Large snail (tringa nebularia). Snail bird, description of appearance, habitat, habits Reproduction and offspring
Eurasia from Scandinavia east to Anadyr and Kamchatka, south on the Russian Plain to approximately the 54th parallel (1). The southern border of the range passes through the Ryazan region. In the 90s XIX century was a common, but sporadically nesting species of the Oka Valley and a number of lakes of the Meshchera Lowland (2). In the 1990s. a large ulit was found nesting in the Pra valley in the north of the Ryazan region (3) and on the left bank of the Oka near the border of Spassky and Shklovsky districts (4). In the same years, it was recorded in some tracts on the territory of the Kasimovsky district, where it probably nested (5, 6). Probably nested in the vicinity of the village of Barskie, Ryazan region (2004) and in 2007, 2008. in the north of Spassky district, where it was found during the breeding season (7-9). The species is quite common during spring and autumn migration. There is little specific data on nesting. Over the last century, the number of nesting birds appears to have declined significantly. No nests have been found in the last decade. According to a rough estimate, no more than 10-20 pairs nest in the region.
Habitats and biology
The large snail nests in grassy, swampy glades of pine and birch forests, in raised bogs, and overgrown shores of lakes with isolated trees. The nest, which the birds may use for several seasons, is located next to or between rocks, hummocks, or on top of a hummock. As a rule, the nest is placed near objects protruding high above the ground. Monogamous. During the season there is one clutch, a full clutch contains 4 eggs. The duration of incubation of the clutch is 23-26 days. Soon after hatching, the parents take the chicks away from the nest up to 1.5 km. The chicks fly at the age of 25-31 days (10).
Limiting factors and threats
The drainage of swamps, as a result of which habitats are degraded, has a negative impact on the state of the species in the region.
Security measures taken and required
The species is included in Appendix III of the Berne Convention. IN Ryazan region the greater snail has been protected since 2001 (11). Potential nesting sites are protected in the Oksky Nature Reserve, in the state natural reserves of regional significance “Swamp Koshelnitsa”, “Red Swamp”, “Boriskovsky”, “Swamp Progon” ( Ryazan district), “Giblitsky”, “Shcherbatovsky”, natural monuments of regional significance “White Forest”, “Zernovo” (Kasimovsky district) and the Meshchersky NP. It is necessary to organize special research to study the current distribution and abundance of the species in the region and to give the found nesting sites the status of specially protected natural areas.
Class: Birds Order: Charadriiformes Family: Snipe Genus: Snails Species: Large snailGreat Snail - Tringa nebularia
Appearance.
Almost the size of a pigeon. The beak is slightly curved upward, the legs are dark, long, and in flight protrude far beyond the end of the tail. The top is brown-gray, the chest is streaked, the underparts and rump are white, and the underwings are striped. In winter the upperparts are brownish-gray.Lifestyle.
Inhabitant of the forest zone, in some places it enters the forest-tundra; on migration it is found along the muddy coasts of seas, rivers and lakes. Migrant. Common. Nests in forest lakes, rivers and moss swamps. The nest is a hole lined with blades of grass or moss, usually located near a hummock or stump. The clutch from mid-May to the end of June consists of 4 fawn eggs with sharp blackish-brown spots. The laying of the eggs is preceded by lekking flights, during which the male emits a very loud and beautiful whistling cry “tli-tui, tli-tui.” When a person approaches the nest, it flies around screaming and sits on the branches of trees, balancing on its wings. During non-breeding times, he is careful. It forages for food in the water, wading into it almost up to its belly. It feeds on insects and their larvae, often eating small fish and fry. It differs from the herbal snail and the goldfinch by its dark legs, from the Siberian ash snail by its dark upperparts (in addition, from all these waders, the great snail differs in its curved beak), from the Okhotsk snail by its striped underside of the wing.Reference books by geographer and traveler V.E. Flint, R.L. Boehme, Yu.V. Kostin, A.A. Kuznetsov. Birds of the USSR. Publishing house "Mysl" Moscow, edited by prof. G.P. Dementieva.
(Tringa nebularia) is the largest of the Palaearctic snails.
It is generally a gray bird with large longitudinal dark streaks on its feathers. The ventral side of the bird is white with large teardrop-shaped streaks on the crop and sides and small streaks on the throat. The back of the back and rump are white. The beak is long, its apical part is slightly curved upward. Legs are greenish. Wing length 18-19.5 cm, weight 150-200 g.
