimatized pheasants, spotted rock thrush, mountain bunting and mountain wagtail are occasionally found.

Birds of the Crimean Mountains: black vulture, vulture, chukar

Presentation “Birds of Crimea” presentation for the lesson (preparatory group)

Slide 1

Birds of our region Compiled by: Makarina T.I. teacher of MBDOU "Fairy Tale" in the village of Frunze, Saki district, Republic of Crimea. Presentation for educational activities on familiarization with the outside world in the preparatory group.

Slide 2

Birds are one of the most amazing animals on Earth. Birds have wings and feathers. Birds have beaks and claws. Birds live in nests. Birds eat fruits, grains, worms, insects, etc. There are different types of birds. They are also different sizes. The smallest bird is the hummingbird. The largest bird is the Ostrich. Birds have different colors. Some birds, such as the peacock, have beautiful and colorful feathers. The crow and cuckoo are black in color. Although swans and doves are white. Some birds can fly high, and some birds can swim in the water. Duck, stork and swan are waterfowl. Birds such as the peacock and rooster cannot fly high. Birds such as the eagle, vulture, kite and hawk can fly very high in the sky. Some birds cannot fly, one such species is the penguin. The bird lays eggs and hatches young individuals. The cuckoo and the nightingale are singing birds. A parrot can be taught to speak. Owls can see even in the dark. Birds inhabit environments that suit them. They live in packs, hunt, and reproduce. Birds play an important role in human life. Birds such as chickens and ducks provide food to humans in the form of meat and eggs. Birds help us get rid of insects. Some birds are raised by humans for entertainment, such as parrot, pigeon, etc. All birds are divided into wintering, migratory and nomadic.

Slide 3

Wintering birds Sedentary birds Sedentary birds are wintering birds living in one place. We all know these birds, we see them every day on our streets, in forests, in fields. These are birds that feed mainly on grains and food waste. Crows, sparrows, pigeons, magpies are our city neighbors. The woodpecker, for example, uses its long beak to extract sleeping bugs and larvae from under the bark; the crossbill feeds on the seeds of cones. They are not afraid of any snowfalls or frosts. But city birds require human help on particularly cold, snowy and frosty days.

Slide 4

Crow. Ravens can be seen in the mountains of Eastern Crimea. Many people consider them scavengers, but this is not entirely true: the raven is an omnivorous bird. It eats insects, worms, rodents, bird eggs, and attacks birds. Crows supplement their diet with fruits, berries, nuts, and acorns. Crows live everywhere; they usually live in pairs and do not form flocks. The raven is one of the smartest birds in the world. If you catch him as a chick, he is excellently trained. He will live in the house, freely fly away and return to his owner, and follow simple commands. A raven can make friends with a dog, but it does not tolerate small animals and birds.

Slide 5

Sparrows are long-time neighbors of humans. They build their nests next to people's houses, and sometimes right on them - under the roof, in cracks in walls or behind the eaves of windows and doors. Sparrows are surprisingly unpretentious. They eat any food and help gardeners by destroying harmful insects. But on occasion they can also harm crops by pecking out grains. “Beat the thief!” - the peasants shouted in the old days when they saw a flock of small birds in their fields. This is where the name sparrow comes from. There are city and field sparrows. City sparrows are small, gray birds, while field sparrows are brighter in color - they have a brown cap on their heads and two light stripes on their wings. Sparrows communicate with each other by loudly chirping, reporting feeding locations or that a predator is creeping up on the flock. Together it is easier to find food and avoid danger. During the warm season, a sparrow manages to lay eggs 2–3 times and hatch offspring. Scientists have calculated that with such fertility, sparrows should have already displaced all other birds from our planet. But this does not happen, because not all chicks survive, dying in the claws and beaks of predatory animals and birds.

Slide 6

The magpie has a nickname - white-sided. The feathers on her sides are white, and her head, wings and tail are black, like a raven. The magpie's tail is very beautiful - long, straight, like an arrow. The feathers on it are not just black, but with a beautiful greenish tint. The magpie cannot be confused with any other bird. Everyone knows her habit of stealing and hiding shiny objects. The magpie usually lives in an open area with many trees and bushes. She avoids the dense forest. Its nest is large, covered on top with a thorny roof. It is built from dry branches covered with a layer of clay and mud, and behind it is a tray of roots, stems, leaves and wool. The nest is most often located high off the ground in the crown of a tree. As a rule, magpies build several nests, and then choose one in which to nest. In April or May, 5-8 eggs appear in it. The female incubates them herself for about two weeks. The male begins to help her after the birth of the offspring - they are very voracious. A month after birth, the chicks fly out of the nest and stay close to it. Magpies prefer to stay in pairs, and after nesting - in families, but only for a certain time. In places where there are many magpies, in the fall they unite in flocks and roam together. The magpie leads a sedentary lifestyle: neither in autumn nor in winter does it move far from the nest. The food for forty is varied. While feeding its chicks, the magpie not only devours small mammals, insects, caterpillars and various other small animals, but also destroys the nests of other birds. In addition, she willingly eats various berries, fruits, and grains.

