The Effect of Pyrogenic Successionon Breeding Birds of Shelter Belts in the North-Western Part of the Azov Sea Region

Abstract The effect of the pyrogenic factor on the avifauna of shelter belts in the north-western part of the Azov Sea region, Ukraine is considered basing on results of the research carried out in 2001–2018. The breeding bird community of shelter belts is composed of 50 species, of them different types of shelter belts support 14–46 species. Changes in the species composition of breeding birds are analysed in subsequent years aft er the fires. The recovery of bird communities is progressing at a slow pace following the regeneration of tree-shrub vegetation and development of consortial relations of birds with dominating tree-shrub species and rook (Corvus frugilegus) colonies. It is established that the vegetation pyrogenic succession is accompanied by deep qualitative and quantitative changes in the structure of breeding avian communities in shelter belts of different type.