Large snail: habitat
The large snail nests from the northern part of Scandinavia and the Leningrad region to the upper reaches of Anadyr and Kamchatka, as well as in the north of England. It winters in southern Europe, Africa, South Asia and further south to Australia inclusive. Individual specimens of this species can be found in the summer south of its breeding area in the steppe parts of our country and in the desert (for example, along the Amu Darya). A small number of non-breeding individuals are also found in Africa and India, in wintering areas.
- a cautious bird, found more often alone or in small groups. Perches on trees, at least during nesting time. His voice is a loud melodic “tlui-tlui”, sometimes “kru-kru-kru”. The large snail feeds mainly on aquatic insects and their larvae - water bugs, beetles, dipteran larvae, and dragonflies. This is the only one of our waders (except the oystercatcher) that sometimes catches fish. When feeding on the water, the large snail sometimes makes quick vibrating movements with its paws on the ground, stirs up the water and then catches the invertebrates that have risen up.
A representative of the snipe family, a rare species that requires protection and protection. This article will talk about the big snail in a detailed format.
Description, appearance
The snail is not too large in size, the weight of adult individuals ranges from 110 to 280 grams. The body shape is slightly elongated. The paws are dark green in color and quite long. The beak is upturned, the tip points upward. The wings, in comparison with the rest of the color, stand out. They are usually dark. Small specks are distributed from the head in a uniform and beautiful pattern. The lower part of the body is white without any inclusions or peculiar patterns. Thanks to such an interesting color, the large snail cannot be confused with other birds. Young representatives are similar to adults, but there are some distinctive features. Their chest is off-white, with dark markings, streaks and stripes.
Spreading
In Europe, he prefers to settle in the northern regions, in countries such as Russia and Scotland. It winters in the warmest places, for example, in Africa, Spain, Italy, where several dozen representatives were regularly spotted. Individuals of this species are also found in the Caucasus, both in mountainous areas and in swamps. They especially like to spend cold times in the south. For them there is the most favorable and suitable climate. There are also all the opportunities for a quiet existence, including the necessary food supplies.They are very fond of various bodies of water and wetlands. They migrate in small groups, about 10 birds.
Nesting and breeding
Their nest is a hole in the ground, usually quite small. The female lays 4 eggs and incubates them for 24 days. They build nests near any source of water, it can be a river, a pond, a swamp. There must also be a noticeable object nearby. They do this, guided by the instinct of self-preservation, which allows them to protect themselves from certain threats. The adult representatives are very caring and accompany the chicks until they fly. The babies' muscles are slowly strengthening and becoming stronger every day. But adult birds still show anxiety and restlessness.
Voice
Relatives
It is impossible not to talk about the so-called “relatives” of the big snail. This includes the morodunka. It also has an upturned beak and an interesting coloration. But her paws are dark yellow. He also likes to winter in Africa, Western Europe. But in Italy it is rarely seen - this is rather an exception. Morodunka is also spreading in Russia. As a comfortable place for its nests, it chooses warm areas near rivers and various reservoirs. A very similar behavior pattern to large waders; they show care for their offspring.
Number
The large snail is a worthy representative of its family. The bird has an unusual color, which makes it immediately noticeable. Unfortunately, a trend towards a reduction in this species has been noticed. The issue became very acute, and some measures were taken. After all, this greatly alarmed the specialists. The environment is deteriorating every year, many species of animals, birds, and plants are disappearing. Therefore, we must try to preserve nature and what it has given. Measures are required that help improve the situation and create a certain balance and harmony that reigned until a person began to destroy everything that prevented him from achieving his selfish goals. We have now begun to actively implement measures to protect environment, and it really helps.
Likewise, the number of large snail has increased over the past decade. The species has mastered new places where it now builds its nests and raises its offspring. For example, representatives of the family were spotted in the Moscow region.
Measures taken to see improvements
It is worth noting those measures that helped increase the numbers. Firstly, the species was listed in the Red Book. This made it possible to draw attention to such a problem as disappearance over a certain period of time. After all, every year the figure became smaller. Protected nests played an important role in the spread of the large snail in the Moscow region. The day before, recommendations were put forward on organizing protection sites for birds. They are under the protection of professionals, which will keep them safe. The snails found acceptable living conditions and a suitable climate. Now you can be sure that everything will be fine, and perhaps the species will “grow” and spread to other areas.