Slide 7

Partridge They are sedentary birds and live in open areas. They feed on a variety of seeds and sometimes insects. Nests are made on the ground in the form of lined depressions located in secluded places. Typically this bird species does not spend its life in the sky. They prefer to stay on the ground most of the time. The plumage of a partridge is excellent for camouflage. That is why they prefer to hide from enemies in small depressions in the ground or in another way, but remaining on the ground. These birds are amazing and caring parents. Not only do they constantly and selflessly protect nests, but they can also shelter and feed other chicks that are left orphans. They always and in any conditions protect their brood. Typically eaten are grain feed, seeds, weeds, berries and stems. Sometimes also roots, leaves, tubers.

Slide 8

The pheasant has a very long wedge-shaped mottled tail. The male pheasant has spurs on his paws, which he uses during fights for the female. Pheasant food is mainly small berries, various fruits, seeds or green shoots. Also, birds do not disdain worms and all kinds of insects. This bird prefers to take off noisily and suddenly, vertically upward, after which it flies strictly horizontally. These birds make their nests near bodies of water, often along the banks of rivers or lakes. A frightened bird will not take off and fly to the top of a tree; these birds will rather hide in dense thickets. This is probably why the nests of these birds are located directly on the ground. Pheasants climb trees only to get high-growing fruits; this mainly happens in late autumn or winter, when there is less food on the ground. Pheasants

Slide 9

Woodpecker. Of the numerous order of woodpeckers, only one species lives in Crimea - the great spotted woodpecker. Tapping trunks and branches, he searches (by ear) for passages of insects and their larvae under the bark and in the wood. Having determined a suitable place, it opens the passage and extracts the prey with a long, thin tongue. The main winter diet of woodpeckers in Crimea is seeds of pine cones. During the nesting period, woodpeckers from all forests and parks flock to the high-trunk mountain forest and make hollows for themselves in trees with soft wood. The work takes at least two weeks. The woodpecker has a bad relationship with his girlfriend, which is why they don’t live in the place for long. The chicks are hatched very quickly (in ten days), fed together and quickly scattered. The father himself drives the grown-up parasites out of his “house” (that is, from his plot of forest).

Slide 10

Owl Night predator. She has soft feathers, and this is necessary for the bird to fly silently at night. The owl has large, very convex eyes, predatorily directed forward, and the structure of the cervical vertebrae allows it to look back, turning its head 180 degrees. An owl's ear is 50 times more sensitive than ours. The owl sees perfectly well during the day, but hides in the forests at dawn, fearing other large birds, especially ravens. Only the short-eared owl, which has fewer enemies, sometimes hunts in daylight. In the spring, the owl builds a primitive nest or finds a hollow and lays eggs within a few days. It starts incubating from the first day. Therefore, chicks are born at different times, differing in age and size. The main food of owls is mice, voles, and gophers.

Slide 11

Bird of peace is another name for pigeons. The color of pigeons can be completely different. Some species and breeds of pigeons are colorful, like parrots, or have tails like peacocks. Pigeons feed on seeds, fruits of fruit trees, and berries. Birds living in cities can consume food waste. Basically, birds prefer to settle near human habitation, this makes it easier for them to find food. When a pigeon drinks, it draws water into itself as if through a straw, while other birds generally catch a few drops with their beaks and then throw back their heads so that the water gets into the throat. A pair of pigeons builds a nest in a secluded place where it is difficult to detect. The male obtains materials for the home, and the dove lays thin twigs, twigs and blades of grass. Pigeon

Slide 12

Gull. Seagulls, like seabirds, are distinguished by their waterproof plumage. They have abundant down, and their feathers are covered with a special lubricant, thanks to which the seagulls are not afraid of water. Seagulls swim almost as well as they fly. Their diet consists of various fish and small sea insects, which they take directly from the water. During the mating season, ritual feeding occurs - males bring food for their females. The rest of the time both fly for food. In addition to feeding, males also have to choose a place to build a future nest. Seagulls often nest directly on the ground or on rocks. The gull's nest is built from grass, twigs and wet sand.

Slide 13

Herons' favorite food is small fish and frogs. When stalking prey, a heron can stand motionless in one place for a long time, sometimes leaning on one leg. Seeing a fish approaching, the heron makes a sharp movement of its head and grabs the prey. The special structure of the neck allows the heron to make very fast and sharp lunges with its head. Frogs only see moving objects, so they simply do not notice a stationary heron. And the heron lures the fish by wiggling its long toes in the water. The fish think that worms are crawling along the bottom and swim straight into the heron’s beak. Herons live in large families, making nests in trees, or even just on the ground. The female lays large greenish eggs, from which chicks hatch after about a month. They are completely naked and helpless. The chicks are constantly asking for food, and the male heron is forced to spend the whole day looking for food. The female remains in the nest. It's interesting to watch herons fly. While most other birds stretch their necks and heads forward, herons, on the contrary, draw their necks deep into their shoulders. Sedentary.

