Scientists have recorded another species of waders on Kunashir

The press service of the Kuril Reserve reported that experts managed to photograph two waders, thereby confirming the presence of this species on the island. Previously, scientists met this bird in 2017 and 2018, but it was not possible to capture it in a photo, so the species was not added to the list of fauna of the reserve.

Kunashir lies away from the ways of mass migration of waders. However, during the spring and autumn flights, you can meet the Siberian ash snail, rock beetle, red-necked sandpiper and some other species. Nevertheless, there are much fewer of them on the island than in places of mass gatherings on northern Sakhalin and Kamchatka.

In total, 35 species of waders are found on Kunashir, taking into account the porucheynik. Some species occur annually in small numbers. Among them are the round-nosed floater, Siberian ash snail, Mongolian plover and rockfish. Less common are small and large spindles, blackthorn, stilt, curlew.

The Porucheynik prefers to nest in the zone of the southern taiga and forest-steppe in a wide strip throughout Eurasia. In the Far East, its breeding range is located along the Amur and Ussuri rivers. And he flies through southern Japan to Indonesia and Australia to spend the winter. So his meetings on Kunashir can be regarded as a deviation from the usual route.

Early migration is characteristic of the lieutenant. The first birds to fly in July are single birds that have not had offspring this year. Later, in September — early October, there will be a second wave of migration, when family birds with offspring will catch up.

The Porucheynik is a medium–sized bird of slender build, long-legged, with a thin, usually straight beak, with an elongated and thin neck. The body length is 22-25 cm, wingspan 39-46 cm, weight 50-120 g. Males and females are colored the same. They feed on mollusks and aquatic insects.