Video: Great snail (Tringa nebularia)
Kulik-Selyanets (formerly - Ulіt Vyalyki)
Brest region - single registrations in the east
Vitebsk region - nesting
Gomel region - single registrations in the west
Minsk region - extreme north and extreme northeast
Mogilev region - west and center
Snipe family - Scolopacidae.
Monotypic species, does not form subspecies.
Rare breeding migratory species. Nesting has been proven by only a few finds in the Vitebsk region: 06/21/1975 a downy chick was caught in the Berezinsky Nature Reserve; 05/06/1987 a nest with a clutch of 4 fresh eggs was found in the Liozny district; On May 21, 1995, a nest with 4 fresh eggs was found in the Shumilinsky district; On May 18, 2002, another nest with 3 fresh eggs was found in the same place. One of the last finds of 4 pairs + chick occurred on May 26, 2013 in the Krasny Bor nature reserve, Rossonsky district. Also, individual pairs of large snail with obvious signs of nesting behavior were recorded in spring and summer in raised bogs in other areas of the Vitebsk region. (Miory, Sharkovshchinsky, Vitebsk).
In addition, large snails with signs of nesting behavior were recorded in some swamp areas of the Mogilev, Gomel and Brest regions, but nesting here requires confirmation by finds of nests or flightless chicks. In the southern part of the republic in summer period registered in the Olmansky swamps, where there is probably an isolated settlement, since the breeding of the species has been proven in the border regions of Ukraine.
Relatively large sandpiper. The color of the plumage is very similar to the porcupine, the main differences being its noticeably larger size and a slightly upturned beak. The upperparts are light brown with white streaks, especially on the front of the back. Its back and lower back are white. The underparts are also white, but there are black-brown longitudinal streaks on the crop and chest. The outer tail feathers are white, the middle pair is smoky gray with dark transverse stripes. The beak is of medium length, laterally compressed and noticeably bent upward. Its color is dark brown. Legs are brownish-green. Brown rainbow. Male weight 155-180 g, female 148-195 g. Body length (both sexes) 33-37 cm, wingspan 62-70 cm. Male wing length 18-19 cm, tail 7.5-8.5 cm, tarsus 6.5-7 cm, beak 5-6 cm. Wing length of females 18-19.5 cm, beak 4.5-6 cm, tarsus 6-6.5 cm.
Like other snails, they willingly perch on trees, especially on dry tops and branches. They do not form large flocks. Even during flights they stay in small groups. Very careful birds.
The large ulit lives mainly in forest swamps or swampy river floodplains adjacent to the forest, along the banks of forest lakes, among vast raised and transitional swamps, sparsely overgrown with swamp pine and shrubs. Sometimes it settles in open areas of floodplain meadows, overgrown with tall grass, shrubs and solitary trees.
A characteristic nesting bird of the raised swamps of the Belarusian Lake District. It is most numerous in the ridge-lake complex of vegetation and near large swamp lakes with rafting shores. It is also found in the ridge-hollow complex with pine, giving preference to rafting areas.
It nests in separate pairs, choosing the most remote uninhabited areas. When nesting, the most secretive of the waders in Poozerie, as a rule, makes a nest in swamp pine forests, even in very closed wild rosemary on low manes and along the edges of islands, in groves along the shores of swamp lakes.
Most often, ulit was observed in flooded open areas. However, the first nest of the great snail, discovered on May 6, 1987, was located in a sphagnum pine forest along the edge of a small raised bog in the Liozno district of the Vitebsk region. The nest was located on a hummock, open, near several pine trees: one dry (3 m high) and two green (1.7 and 2.0 m high).
The nest is made on the ground, usually in a dry place, under the cover of a bush or near the trunk of a fallen tree.
The nest is a hole trampled in a moss hummock, hidden among sedge, heather or wild rosemary, lined with dry blades of grass, pine needles, and moss.
The tray of the first nest found was abundantly lined with dry pine needles with a small admixture of small heather branches.
When examining one incomplete clutch of three eggs on May 18, 2002, there was no lining in the tray; in other nests with full clutches, the trays were lined with dry leaves of blueberry, bog myrtle, and thin flakes of pine bark. Also, pine needles were always present in the tray, since the nests were often located under the cover of swamp pines, often on moss hummocks near the trunk. One more interesting feature large snails is that they almost always make nests next to the dry trunks of fallen swamp pines.