Slide 14

Jays live in forests, preferring oak trees, nesting in hollows or building nests. Jays live in pairs and do not form flocks. This is a bright, beautiful bird, slightly smaller than a crow, reddish, with a black tail, black, white and blue feathers on the wings. Jays are loud and noisy. However, in the spring, from April to June, they become quiet and become especially cautious when approaching their nests. In the summer they feed on berries, insects, small vertebrates, and for the winter they store seeds, beech nuts and not so tasty acorns. Wintering.

Slide 15

Bustard Bustards have almost disappeared from the Crimean steppes. This large (in Crimea up to 12 kg) steppe bird does not have a coccygeal gland to lubricate its feathers and gets wet in the rain. Too active human intervention in nature has become the main reason for the almost complete disappearance of bustards. Sedentary.

Slide 16

Migratory birds . Basically, migratory birds are those that feed on insects or are predators. Swallows are the first to leave our region, then, when water bodies begin to freeze, waterfowl fly away. They can fly alone, or in flocks, like rooks. Cranes and geese, swans fly in a wedge, we can often see them in the autumn sky. Migratory birds fly long distances, making short stops along the way to rest and gain strength. However, there are real champions. Thus, the American golden plover is able to fly almost 5,500 kilometers without stopping. Migratory birds include larks, rooks, cranes, ducks, cuckoos, swallows, starlings, nightingales, herons...

Slide 17

Swans are very good at staying in the air and can fly thousands of kilometers during seasonal migrations. These royal birds usually feed on herbaceous plants, which they forage both on land and in water. Their long neck helps them reach food from the bottom of reservoirs. In addition to various grasses, swans also eat insect larvae, as well as small crustaceans and mollusks. In family life, swans are constancy. Once formed, a couple never separates. Swans remember their nests well, which they use for several seasons in a row. Every year they improve and build on their home, which can reach two meters in diameter. During the nesting period, only the female incubates the eggs, and the male serves as a guard. If any predator manages to get close to the nest, the swans bravely rush at it and beat it with their wide and strong wings. Swans feed while hatching chicks away from the nest. All species of swans are listed in the Red Book and hunting of these majestic birds is strictly prohibited.

Slide 18

Swallows. One of the fastest birds. In Crimea you can find three types of swallows: village swallow, city swallow and shore swallow. Swallows build nests from lumps of clay, joining them with saliva. For the barn swallow, the entrance to the nest is located at the top, and for the city swallow, it is on the side. The inside of the nest is lined with down and feathers. Shore swallows dig holes in the slopes of steep banks. Swallows' legs are weak and it is difficult for them to support their body. That's why swallows never walk on the ground. They fly all the time, and when they get tired, they sit on tree branches or telegraph wires. Swallows even drink on the fly, scooping up water from the river with their beaks. Like other migratory birds, with the onset of cold weather, swallows fly south to warm countries for the winter. In the spring they always return to their native places. You can predict the weather by the behavior of swallows. If swallows are circling high in the sky, it will be warm and dry. But they fly almost close to the ground, which means it will rain soon. Why is that? It turns out that before the rain, insects that are exposed to moisture from the atmosphere descend to the surface of the earth. Swallow hunters also rush after them.

Slide 19

Crane. In spring and autumn in Crimea, on migration you can meet the gray crane and, if you are very lucky, the smallest in the world (90 cm long), the very rare steppe demoiselle crane. Due to the plowing of the virgin steppes necessary for the life of the demoiselle crane, the number of this beautiful bird has sharply decreased. It’s not for nothing that cranes have become people’s favorites. They are graceful, intelligent, and when tamed, very funny. They prepare long and seriously for long-distance, non-stop autumn-spring flights, and yet many birds die in flight. The sight of a flying flock, a loud cry in the sky excites people’s imagination and evokes light sadness.

Slide 20

Starlings are small birds that walk on the ground rather than jump. The starling has a sharp black beak. During the breeding season, the beak color changes to yellow. The plumage is black, both in males and females, with a purple, green tint. In winter, white specks appear on the feathers. The starling's tail and wings are short. Starlings are omnivores: they feed on both plant and animal foods. In early spring, insect larvae are collected and earthworms are eaten. In summer they catch grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars and worms. Starlings sing interestingly, they can imitate the sounds of other birds and animals: they make creaking, rattling noises, they can bleat like sheep and bark like dogs. Both parents build the nest. The female lays 4-6 bluish eggs.

Slide 21

Quail. The only migratory bird of the gallinaceae order. Large migratory flocks of quail gather in early September in the foothills of Crimea for fattening. Before a decisive rush across the sea, they gather on the southern slopes of the mountains and wait for flying weather. Then, on Turkish soil, they rest and fly further, all the way to Africa.

