360 M. V. BANIK et al.: he status of the Greylag Goose breeding population in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine he Greylag Goose is the only breeding goose species in the Ukraine. It is among the most popular game birds especially in the southern regions. hree major popula- tions of the Greylag Goose – the Volynian (north-west- ern), Danubian (southern) and Samara-Orelian (central and eastern) populations – are distinguished by diferent migration patterns and other details in ecology (Lysenko 2004). he Samara-Orelian population seemed to be the most proliferous, especially from the 1960s to the 1990s. It colonised the North-eastern Ukraine including the Kharkiv region until the late 1980s. In the 1990s Greylag Geese reached peak numbers in the Kharkiv region. No less than 450 pairs bred in the region in the early 1990s (Atemasov et al. 1995), and for the mid 1990s our recent estimates amount to 610–635 pairs. Since then the num- bers of Greylag Geese have declined (Banik & Vergeles 2005). his development motivated this study to estimate the current distribution and numbers and to search for the causes of the decline. We have tried to summarise all available current data on Greylag Goose distribution and numbers as well as on typical traits of the species’ ecology in the region. 2. Study area he Kharkiv region is situated in the north-eastern part of the Ukraine at the border with the Russian Federation. he size of the region is 31,400 km 2 . he boundary between the forest-steppe and steppe zones divides the region into two parts with quite diferent landscape conditions. he forest-steppe (north-west- ern) part is poor in wetland habitats and is therefore of minor importance for Greylag Geese. he steppe part is characterised by a more continental climate. he annual amplitude in mean monthly temperatures increases from 27 °C in the forest-steppe to 29.5 °C in the steppe, while annual precipitation is 100 mm (20%) lower in the steppe. he steppe part is rich in great river valleys with loodplain habitats suitable for breeding Greylag Geese. 3. Material and methods We have used the data of expedition surveys aimed at the crea- tion of new protected territories in the region (Important Bird Areas programme of the Ukrainian Union for Bird Conservation) as well as results of a special inventory of game waterfowl and waterbird species in loodplain habitats of the Kharkiv region. he latter study is a project of mapping breeding pairs of game species on sample plots in all types of loodplain habitats. In the years 2004–2006 29 plots (100–300 ha in area) were surveyed in the Kharkiv region. he gathered data were used to correct the estimates of the current distribution and the numbers of Greylag Geese. Additionally, the data of long-term observations (1992–2006) on a Greylag Goose population at the Liman lake system were used. 4. Results and discussion 4.1. Distribution, numbers and population trend Nowadays the Greylag Goose breeding population strong- holds are within the Orel river valley and in the lower reaches of its tributaries (Orchik and Berestovaya rivers) in the southern parts of the Kharkiv region. Other im- portant sites are loodplain habitats in the Velyky Burluk, Bereka, Britay, and Volosskaya Balakleyka river valleys in the central parts of the region (Fig. 1 & 2). Wet de- pressions on third or fourth terraces of great river valleys (slightly salinised marshes) are now of minor importance while formerly these habitats played a prominent role for the Greylag Goose in the central parts of the region. he comparatively well-studied Liman Lake population has he status of the Greylag Goose Anser anser breeding population in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine Mikhail V. Banik, Anna S. Nadtochiy & Yuri I. Vergeles Banik, M. V., A. S. Nadtochiy & Y. I. Vergeles 2008: he status of the Greylag Goose Anser anser breeding population in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Vogelwelt 129: 360–362. In the Ukraine there are three distinct populations of Greylag Goose: the Volynian (north-western), Danubian (southern) and Samara-Orelian (central and eastern) populations. he latter spread in the 1960s and colonised the north-eastern Ukraine including the Kharkiv region. In the 1990s Greylag Geese reached peak numbers in the Kharkiv region. he numbers were estimated as no less than 450 breeding pairs in the early 1990s, and for the mid 1990s our recent estimates amount to 610–635 pairs. Since then the numbers of Greylag Geese have declined due to over-exploitation (including egg removal) and unfavourable changes in the water regime of lakes and habitat structure. Nowadays breed- ing population strongholds are within the Orel river valley and in the lower reaches of its tributaries (Orchik and Berestovaya rivers) in the southern parts of the Kharkiv region. Small enclaves remain in the central and eastern districts. he total size of the population now hardly exceeds 310–330 pairs. Key words: Greylag Goose Anser anser, breeding population, breeding ecology, hunting, egg-collec- tion, over-exploitation, Kharkiv region, Ukraine. 1. Introduction