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According to an article on the web site
of the Azov-Black Sea Ornithological Station, during field
surveys in the spring and the autumn of 2001 in the region
of the Lebyazhy Islands Reserve (Black Sea coast of Ukraine)
were recorded 9 Slender-billed Curlews Numenius tennuirostris.
Observations were carried out by Ukrainian ornithologists
in the framework of a project of UTOP/BirdLife Ukraine,
sponsored by BirdLife International and the Bonn Convention.
To see more detailed information please click on this link
http://ornitology.narod.ru/english/expeditions/2001/kronshnep/kronshnep.html
The Slender-billed Curlew is one of the
rarest birds in the world and according to the Waterbird
Population Estimates 3 its population counts fewer than
50 individuals. The species has been listed on the AEWA
Table 1, Column A, under categories 1a, b & c. In addition
a Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation of this
curlew has been concluded under the aegis of the Bonn Convention.
An International Action Plan has been operational since
1996.
However, some field practitioners warn
that even experienced ornithologists could mistake two subspecies
of the Common Curlew (Numenius arquata orientalis) and the
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris) for the Slender-billed
Curlew. Therefore field identification should be performed
with high attention and preciseness. The Russian collector
Ushakov was the only one who found a nest of Slender-billed
Curlews nine decades ago in Central Siberia and there is
no any other confirmation of breeding of this species since.
Some scientists even extremely suggest that the species
Slender-billed Curlew does not exist as such, but these
are hybrid individuals of Numenius arquata orientalis and
Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris.
Apparently we are lacking great amount
of knowledge about the Slender-billed Curlew and a lot of
scientific work should be done yet to underpin the conservation
actions for this elusive bird.
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