SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF GULLS AGGREGATIONS NEAR KHARKIV, UKRAINE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53904/1682-2374/2025-27/6Keywords:
Caspian Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Kharkiv, seasonal dynamicsAbstract
In 2020–2025, we took some information about the seasonal dynamics of gull aggregation in the city of Kharkiv (Ukraine). There were totally 15,085 individuals observed, including 10,470 Caspian Gulls (Larus cachinnans), or 69.4% from all observations in 2020–2025, breeding from 2015 in the number of 50 pairs (2015) to 385 pairs (2025); 2,687 Black-headed Gulls (L. ridibundus), or 17.8%, it is a common breeding species in numbers of 100–110 pairs; 288 Common Gulls (L. canus), 10.74%, mainly in the spring season, migrants; Little Gulls (L. minutus) – one aggregation of 1,620 birds in March 2025; Herring Gulls (L. argentatus), 20 birds, wintering, January 2023 and December 2024. The largest aggregation was formed by Caspian Gulls, with a maximum observed count of 2,485 birds in mid-January to February 2025. The largest group of Little Gulls contained 1,620 birds, and Black-headed Gulls – 1,000 individuals (both in March 2025). In general, positive population trends occur in both nesting and migrant/wintering populations of gulls. Such trends are relevant for all main species in gullsʹ aggregations: Caspian Gull, Black-headed Gull and Little Gull. Two others (Herring Gull and Common Gull) are rare wintering species, and the Common Gull was relatively numerous during the spring migration of 2025 (200 birds in one flock).
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