Slide 22

Stilt. Birds live on the water throughout spring, summer and early autumn. They can withstand heat, cold winds and bad weather. If the wind blows too strongly from the water, they find shelter. They can often be seen next to bodies of water created. However, when they see a person, they quickly fly away. In flight, they use their long legs as rudder. On land he behaves somewhat clumsily, his famous legs hinder him. In the water, he walks freely in search of food. It feeds mainly on larvae and insects. Stilt Sandpipers occupy overgrown marshes and check all areas after low tides in search of mollusks and crustaceans. They do not disdain green duckweed and other aquatic plants. Closer to the shore, they like to dig in the mud, selecting worms and tadpoles. They hunt little on land because it is not comfortable for them. Migratory bird - winters in Africa

Slide 23

Steppe Lark Arrives early in spring. The skylark is slightly larger than the sparrow. Its back is brownish-yellow, with variegated speckles, its belly plumage is white, its chest is brown, and the lark has a small crest on its head. The coloring helps the lark to successfully camouflage itself in the grass and on the ground. The lark lives in fields and meadows. The nest is built directly on the ground, in a hole, among the grass. To build a nest, it uses grass, plant roots, stems, and lines the nest with down. The lark camouflages its nest well. The bird feeds on grass seeds and cereal plants. In summer - beetles, spiders, butterfly pupae.

Slide 24

Nomadic birds Nomadic birds do not fly long distances like migratory birds. If the winters are not too cold and snowy, they may well remain in their nesting places, not leaving them until the onset of cold weather. But, if the winter is harsh and snowy, such birds move closer to people in search of additional food. These birds include some species of tits and the important red-breasted bullfinches, lovers of rowan berries.

Slide 25

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Sea raven-cormorant

Crimea is the only place in the former USSR where mass nesting of the crested cormorant has been observed. His appearance is rather gloomy. The plumage is black, dense, the beak is long, yellow, steeply curved downwards. There is a small crest on the head. The tail is straight, hard, paws are short and webbed. The sounds they make are similar to a hoarse, unpleasant cackle, and they willingly exchange this cackle in the company of their own kind. Because of its long nose, the cormorant is also called “long-nosed,” and because of its predatory habits and “funeral” plumage, it is called a sea raven.

In the spring, old and young birds stay close to their last year’s nesting sites, preparing for seasonal family chores. Cormorants lay eggs in March. Most often there are 2-3 eggs. They incubate alternately, he and she, and the one who intends to replace the other in the “high position” often presents the one sitting on the eggs with a bunch of algae, as if materially confirming his intentions. Cormorants feed their chicks with fish burps, for which the chicks stick their heads into the parent's crop and take out semi-digested food from there.

Singers of the fields, heralds of spring - larks

In ancient, ancient times, our ancestors believed that for the winter birds fly away to a wonderful, warm country called “Irya,” and Vladimir Monomakh said in the spring to his children: “The birds of heaven are coming from Irya, so that the forests and fields will be filled.” The Laziness of the Forty Martyrs, which fell on March 9 according to the old calendar, bore the short name “Magpies.” On this day, according to the views of the peasants, 40 different species of birds returned to the Fatherland, and larks were among the first. In honor of their arrival, the housewives baked flat braids from rye dough, similar to birds with a tuft, a sharp nose and raisin eyes. They were called “larks”.

In A. Kuprin, for example, you can read: “Yesterday Moscow ate larks: rolls baked in the form. birds. “They were handed out to children, and they placed these birds on fences and fences, ran with them through the streets and shouted out the sentence, kick out, barker. They asked to drive away the larks, to “close” the cold winter and open the warm summer: “Come the larks, bring the red summer.” For the holiday of the arrival of larks, people decorated their rooms with bunches of willows in silver-white lambs, put second frames in the windows, washed the glass, and released birds from their cages.

Pheasant is a handsome gentleman, but a lousy father

They say that in India tigers are so fascinated by the beauty of peacocks that they follow them for hours, admiring the color of their plumage. Why not? The aesthetic inclinations of animals have long been no secret to scientists studying their behavior. Perhaps our Far Eastern tigers also follow the local pheasants as if tied, unable to take their loving eyes off them. Indeed, nature has endowed the pheasant-groom with such good looks that he should have been more generous, but there’s no way around it.

Particularly good are the gem cockerels of guest and foreign pheasants, feathered in all the shades and iridescences of the rainbow, ennobled by the illumination of red gold or antique blackened silver. However, the male of our domestic common pheasant is also extremely beautiful. And how skillfully this dandy wears his elegant “uniform”, how he knows how to present himself! And he will turn this way and that, his tail will unfurl and gather, his “collar” will fluff up and lift high, he will show off the combed tuft on his head and sweep along the ground with his lowered wings, demonstrating a luxurious play of colors, and even hit the ground with his spurs! How can grayish-brown, modestly dressed chickens resist here?

Kind-hearted Robin

She's not tall at all, smaller than a sparrow, but her heart is huge, kind, and sympathetic. If he accidentally stumbles upon a strange feathered baby that has fallen out of its nest and is screaming on the ground, he will definitely feed it. A misfortune will happen in a neighboring family, the chicks will lose their breadwinners, the forest misfortune will be taken to heart and will also begin to carry food and raise. She will find a sick, weakened bird somewhere, and then she will take care of it, feed it. And all the same, the bird, whether its own species is in need or another, takes care of and feeds everyone, as long as there are those in need, and not only the female, but also the male behaves this way. Not just a bird, but a forest “mercy bureau”. Next to such people, life is brighter, more affectionate, more reliable.