Nest dimensions: tray diameter 9.3–14.0 cm, average 11.9±0.6 cm; tray depth 3.5–7.5 cm, average 5.3±0.5 cm.
Vladimir Bondar. Zatoka "Tehnopribor", env. Mogilev
A full clutch contains 4 eggs, in exceptional cases 5. In Europe, isolated finds of clutches consisting of 7 or 8 eggs (belonging to more than one female) are known. In the examined complete clutches in Poozerie there were 3–4 eggs, on average 3.9±0.1 eggs per clutch. The eggs are pear-shaped. The shell is slightly shiny, sometimes matte. The color of its main background varies from light yellowish-brown or dark creamy to yellowish-gray. Large and small surface spots, sometimes larger strokes or relatively small specks and specks of a dark or black-brown or light red-brown color. They are distributed evenly or concentrated predominantly at the obtuse pole. The deeper spots are light gray, violet-gray and brownish-gray. Egg sizes: 32.7–42.4x46.7–55.0 mm, on average 34.7±0.3x49.9±0.3 mm. Egg weight is 25.70–32.56 g, on average 28.96 ± 0.37 g.
The bird begins nesting in early May, but fresh clutches can be found in the first ten days of this month. In friendly warm springs, fresh clutches in Poozerie were found from May 6 to 8, and in cold, protracted springs, an incomplete clutch of three eggs was examined on May 18 and a complete fresh clutch in another nest on May 21. Clutches of varying degrees of incubation were examined from May 9 to May 23. A newly dried chick was found on April 25, 2008, 23 m from the nest (in the nest itself there was a dead downy chick and egg shells). Chicks in downy plumage, but of different sizes, were seen from June 15 to June 21; a chick that began to fledge was observed on June 10, 2000.
There is one brood per year. The male and female incubate the clutch for 24-25 days; later, both birds lead the chicks and protect the brood in case of danger. Large snails incubate the eggs very tightly: they fly up 1.5–5 m from the researcher and sometimes move away, pretending to be a wounded bird.
Immediately after hatching, the large snail transfers the chicks to flooded open areas, where adult birds become very noticeable by their alarm cries heard from afar.
The autumn migration begins in mid-August and continues throughout September.
The food of the large snail is various invertebrates, primarily insects and their larvae (including aquatic ones), arachnids, and small mollusks.
Adult large snails are found in the prey of the golden eagle, and chicks are found in the prey of the merlin.
The number of large snail in those raised bogs of the Belarusian Lake District where it nests ranges from 1 pair per 10 km² (in swamps with an area of at least 1000 hectares) to 6 pairs per 10 km² (in smaller swamps). The drainage reclamation of raised bogs and, to a lesser extent, the disturbance factor have a significant impact on the number of large snails in the Belarusian Lake District.
Included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.
The maximum age recorded in Europe is 24 years 5 months.
Vladimir Bondar. Zatoka "Tehnopribor", env. Mogilev
Literature
1. Grichik V.V., Burko L.D. "Fauna of Belarus. Vertebrates: textbook" Minsk, 2013. -399 p.
2. Nikiforov M. E., Yaminsky B. V., Shklyarov L. P. “Birds of Belarus: A guide to nests and eggs” Minsk, 1989. -479 p.
3. Fedyushin A.V., Dolbik M.S. “Birds of Belarus”. Minsk, 1967. -521 p.
4. Ivanovsky V.V., Vorobiev V.N., Mindlin G.A. "Materials on the ecology of waders of the Belarusian Lake District" / Bulletin of the Vitsebsk State University. 2015. No. 1. P.38-43
5. Minutes of the meeting of the Belarusian Ornithological and Faunal Commission (BOFK) dated February 17, 2015.
6. Mongin E. A. “Big snail” / Red Book of the Republic of Belarus. Animals. Rare and endangered species of wild animals. Ed. 2nd. Minsk, 2006. P.126-127
7. Kozlov V.P., Lychkovsky B.D. “On the nesting of the great snail in the Belarusian Poozerie” / Abstracts of the 12th Baltic Ornithological Conference. Vilnius, 1988. P.94-95.
8. Fransson, T., Jansson, L., Kolehmainen, T., Kroon, C. & Wenninger, T. (2017) EURING list of longevity records for European birds.
