Fauna and seasonal dynamics of birds number at the solid waste landfill and their possible impact on the activities of Kyzyl airport

In 2019-2020, as a part of the ecological and ornithological survey in Kyzyl airport and the aerodrome area, the birds of the municipal solid waste landfill located near the runway were studied in order to assess the impact of the landfill on the safety of aircraft flights. The observations carried out during the year revealed the species composition of the avifauna of the polygon, the background species of the polygon, and the annual population dynamics of each species. The black kite Milvus migrans Bodd., the mongolian gull Larus vegae mongolicus Sushk., the oriental carrion crow Corvus corone Eversm., and the common raven Corvus corax L. were classified as the most numerous aircraft-hazardous species of the landfill. daurian partridge Perdix dauurica Pall., Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus L. and house sparrow P . domesticus L., common starling Sturnus vulgaris L. and some other species of Passeriformes were also included in the background. Two periods of the maximum total number of birds at the landfill were identified: winter (January, February) and late summer (August). According to the conducted records of the number and characteristics of behavior the black kite is the greatest danger to flights; the most dangerous period is the end of August, when this species forms pre-flight clusters on the landfill. Such clusters can be up to 1500 birds in size. In the cold season, the most dangerous species are the common raven and the oriental carrion crow.

Observation of female-male mounting in the carrion crow

We report an observation of a female carrion crow, Corvus corone corone, mounting her long-term, pair-bonded, male partner. The report highlights the importance of more systematic quantitative studies of rare socio-sexual behaviours, which could provide important insights into the evolution of non-conceptive socio-sexual behaviours.