Gorobets L. The significance of watering places for breeding bird populations of forest ecosystems

The significance of watering places for breeding bird populations of forest ecosystems have been studied on a sample of stream in the hornbeam grove of Kaniv Nature Reserve farmstead. Species diversity of birds visiting the watering places was studied. Bird diurnal activities on visiting the stream together with the influence of temperature, relative humidity and rain is learned. The highest activity of watering place visits is recorded at the temperature 21-250C and relative humidity 70%. It is established that birds come to the stream even during the rain. The birds visit watering places in period between 4 and 21 o'clock (GTM+2h). Due to the observations on Fringilla coelebs and Erithacus rubecula behavior it became clear that birds come to the stream with the aim to drink, rare - to bath, but never to look for the food. The activity of watering place visits by females during different stages of their breeding period was learned as well. The highest activity of visits is recorded during the clutch incubation and nestling feeding. During nest construction and clutch laying periods females visit watering places less frequently. The first dates of water place visits by juveniles what means transition to self-maintained live are recorded too.