black sea red data book - Department of Biology

eggs and is incubated for 28-29 days. The parents share incubation equally.
Fledglings are observed at the end of June - beginning of July. Non-breeders associate
in flocks of irregular size and move within the breeding area. In July-August these
flocks move to the shallow waterbodies of the sea coast where families concentrate
before departure to the winter grounds. Autumn migration commences by mid
October. Both vegetative (vegetal parts of plants, seeds) and animal (insects,
molluscs) food is consumed.
Population trends. The numbers are low, but stable. Insufficient breeding range, in
spite of an ability to breed in agricultural fields and low-grazing pastures.
Threats. Clutch and chick losses due to the intensification of agriculture, disturbance
and killing by people, increase in predation by Crows (Corvidae), Raccoons
(Nyctereutes procyonoides), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and domestic dogs.
Conservation measures taken. There is no real protection. Only one pair breeds
within a protected area.
Conservation measures proposed. Expansion of the protected areas in the breeding
and concentration sites (Kerch and Tarkhankut peninsulas, the Sivash), limitation of
grazing in the breeding sites, reduction in predator numbers, toughening of measures
prohibiting hunting and extraction of eggs, chicks and adults.
References
Andryushchenko Y., 1995. Demoiselle Crane and some other rare Gruiformes in the
agricultural landscapes of the Steppe Zone of the left-bank Ukraine and the Crimea.
Author's abstract of Candidate of Biological Sciences Degree dissertation. Moscow:
45 pp. (in Russian).
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