Breeding of black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus in muddy sites of a wastewater treatment plant

Abstract

A stable group of birds has been formed at water treatment facilities. Sewage treatment sites are a well-known nesting place for long-legged waders. Black-winged stilts are included in the Bonn (Appendix II) and Berne (Appendix II) conventions, the AEWA agreement. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (1994, 2009) (status – vulnerable). In Ukraine, it is under protection on the territory of the natural reserve fund. The arrival of black-winged stilts waders at the nesting sites was recorded in the second-third decade of April (April 23, 2020; April 17, 2021). Immediately after returning to the nesting areas, the birds begin to build nests and lay eggs. The first eggs in this population were seen on 01.05.2020, 07.05.2021. The process of laying eggs lasted until the end of the first decade of July (08.07.2020). The average clutch size in the nests of Himantopus himantopus decreased from 3.8 ± 0.1 (2020) to 3.5 ± 0.1 (2021). The average egg sizes and their limits have been determined for long-legged waders. The chicks hatched from late May (30.05.2020), throughout June to the first decade of July (02.07.2020). The chicks were able to fly in a month – 29.06.2020. The muddy site of the wastewater treatment ponds of Kharkiv supported Black-winged Stilts until early August. Later, the birds started post-breeding movements. The last adults with juvenile birds were observed on 13.08.2020. Stilts in some years may stay until early October. The reproductive success of the black-winged stilt increased from 35.6% (2020) to 38.8% (2021). On average, 1.3 ± 0.2 (2020) and 1.4 ± 0.3 (2021) chicks fledged from the nests. In 2021, the number of nesting stilts increased, which is apparently due to rainy weather at the beginning of the reproductive period. For the purpose of more effective protection, the nesting settlements of the stilt should be protected and the appearance of people in the nesting places should be prohibited.

Population size and nesting peculiarities of the black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) on the territory of water treatment facilities

“…Along with the black-headed gull, mixed-species settlements include: the blackwinged stilt (Red Data Book of Ukraine; Bk2; Bo2), the common tern (Bk2; Bo2), the little ringed plover (Bk2; Bo2; Х), the northern shoveler (Bk3; Bo1,2; Х), the northern lapwing (Bk3; Bo2), the Eurasian coot (Bk3; Bo2), and the common moorhen (Bk3). The fact that most of these species are under protection of European and Ukrainian nature conservation acts underscores the significant role of man-made water bodies in the preservation and restoration of rare species populations Mamedova & Chaplygina, 2021;.…”

The main factors and prospects for the restoration of biodiversity in technogenic territories (on the example of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant)

“…Various man-made wetlands are important for nesting of rare bird species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. In particular, Himantopus himantopus is known to use the sludge beds of wastewater treatment plants for settlement and nesting (Cuervo, 2010;Alexander et al, 2011;Mamedova & Chaplygina, 2021;Chaplygina & Litvin, 2022). At present, in conditions of a significant reduction in the areas of natural ecosystems, technogenic biotopes often play the role of important centres for maintaining the diversity of regional biota and preserving rare species (Kazem et al, 2022).…”

Species and structural diversity of flora and avifauna on the territory of urban water treatment facilities

“…The spread of alien species is facilitated by natural range expansion such as diffusion, accidental introductions (with imported agricultural products, ballast water, luggage, together with beneficial introductions, etc.). Reasons for the spread of alien species are as follows: anthropogenic changes of landscapes and certain biotopes, deliberate introduction and reintroduction of important utilitarian organisms, quasi-natural movements associated with population fluctuations and climate change (including extraordinary geological and climatic events), as well as natural dispersal of some species by jumping type (Leppäkoski et al, 2002;Caplat & Fonderflick, 2009). Artificial reservoirs of wastewater treatment facilities are favourable for the spread of invasive species.…”