It's all about the robin. Her legs are tall, thin, she stands up straight on them, her chest is bright and, as they said of old, “wide in the porches.” Due to this, the posture of this big-eyed bird is emphatically proud and avant-garde. It doesn’t fly up from the ground like a sparrow, in a hurry, but silently, gracefully, and in winter it is not greedy at the feeders, but eats carefully, slowly, each time gracefully leaning towards the grain or bread.

Crow's life

Currently, most hunting grounds and some nature reserves in the country allow year-round shooting of gray crows and destruction of their clutches in the spring. Previously, in nature, crows were kept under control by birds of prey. Now they are gone or almost gone. Many of the raptors are in the Red Books, and these are “habitats” from which you cannot fly out to restore order in the feathered kingdom. So the voracious tribe of crows multiplies in the Crimea year after year.

Open-nesting songbirds are especially affected. Judge for yourself: 5-6 crow chicks per gulp, which means that in one sitting the crow destroys the entire brood, correspondingly devouring all the unborn offspring from these chicks. And how many pests could these chicks and their failed offspring destroy? Crows destroy chicks not only in nests, but also in artificial nesting boxes, taking them out with their beaks and sometimes even their paws. If they are lucky, they do not disdain eggs and even hunt for them, drinking them either on the spot or taking them to a secluded place.

Steppe Crimea

The animal population of the steppes is represented by various rodents, from which grain crops and many plant species suffer.

Small gopher

They live in local concentrations. The length of the elongated body of one individual is up to 250 mm, about a fifth of which is the tail. The skin has an ocher tint and a brownish color on the back. The head is triangular in shape. Digs minks with passages up to 4 m long and 1.8 m deep. Many species inhabit the “houses”, among which there are “Red Data Book” species.

Social vole

A common small rodent that eats a wide range of wild and cultivated plants. Digs minks with complex passages, nesting chambers and warehouses.

Common hamster

A baggy animal with large cheeks and small ears, the size of a rat. The red color and fluffy fur make this hulk visually attractive. The small front paws can do a lot of things: husking ears, washing themselves, carrying babies.

The hamster loves solitude. It attacks its ill-wishers desperately - it screeches, it rushes at an enemy of any size. The bites are very painful, as the animal inflicts lacerations. The hamster lives along roads, in forest areas, but often shows a craving for human settlements.

Jerboa

The animal is the size of a squirrel. Remarkable hind legs, which are four times longer than the front ones. Even a horse cannot catch up with the jerboa. Jumps in length by 1.5-2 meters, the jump height is about half a meter.

The long tail serves as a rudder, helps to push off during a jump, and participates in defense, if necessary. Due to the plowing of land on the peninsula, there are fewer and fewer small “kangaroos”.

Common mole vole

A small underground rodent, only up to 13 cm long. The short tail is almost invisible. The body seems to be adapted for digging tunnels - elongated, with strong muscles in the front part.

There are no ears, the eyes are slightly bulging. There are 5 toes on the front paws. Notable are the sharp incisors in front of the lips. Active at night. They damage vegetable gardens.

Steppe mousebird

A small animal no more than 75 mm long. You can recognize a rodent by the black stripe running along the ridge from the head to the base of the tail. The fur coat is gray with a fawn tint. Digs shallow burrows or often occupies abandoned homes of other rodents.

They trot with their tail raised, which serves as a balancer. They climb well on vertical surfaces, stems, branches, and trunks.

Squirrel

The animals became successful migrants from Altai to Crimea. Widely settled in forest areas and parks. Cocky, hectic and thrifty, with a beautiful red-gray coat.

In mountainous areas, the size of the animals is larger, up to 28-30 cm, than in flat areas. The animal's fluffy tail makes up 2/3 of the total body length. Has acquired commercial significance.

Rodents of Crimea are unrivaled in numbers compared to their predator enemies. Among the numerous representatives of the families, small and medium-sized animals predominate. Large wolves of the peninsula were exterminated by the early 20s of the 20th century. Attempts to revive the wolf tribe do not stop to this day.

Steppe ferret

A fluffy animal up to 52 cm long with an elongated body, a small tail, a rounded head and wide ears. Widely distributed in Crimea. Sandy coloration with brownish legs, tail tip, chest and white markings on the face and ears. The ferret even settles near people, in populated areas. The most active predator. Perfectly tamed.

Weasel

Despite its small size, length up to 26 cm, and cute appearance, the animal is aggressive and even cruel to all small animals. The bloodthirstiness of small predators is compared to that of a wolf. Dexterity and agility, the ability to run quickly and swim beautifully make the weasel an unsurpassed hunter.

In appearance, the predator is similar to an ermine, but its tail is without a tassel. The activity of the animal, common in Crimea, manifests itself day and night.

If an animal is tamed, insects and rodents never appear in the house. The weasel quickly gets used to other pets and becomes an affectionate pet.

