STUDENT INITIATIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE AVIFAUNA RESEARCH IN EASTERN SOFIA PLAIN FOR 2016
ADELINA SAVOVA1*, DIMITAR NENOV1,2, YANA YORDANOVA1,2, DIMITAR DIMITROV1,2, DIMITAR PARVANOV1,3, ATANAS GROZDANOV1,2
1 Students' Club for Education and Development with Ecological Centre (Skorec), Sofia, Bulgaria
2 Department of Zoology and anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
3 Nadezhda Women’s Health Hospital, 3 “Blaga vest” Street, Sofia, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author: skorecbf@gmail.com
Abstract: The following work presents the results of year-round avifauna monitoring of selected parts of Eastern Sofia plain, executed by mentor and members of students’ Club Skorec, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University. The area was selected for its high biodiversity level, good accessibility and strong human influence on all habitats. A transect route with length of 55 km. was monitored twice every month by vehicle and partialy by walking (the latter in the area of Ognyanovo reservoir). Information on species, numbers, behavior, weather conditions and conservation threats were gathered. As a result, we observed 117 bird species during 2016. The highest diversity was registered in the area of Ognyanovo reservoir (98 species). Monthly dynamics of species and number of individuals are also presented.
This research aimed to contribute to the biodiversity knowledge for Sofia plain, a valuable and highly urbanized nature area, but also to improve the research skills of the students in biology. Their involvement in scientific activities is very important educational and motivational tool, which should be included as an official activity option in the universities program. The monitoring of the area should continue in order to identify the full species lists and trends in their presence, the conservation threats and the possible solutions for them. The widening of the research period will also provide the opportunity for inclusion of new young research.