Aquatic Warbler habitats were monitored
In May-June 2004, the five main Aquatic Warbler
habitats in Volynska Oblast were monitored. It was found that the
Ukrainian part of the Prypyat population of Aquatic Warbler was at
its highest (around 2,500 male birds) since the habitats began to be
monitored in 1996; this is related to the fact that the hydrological
regime in the majority of its nesting sites is very good.
As two key Aquatic Warbler habitats are located
outside the nature-protection areas, it was proposed that two
general zoological reserves of state importance be created.
Scientific rationales for the establishment of two
reserves were prepared
Scientific rationales were prepared for the inclusion
of the two areas that were found to be important as Aquatic Warbler
breeding sites in the Nature Protection Fund: the floodplains of the
Rivers Turiya ("Vyzhery" reserve, 300 ha) and Styr ("Borovychivsky"
reserve, 600 ha).
It must emphasised that the creation of protected
areas in Aquatic Warbler habitats does not exclude traditional kinds
of natural-resource use such as haymaking and cattle pasturing
within the wetlands; indeed, these uses may be encouraged. However,
all kinds of economic activity that could lead to a violation of the
hydrological regime of these areas should be strictly prohibited.
A project was devised to create a regulatory
system for the hydrological regime in the key Aquatic Warbler
The largest area of Aquatic Warbler habitat in
Ukraine (holding 600-800 males) is located between the Rivers
Prypyat and Tsyrya, between Vetly, Birky and Tsyr villages in
Lyubeshivsky Rayon, Volynska Oblast. The majority of the birds are
found within three hydrological reserves of local importance. Two
drainage canals were dug in "Birkivsky" reserve a couple
of decades ago. Large areas of hayfields border the canals, and
these are the habitat of Aquatic Warbler. The canals do not have
water-regulating systems, and this often leads to the hayfields
drying out (in June 2003 and 2004 the level of water in the
hayfields was 30-40 cm lower than the surface of the surrounding
land). This leads to a decrease in the hay harvest (30-50% lower
than on the wet hayfields), and forces Aquatic Warbler to leave the
biotope (the optimal water level for this species is 5-10 cm higher
than the surface of the land).
Scientific recommendations were made to regulate the
water regime in order to improve the productivity of the hayfields
and habitat conditions for the Aquatic Warbler. A proposal was made
to build three-four dams/sluices on the central canal that will
allow the water level on the hayfields to be regulated. It will also
improve drainage off the hayfields, which are separated from the
canal by an embankment.
Co-operation was organised with village councils
The areas of Aquatic Warbler habitat (hayfields) are
also declining due to the growth of bushes. This problem can be
solved by changing the system under which the hayfields are shared
out among the inhabitants of Vetly, Birky and Tsyr villages. Each
year the individual hayfields are reallocated (by lot). If a peasant
is allocated a hayfield with bushes that are growing rapidly, he
will not be interested in cleaning up his field as he will probably
not be allocated the same field in the following year. The best way
to make a peasant interested in maintaining his hayfield well is to
ensure that he uses the same field regularly, which will force him
to keep his field clean. To explain the need for these measures,
meetings were organised with the three local councils. In June 2004,
the deputies of Birky Village Council made a decision about the
permanent use of the hayfields and allocated them accordingly among
A full-colour booklet, "Aquatic Warbler Is a
Symbol of Open Sedge Wetlands", was published and disseminated
The booklet is devoted to the protection of the
Aquatic Warbler. It gives brief information about the species and
the main problems that are leading to its extinction, describes
habitats and the areas where the birds are found, and includes an
appeal to conserve the wetlands in the Upper Prypyat that are
essential to the survival of the Aquatic Warbler population. The
majority of the booklets (200 copies) were disseminated in Vetly,
Birky and Tsyr villages, which are very close to the largest area of
Aquatic Warbler habitat in Ukraine.
A round table meeting was held at the State
Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in Volynska
A round table meeting involving a large number of
specialists was held on 2 June 2004. Under discussion were issues
related to preserving the floodplain of the River Prypyat and
protecting the Aquatic Warbler. The Department had supported
proposals from the Ukrainian Association for the Conservation of
Birds regarding a regulatory system for the water regime in "Birkivsky"
reserve and for arranging longer-term allocations of the hayfields.
An appeal was sent to Birkivska Village Council asking it to review
the terms of hayfield use and the Council replied that the question
had already been solved in a positive way.