Common fox

Among the predators of Crimea, the fox is the largest representative - individuals reach 70-90 cm in length, the tail is 50-60 cm. The animal lives everywhere on the peninsula. Settles in caves, occupies badger holes, cracks, and hollows. The fox is the main regulator of rodent numbers. Causes damage to farms engaged in breeding game and hares.

Valuable commercial animal. Characterized by caution and timidity. Only sick animals come out to humans. The fox is listed in the Red Book of Crimea.

The world of reptiles of Crimea is represented by turtles, lizards, grass snakes, and snakes. There are practically no poisonous individuals. There are copperheads, water snakes, common snakes, four-striped snakes, yellow-bellied snakes and leopard snakes.

Steppe viper

The only poisonous inhabitant of the Crimean peninsula. The snake is small in size, 55-57 cm, lives on plains and mountain steppes. A zigzag pattern adorns the gray-brown body.

Dry slopes with bushes, banks of reservoirs, ravines are habitats for steppe vipers. Hides between stones, in ground voids, abandoned rodent burrows. Loves to bask in the sun and swims well.

Selfless chukar parents

In July, chukars are already walking around the mountains with their broods, but how long ago in the spring did smartly dressed red-footed grooms court their feathered girlfriends? Sticking its chest forward and throwing its head back, the cockerel chukar spreads its wings like a fan and runs and runs around the female. He scares other applicants with the “ringing of spurs” on his feet, gets ruffed up and rushes into the fray. The cockerels strike beak against beak, beat each other with their wings, and so on until the weaker one leaves the battlefield. The suitors are loudly and clearly recommended to the females: “ke-ke-lik, ke-ke-lik,” and they respond by squeaking and whistling quietly. The mating begins at the end of the night, long before dawn, and the mating chicks, one by one, seem to be completely uninterested and indifferent to what is happening, and leave it with their future spouse.

The nest is built by two people. Together they line the hole in the ground with moss, feathers, and grass. The testicles are beautiful, white with multi-colored spots. Having hatched and dried out a little, the puffballs run after the female, and after about a decade, they become “pigs”, flutter from place to place, scatter, but barely hear the warning signal of adults, hide in holes, in the grass, under bushes.

Quail and quail

It’s amazing how differently a person hears the cry of a quail, but it calls the same from century to century. Here is a far from complete selection from different books: “drink-weed”, “drink-weed”, “drink-weed”, “drink-break”, “drink-drink”, “drink-poldom”, “drink-poldom” etc. Sokolov-Mikitov considered the calls of quail and twitching to be the most joyful sounds of his native land and cited an interesting village tale. It seems that the corncrake, having decided to woo the quail, wanted to show how rich he was and, turning first in one direction, then in the other, began to call the non-existent herd to him: “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. ", and the trusting bride immediately answers him from the rye: "Here he comes! Here he comes! No place to go! There is no barn!”

“You listen to the cries of quails,” the writer adds, “you feel the native warmth of the earth, and it seems that cheerful, ringing sounds are coming from the earth itself.” P. Sigunov also wrote about the difference in how the human ear perceives the call of a quail. “Quails do not sing, but command. "Time to sleep! Time to sleep! - the lazy man hears and snores, buried in a soft pillow.

Eagle owl: description

Eagle owls represent birds that are part of the owl family. The behavior and lifestyle of this bird have been studied very little, so some facts are unknown and mysteries have not been solved. Some species have now found themselves on the verge of extinction, and some species are not found in places where previously their numbers were at the proper level. The important thing is that eagle owls, living in their natural environment, have virtually no natural enemies, with a few exceptions.

Interesting facts about Eagle Owl (Photo and Video)

Appearance

Depending on the species, the appearance of the bird may vary significantly. The body length is in the range of 40-70 centimeters, with individual specimens weighing 4 and a half kilograms. If we talk about average weight, then it is within 2 and a half kilograms. Experts believe that birds living in warmer climates are somewhat smaller in size. Sexual dimorphism in eagle owls is clearly pronounced, since females are always larger than males.

Interesting to know! Eagle owls are fairly strong birds with a barrel-shaped body. Their legs are short but strong, armed with long and tenacious fingers that end in black hook-shaped claws.

The claws are so sharp that they easily penetrate the body of any victim, touching vital organs, including large blood vessels. As a result, the victim dies in most cases from loss of blood. Depending on the species, the toes and tarsus of these birds may or may not have feathers.

The structure of the plumage is such that the bird flies almost silently despite the fact that it is quite thick. The main color of the plumage also depends on the nature of its natural habitats and always allows this bird to easily camouflage itself in its natural environment, which is very important, especially during the daytime. The fact is that during the day they can become an object of attack by other predators. The color of the plumage corresponds to a brown tone with yellowness or rusty yellow, and for northern latitudes an ash-smoky shade with various inclusions of brown or black colors is characteristic.

On the eagle owl’s head you can see something like ears, which are formed from long tufts of feathers, and such “ears” are quite mobile. Experts have not been able to determine the purpose of these elongated tufts of feathers, although it is believed that they help the bird’s hearing system to detect the weakest sound vibrations.

