KFU hosting 16th International Ornithological Conference of Northern Eurasia
The forum is organized by KFU together with the Russian Bird Conservation Union, Menzbirov Ornithological Society, Severtsov Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and others.
Ilgizar Rakhimov, Chair of the Department of Bioecology, Hygiene and Public Health of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, told journalists that the conference is held every four years and brings together leading researchers of various aspects of bird life. For the first time this congress of ornithologists was held in 1956, and the capital of Tatarstan last became the venue in 2001.
This year’s event gathered more than 200 participants from 9 foreign countries and various provinces of Russia.
鈥淲e expect that the conference will become a new impetus for the development of ornithological science, and scientists will share the best knowledge and achievements in the study of birds of our country,鈥� Dr Rakhimov said.
The event was opened with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Menzbirov Ornithological Society, 每日大赛, and the Russian Bird Conservation Union.
Guests and participants were welcomed by Almaz Tugushev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Tatarstan, 鈥淚t is a great honor for our Republic to become a platform where leading scientists, ecologists, nature protectors and enthusiasts gathered to join efforts in the study and conservation of birds – amazing creatures whose fates are inextricably linked to the well-being of our planet.鈥�
Within the framework of the four-day conference, 17 sections and 7 round tables will be organized in 3 topics: fundamental issues of zoology in the study of birds, applied aspects of bird studies, and popularization of ornithology.
Nadezhda Boyko, first year master student of Tomsk State University and an employee of the bird ringing station Baikalskaya of Baikal State Reserve, is among the speakers at the conference.
鈥淚 will present one report during the round table and talk about the activities of the ringing station. In addition, another report I prepared in continuation of my bachelor’s thesis, where I compared the features of bird migration in Tomsk and Baikal,” she said. 鈥淭he comparison of bird flyovers has not been easy. In Tomsk, I studied sedentary birds that inhabit a certain area of the territory. And at the Baikal station, I studied migratory non-local populations. Thus, the peculiarities of migration timing were revealed in comparison: in Tomsk, due to milder winters, the movement of birds starts earlier and ends later than in the Baikal region. In addition, there is no fall migration here, because the food resources in Tomsk are much more scarce.”
Olesya Dandaa, teacher of the Department of Biology and Ecology of Tuva State University, is participating in such a large-scale conference for the first time. She learned about it back in November and immediately sent an application.
鈥淢y report will be devoted to the topic of nesting of yellow wagtail in Tuva. This aspect is poorly studied in this region, so I think it will be useful and interesting for colleagues,鈥� Dandaa said.
The conference takes up 21 to 24 April. Participants will talk about avian viruses, bird population dynamics in Northern Eurasia, regional avifaunas, and much more.
At the end of the conference, the guests will be given a tour to the Volga-Kama State Natural Biosphere Reserve.