The birds of Pasvik / E. I. Khlebosolov, O. A. Makarova, O. A. Khlebosolova [et al. ; English transl. Nikita Chernetsov]. - Ryazan : Golosgubernii, 2007. - 175 с. : ил., портр.

Greylag Goose is a common breeding and w intering species in northw estern Europe. The main breeding grounds o f this species are situated in Iceland, Britain, and Scandinavia. Breeding habitats are open wetlands o f different types, located near rivers, lakes, ponds and o th e r w aterbodies. In the n o rth e rn part o f Scandinavia Greylag Geese also breed on the sea coast and in th e fjords (H agem eijer & Blair 1997). Fragmentary data are available on breeding o f G reylag Geese in coastal and inland tund ra o f the Kola Peninsula, including the Russian side o f Varanger fjord and Rybachy Peninsula (M enzbier 1895, Spangenberg 1941, B ianchi et al. 1993). The breeding population o f Greylag Geese in northw estern Europe has been co n ­ stantly growing for several decades, causing range expansion (M ad sen 1991). F rom Scandinavia it penetrates the Kola Peninsula along th e sea coast where a breeding population is forming. In particular, on Ainovy Isles on th e Barents Sea situated near the mouth o f the Pasvik river, the G reylag Goose has bred since 1984. At p res­ ent, a large breeding colony has formed o n these islands, co u n ting at least 150 pairs (Tatarinkova et al. 2007). The Bean Goose is a common breeding bird in Pasvik. Pairs and broods can be found in bays o f large lakes with developed coastal vegetation and on the lakes located in large bogs (Zakoldaeva 2005). The Lesser White-fronted Goose can be som etim es found in Pasvik valley as a m igrant. It infrequently breeds in the tund ra on the M u rm an coast (Kokhanov & Skokova 1967, Filchagov & Cherenkov 1984). D ata on d istribu tion , num bers and biology o f the Lesser W hite-fronted Goose in East E uropean tu n d ra , including the Kola Peninsula, remain scarce. The m ain breeding range in E uropean Russia is in Bolshezemelskaya tund ra (M ineev 1989, Morozov 1995). R ecently breeding has been reported from Malozemelskaya tund ra (M ineev & M ineev 2004). D ram atic decrease in breeding numbers and range con tra ction o f the Lesser W hite-fron ted Goose stimulated inclusion o f this goose into the list o f endangered species (Tucker & Heath 1994, Mineev & M ineev 2005). O btaining m ore data on the East European population o f this species is an im po rtan t task. Ducks Shelduck The Common Shelduck belongs to the group o f ground ducks that biologically are a transition from geese to ducks. Like geese, these birds walk a lot and easily, and if necessary, they are able to run. Shelducks fly like geese w ith a typical wingbeat. Shelducks occur in pairs which may remain together for several years. However, many other features are shared with ducks (Kolosov et al. 1975). In no rthern Europe and in 80