The wingspan of this bird is 2 or even more meters. The flight of an eagle owl is accompanied by rare but deep flaps of its wings, with gliding in the intervals between flaps. When a bird sees prey, it can develop significant speed to catch it. The tail of an eagle owl is of medium size or more, short, with a curve at the end. Helps the bird stay stable in the air when gliding.

Of particular interest are the eyes of the eagle owl. They are large, strictly rounded, with an iris colored bright orange, yellow or red. There is one species of eagle owl that has a brown iris. As a rule, the eyes are motionless and directed only forward. If the eagle owl needs to explore the space on the left or right, then it turns its head 270 degrees. There is an opinion that these birds have sharp vision only at night. In fact, this is not so, and even in the daytime the eagle owl sees perfectly.

Eagle owls produce sounds with a very diverse and sometimes unique repertoire. For example, Nepalese eagle owls literally speak in a human voice, scaring the local population with their sounds. When the mating season begins, the variety of sounds is simply amazing: you can hear the sounds of coughing, humming, cackling, crying, etc. In some countries, this bird is called a scarecrow for the sounds it makes. These sounds served as the basis for the birth of various fairy tales and legends about night goblins, kikimoras and other evil spirits that can live in forest thickets.

Lifestyle and behavior

Eagle owls prefer to live alone, sticking to a specific territory. If it flies to other places, it is solely because the bird has to look for more comfortable territories with sufficient food. Birds living in northern latitudes are migratory, because with the onset of winter they have to fly to warm regions to feed themselves. They live in pairs, and build one nest for themselves for almost their entire life. The bird can control its territory, the area of which is 80 square kilometers.

Peak activity occurs during twilight and night time. During the daytime, this bird prefers to rest close to its nest. The hunt continues almost all night, until sunrise. If it comes across small prey, then the eagle owl eats it immediately, and if it is larger, then the eagle owl prefers to hide it in a secluded place so that other predators do not find it.

Interesting moment! The hunting methods of eagle owls deserve attention. Often, with their frightening sounds, they force animals and birds to rush from their place, leaving their shelter. When hunting birds, the eagle owl catches them in flight.

When the sun rises, the eagle owl tries to hide in a secluded place to digest food and rest before the night hunt. In addition, the eagle owl has to hide from other birds, who are ready to pounce on it at any moment in order to cause as much harm as possible. Despite the fact that they won’t be able to do much harm to him, they will definitely interfere with his rest.

How long do eagle owls live?

These birds can safely be called long-livers, since in natural conditions they live up to 25 years, although the average terms are within 15 years. Living in captivity, an eagle owl can live for fifty years, while there is reliable evidence that tamed eagle owls lived for 70 years.

The Great Eagle Owl is the king of the night hunt!

Types of eagle owls with photos

Common Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)

Common eagle owls are typical representatives of the genus of eagle owls, and the largest. The main color depends on the natural living conditions, so the plumage can have very different colors. The diet consists of rodents, frogs, partridges, tits, etc. The habitat is associated with the northern territories of the Euro-Asian and African continents.

Fish owl (Bubo blakistoni)

Fish eagle owls are considered an endangered species. They are found mainly in the forests of Manchuria, Japan and the Far East. The dimensions are almost the same as those of the common eagle owl, and often larger. The bird is distinguished by a monotonous brown color of its plumage, while the fingers and tarsus are devoid of feathers. They prefer to build their nests in old trees. The basis of the diet is fish in the form of salmon, rudd, gobies, etc.

Nepalese Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis)

Nepalese eagle owls are considered a very rare species, and the size of this bird is not so large. The diet includes small birds, various reptiles, and fish. The species is unique in that it makes sounds similar to the human voice. Because of this, there are many frightening myths in the habitats of this bird.

Great Eagle Owl (Bubo virginianus)

The Virginia eagle owl lives in the vastness of North America and is a sedentary bird. It is a small representative of its genus, with plumage colors ranging from reddish-brown and terracotta to pure black or black and white. It hunts very large prey, as well as small ones, such as toads, scorpions, salamanders, etc. They create temporary pairs for the period of raising offspring.

Where does it live?

Eagle owls are birds of prey that are distributed throughout the world, on almost all continents. They are found everywhere in our territory. They are found in various biotopes associated with forests, mountainous areas, as well as river and lake basins. They can settle near human habitation, since they do not feel fear towards people. They also settle near farmland, bringing great benefits, destroying various pests, especially rodents. When choosing a place to live, they are guided by the availability of food items. They are also found in northern latitudes, as they easily adapt to low temperatures.

What does it eat?

Eagle owls are birds of prey, so their diet consists of animal food. These are mainly small rodents, hares, hedgehogs, frogs, as well as small birds. Smaller species may feed on insects, worms, caterpillars, etc. Species that live near bodies of water feed on fish, and a species such as the fish owl primarily feeds on fish. Eagle owls also destroy bird nests by eating eggs and hatched chicks.

Natural enemies

Oddly enough, eagle owls have practically no natural enemies, since not a single predator would risk attacking an adult eagle owl. It is very rare for juveniles to be attacked by wolves or bears. Basically, natural enemies are various parasites, as well as infections.

