The press service of the Kuril Islands Reserve has announced the discovery of two new bird species in the Lesser Kuril Islands Reserve: the rare garganey duck and the olive thrush. These species will now be added to the reserve's registry.
A birdwatcher from Iturup spotted the new birds on Shikotan Island. A professional ornithologist identified the species based on the photographs.
The garganey duck is one of the most beautiful and distinctive ducks in Russia. Its spring plumage displays a rainbow of colors. The bird is listed in the Red Book of Russia as a vulnerable species. Previously, this species had been observed several times in the Kuril Islands Reserve on Kunashir Island.
Another find was the olive thrush. This rare migratory species is not observed every year in the Kurils. This autumn, it was seen on Kunashir. Olive thrushes typically nest in the forests of Eastern Siberia and southern Kamchatka, and winter in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. The sighting of the olive thrush on Shikotan can be considered a lucky find. Scientists attribute the bird's appearance to a good rowanberry crop.
