In the reserve occur 195 species of birds. 137 species nest, 4 species presumably nest (short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), spotted crake (Porzana porzana), coal tit (Parus ater), ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana)). 18 species, routinely nesting in the Tver region, visit the Reserve territory during migration (greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), arctic loon (Gavia arctica), great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), great bittern (Botaurus stellaris), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), black kite (Milvus migrans), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), water rail (Rallus aquaticus), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), common coot (Fulica atra), little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), black tern (Chlidonias niger) and common tern (Sterna hirundo)); only in passage occur 27 species; 5 species come for the winter. In winter occur 63 species, among them 38 species occur annually, and others occur non-regularly.
Hazel grouse |
Nuthatch |
Common whitethroat |
Parentage of Reserve ornithofauna is mixed, and lack of endemic species. The European species (42% of species) and widespread species (31%) prevail, there are also relatively many species of Siberian fauna (18%); Arctic species, Mediterranean species, Chinese species and Mongolian species amount 9%. Among the nesting birds prevail the forest ecological group (56 species), the edge-forest birds include 38 species, the field birds - 11 species, and the synanthropic birds - 10 species.
First acquaintance with the Reserve forests produces an impression of ornithofauna poorness. Really, at the wide area of spruce forests more than 60% of bird population is composed of only 4 species. There are chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) and robin (Erithachus rubecula). In total there occur 42 species, among them 40 nesting species. The density of bird population in the nest season is 320—690 birds per 1 sq. km. The boreal spruce forests are particularly poor. At the sphagnum mosses spruce forests, green-mosses spruce forests and dwarf shrubs spruce forest nest only 35 species and the density of bird population is no more than 410 birds per 1 sq. km. The greatest number of species and the highest density of bird population (61 species, 600—940 birds per 1 sq. km) are at the mixed coniferous-small-leaved forests. There prevail the same 4 species, but moreover willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybitus), goldcrest (Regulus regulus) and willow tit (Parus montanus) are numerous. The bird population is particularly various near the open spaces. The most of birds of prey, hunting at the fields, nest in the mixed forests. Usually they build the nests on the stem crotches of huge aspens.
Spotted Eagle |
Common crane |
Corncrake |
At the Reserve territory and at the Transition area are situated six bog tracts, which have the special ornithological complex, including 95 species, among which 57 species nest at the bogs, and others use the bogs as a feeding biotope. The density of bird population is 160—210 birds per 1 sq. km. There prevail tree pipit (Anthus trivialis), whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), and yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava). Water birds and near-water birds prefer hollow-hummock-lake complexes (mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), garganey (Anas querquedula), common teal (Anas crecca), northern pintail (Anas acuta), and common gull (Larus canus)). Open places of the bogs are used for nesting by the meadow species (common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), lapwig (Vanellus vanellus), curlew (Numenius arquata), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), skylark (Alauda arvensis), and meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis)). At the edges of the open places and the rarefied depressed pine stands nest the Northern shorebirds: wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), common greenshank (Tringa nebularia), golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), and whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). Whimbrels usually nest in groups of 3—5 pairs. One of those groups at the «Demikhov Mokh» bog amounts not less than 15 pairs. Only at the bogs nest willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), common crane (Grus grus) and Northern shrike (Lanius excubitor). Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), merlin (Falco columbarius), hobby (Falco subbuteo), red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) use the bogs as hunting places. The birds of prey built the nests at the forest «islands» or at the edges of forest. At the same places in the hollows of big aspens nest goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula), which lead chicks for 1, 5 — 2 km to the closest ponds.
Golden eagles, included in the Red Book of Russia, nested out of the Reserve in 1940-th. In 1960-th one pair of birds built the nest on the tall aspen at the edge of forest «island» amid the bog. Golden eagles nested there up to 1981. In the next year, the boughs, supported the massive nest, broken off, and the nest was crashed down. (In 1984, golden eagles built the new nest not far from there). In the crashed nest were founded many bones of animals, preyed by the golden eagles. It was found out, that the main food of golden eagles are lepus (Lepus timidus), capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and common crane.
Spotted nutcracker |
Common gull (young) |
Swallow chiks |
The bogs are the primary object of protection and monitoring, because the unique set of species occuring there. At the edges of bogs, and also at the paludificated hollows on the watershed, are situated the sphagnum mosses pine stands. There occur 52 species of birds, among their 43 species are nesting. The density of bird population is more than 300 birds per 1 sq. km. There prevail tree pipit, spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), chaffinch, willow warbler, willow tit, crested tit (Parus cristatus). At the pine stands mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus), rustic bunting (Emberiza rustica), European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) are typical. At the pine stands or in adjacent areas are situated the most of capercaillie leks. There are 37 known leks in the Reserve territory and about 30 leks in the Transition area. In the Reserve, capercaillie is the object of special protection and study. At the capercaillie leks every spring are made the accounts of males, which perform courtship rituals. At the most of capercaillie leks gather 3—7 males, but a great deal of leks number 13—20, and at the largest leks are up to 25 capercaillies. The accounts data shows that the capercaillie population is stable in spring and it fluctuate in autumn depending on breeding success in the last season. The density of capercaillie population in August — September is 1, 5 — 3, 6 birds per 1 sq. km, and at optimal conditions up to 6, 8 birds per 1 sq. km. In the Transition area at the capercaillie leks were organized protected areas, where forest cutting is forbidden.
Grey heron |
Black stork |
Mallard |
The important peculiarity of the Reserve is paucity of ponds, because of watershed situation. Therefore, nesting water birds and near-water birds are few in numbers, and amount only 11 species.
In the Reserve for the last 40 years the species diversity and numbers of birds changed. The edge of Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus) natural habitat moved to the North, and after 1930-th, Siberian jay did not nest, and did not even occur. Contrarily, golden plover, wood sandpiper, common greenshank, whimbrel and rustic bunting settled from the north-east and north-west. White stork (Ciconia ciconia), red-footed falcon, peregrine falcon, grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and European roller (Coracias garrulus) do not nest in the Reserve any more. For the last years, there is no reliable data about the nesting of great grey owl (Strix nebulosa), grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus), green woodpecker (Picus viridis), Northern shrike, hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes). But Northern pintail, garganey, common pochard (Aythya ferina), goldeneye, Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus), black-tailed godwit, and common gull began to nest. The numbers of quail (Coturnix coturnix), willow ptarmigan, black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) decrease, but only the numbers of curlew increase.
Besides the golden eagle, among the birds, included into the Red Book of Russia, in the Reserve, at the head of Mezha river, nest black stork (Ciconia nigra). Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), white-tailed eagle, short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus) and peregrine falcon occur during migrations, but never nested. From the rare species, white stork, Northern harrier, great grey owl, Northern shrike, willow ptarmigan (5—10 pairs), golden plover (15—25 pairs), goldeneye (15 pairs), Montagu’s harrier (8—12 pairs), merlin (5—6 pairs), hobby (3—4 pairs), wood sandpiper (up to 15 pairs), whimbrel (more than 40 pairs), black-tailed godwit (3—7 pairs), common crane (about 20 pairs), honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) (up to 6 pairs), Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) (5—6 pairs), pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) and Boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) are worth attention as the objects of study and protection.
The Reserve territory may serve as a model of bird fauna and population structure of undisturbed by the economical activity basic spruce forests, mixed forests and bogs of the Southern taiga.
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