Humans are considered to be the main enemy of wildlife, so eagle owls are no exception. Previously, people believed for some reason that these predators caused great damage to agricultural crops, so they were destroyed without hesitation. More and more people are cutting down forests, so eagle owls have to look for more comfortable territories for their livelihoods. In addition, eagle owls often die from eating rodents poisoned by humans.

Reproduction and offspring

Somewhere in February/March, these birds begin mating games. Individuals who have reached sexual maturity stage real concerts and dances. Great eagle owls, with their feathers spread, walk and bow to each other. Fish eagle owls demonstrate the ritual process of feeding a female by a male. The male wants to show by this that he is able to feed the female while she incubates future offspring.

Some species of this family do not begin to form a nest, but lay eggs wherever they need to: it could be just a hole on the ground, a hole under a tree, a hole among stones, etc. Some species use the nests of other birds, abandoned for some reason. The female lays eggs at intervals of several days. Each clutch can contain from 3 to 5 eggs. The female incubates the eggs herself for a whole month. During this period, the male does what he feeds the female. It happens that the female leaves the nest from hunger, then there can be no question of offspring.

Important point! A pair is created once and for life, but after the chicks leave the parental nest, the male and female can hunt separately. Despite this, they defend their territory together.

Eagle owl eggs can be up to 5-7 centimeters long, covered with a rough shell. By the time the offspring appear, the shell becomes smoother. The diameter of the eggs is up to 5 centimeters, and their weight is about 70 grams.

The offspring that are born are fluffy lumps, weighing up to 60 grams, with their eyes closed. The eyes open after about a week. The chicks simply have an excellent appetite. At first, the female feeds them, tearing into fragments the food brought by the male. After 3 weeks, both parents are involved in feeding the chicks. There are cases when stronger chicks kill and eat weaker ones.

Somewhere at this age, chicks begin to explore the world around them, going on trips on foot, which is not so typical for other birds. Around 2 months, the young offspring begin to fly, but only for short distances. After another month, the eagle owls completely master flight tactics and strategy. Despite this, they will beg their parents for food for another 3 months.

After six months of life, eagle owls become completely independent, but there are exceptions. Even after reaching 1 year of age, parents continue to teach their chicks the basics of hunting and fishing, which is especially important in relation to fish eagle owls.

Nightjar - the May guest of Crimea

common nightjar, arrives and in June hatches its chicks in the Crimea . In different parts of our Fatherland they called him differently: lezhen, lelek, night dove, night swallow, dremlyuga, night owl, blacksmith bird, churilka, night light. Many of these names are based on certain behavioral traits, but he was wrongly accused of feeding on milk and nightjar milking. This misconception was due to the fact that at dusk birds often accompany herds of domestic animals and they do this not without selfish goals. As the cattle move, they scare away insects from the grass, which nightjars are great hunters of. Moreover, these birds are strict entomophages, that is, they eat only insects. All kinds of butterflies (especially night ones), constant companions of ungulates - gadflies and flies, and those beetles that are attracted by the smell of fresh manure - all this is desirable, easily accessible prey for the nightjar.

Flying over the backs and under the bellies of the animals, the nightjars land in the grass at their very feet, and the shepherds, noticing on occasion a decrease in milk yield, blamed it on the birds allegedly sucking milk: “Their mouth is up to their ears, how huge!” For the first time the name “nightjar”, they say, came from the shepherds of ancient Rome, and even C. Linnaeus named the nightjar in Latin Caprimulgus, which again translated means “milking a goat.” The Germans, French, Italians, and English also call it nightjar, and in Spain - “the deceiver of the shepherds.”

Champion eaters - waxwings

Waxwings winter in Crimea regularly. They arrive in accordance with the proverb on the eve of cold weather: “When a waxwing flies, it carries a blizzard on its tail.” They will have to wait until February for snowstorms in Crimea, but the birds are in no hurry. Even without them at all, it would be something to fill a greedy belly. The waxwings are great masters of this, with a wolfish appetite, they eat with short breaks from dawn to dusk and in large quantities. A lot. That is why they are not kept in cages, despite their docile, friendly disposition and extremely pleasant appearance. The result is a very unesthetic spectacle: a lot of food, a lot of droppings. The diet in winter is mainly vegetarian, but the set of “dishes” is extremely varied: the fruits of thorns, honeysuckle, blackberries, hawthorn, elderberry, sophora, buckthorn, oleaster, rose hips, juniper, apple trees, pears. On occasion, they will not disdain viburnum, which other birds reject, and the elegant earrings of the euonymus, which are popularly called “magpie glasses.”

They love rowan and mistletoe. Berries and fruits (small) are swallowed whole, the pulp is digested, and the seeds, having passed through the digestive tract, are thrown out with increased germination. It turns out that waxwings are birds with “long sight.” They themselves scatter the breadwinners throughout the forests and valleys and collect the harvest themselves, and even take care of their distant great-great-grandchildren so that they too will have something to “put on their teeth.” Not like us, three times sinners.

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