07.02.2020 TimeLapse. WaterBirds. Burshtyn Water Resorvoir Birdwatching for peace

Pictures from the Wetland (Ramsar) Land of International Importance, from a protected artificial peninsula. It is located on the territory of DTEK and is part of the Galician National Nature Park.

The Burshtyn Water Reservoir is the largest non-freezing water body in the western part of Ukraine, which provides an immense support for protection of large number wintering and migrating waterbirds.

The area of the Site is 1,260 ha, average depth is 4 m. It is an important feeding and shelter habitats for migrating and wintering waterbirds during their critical life cycle periods. The number of waterbird species is the highest for the western part of Ukraine during the spring migration, ranging from 7,000 to 22,300 individuals. The dominant species is Anas platyrhynchos, less numerous are Bucephala clangula, Anas renelope, Aythya ferina, Anser fabalis, Mergus merganser, Anser albifrons, Anser anser, Mergus albellus. The Site is an important regional biodiversity hotspot, supporting the protection of a number of red listed bats, fish and plants as well. The Site supports populations of 16 animal species of IUCN Red List and 10 animal species of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009), among them also two species, listed in the Appendices of the Bern Convention. The Site is regional important area for the reproduction of hydrophilous animal species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine: Anas strepera L. (NT), Aythya nyroca (VU), Sterna albifrons (NT), and the IUCN Red Listed species: Aythya ferina (VU) and Lutra lutra (NT). The main land user of the Site is “Burshtynska” Thermal Power Station (DTEK Company). The Site is part of the Halytskyi National Nature Park. Spring is almost here when millions of birds will begin to pass through our cities and towns on their trek back north - known as Spring migration. For me, the excitement about birds is year-round. Few things pull me out of a funk like the sudden appearance of a bluebird in my backyard, the vivid blue against a green magnolia tree like an exclamation point. I scramble for binoculars to get a closer look, and as I turn the focus wheel, my cloudy, scattered mind refocuses, too. The tiny indigo beauty rewards me with a chest puff, a rust-colored breast popping against the brilliant blue. The sound of bird song and rustling leaves lead me to take a deep sip of fresh air, and the tightness in my chest disappears. My spirits, low since my mother's death, lift for now. I look skyward for the next flutter.