4SEAS

Photographs by Vitaly Giragosov, Inna Drapun, Anna Drapun

It is generally known that Man and Nature coexist not so peacefully. Spreading of urban and expansion of agricultural areas reduce and change natural habitats of animals and plants. Besides, low ecological culture of people add the «anxiety factor» to still remained oasis of wild nature. Only the species which can adapt to changing conditions of habitat have advantage in this hard struggle for existence.
 

Thereby, the special term synantropization (adaptation of organisms to dwelling near-by a man) appeared. The highest degree of synantropization is adaptation of animal wildlife to urban environment, and it is named synurbanization. This phenomenon is especifically typical for birds. We can only regret that not all of them trust the people, and unfortunately often reasonably.

Lunchtime. Sevastopol.

However, wild waterbirds have appreciated long time ago the advantages of seashore cities as their wintering places. Black Sea is one of the basic wintering areas of those waterbirds which during the breeding season inhabit fresh or brackish reservoirs of East and Central Europe (some in northwest Asia). Rather mild winter, non-freezing sea and tender-hearted (majority) citizens, rescue the birds during the most severe winter periods when the freshwater reservoirs are covered by ice. Last 20-30 years many migratory waterbirds prefer not to test the fortune in distant migration flights southward or westward. Fewer and fewer resting spots remain on their migration routes. On their traditional wintering places waterbirds are usually expected only as a desired bag (hunting season). These reasons, as well as the changing climate force the waterbirds to compromise «a seasonal truce» with the human. Interestingly that the waterbirds trustfully feeding from the hands of the citizens during the wintertime prefer not to risk during other seasons in their natural habitats and keep afar from human beings.

Pleasant company. Sevastopol.

The inhabitants of Sevastopol well know that after the first messages on arrival of cold on the continent the visitors will arrive at city bays. Thousands of birds going at shore at times. The natural forage does not suffice for everybody therefore the birds eat bread with pleasure from generous hands of townspeople. Certainly it is not a most useful diet, but this makes it possible to hold out during the difficult period.

A nice day. Sevastopol.

At times the most careful townspeople offer the fears concerning a bird flu and contamination of bays by the numerous “new-comers». However the damage to the coastal biocoenosis is small and the simple rules of hygiene will help to avoid a casual infection. At the same time pleasure which is got adults and especially children of a socializing with the messengers of wild nature with usury covers a cost all fears.

Unusually cold January 2006

Cold January, 2010, Omega bay

About 15 species of swimming birds winter in the bays of Sevastopol. Let's get acquainted with the most numerous and interesting of them all - please, click the images below to know more about every of the species: