Birding in Ukraine

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Birding in Ukraine Discover Ukraine! Ukraine is home to over 420 bird species, from common residents to rare and endangered ones.

The country’s unique mix of natural zones — from the dense Carpathian forests to the endless steppes and the wetland ecosystems along the Black Sea coast — offers ideal habitats for a varieties of birds. This makes it a dream location for bird identification and observation.

29/09/2026

THE LIVING BRIDGE BETWEEN SEA AND LAGOONS: HYDROBIONT MIGRATION AND FEATHERED FISHERMEN AT TUZLY
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine https://www.birdinginukraine.com/

The autumn of the wartime year 2026 in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park maintains its unique, intense, and majestic rhythm. At the strait—the natural connection between the Black Sea and the lagoons—a true marvel of nature is unfolding: the active migration of hydrobionts continues. Small fish and other aquatic organisms are moving en masse between the marine waters and the lagoons in search of favorable conditions.

Where There Is Fish, There Are Birds
By the laws of the wild, a rich movement of fish instantly attracts the primary connoisseurs of easy and nutritious prey—feathered fishermen. Along the channels, a true spectacle is currently taking place. The video vividly captures majestic Great White Egrets (Egretta alba) and noisy Black-headed Gulls.

The egrets stand motionless and with filigree patience in the shallows, waiting for the right moment for a lightning-fast strike. Meanwhile, the gulls bustle around, diving and snatching prey right from the water's surface. For all of them, this autumn fish migration is a vital stage before their long journey southward.

Despite the sounds of war that periodically echo around us, the natural chain of life at Tuzly remains unbroken. The water flows, fish migrate, and the birds continue their age-old dance of survival.

27/09/2026

THE AUTUMN BLACK SEA IN WARTIME 2026: PAIN, MONITORING, AND THE FAITH IN RENEWAL
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

The autumn Black Sea in this wartime year of 2026 strikes with its stern beauty, yet it bears deep and agonizing scars. Throughout Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the marine ecosystem has suffered unprecedented, colossal anthropogenic destruction unlike anything in its recorded history. This blow has been especially devastating for Black Sea cetaceans—dolphins that perish en masse due to acoustic terror, enemy sonar operations, and the overall fallout of war.

Scientific Watch and Monitoring at Tuzly
From the very first days of the enemy invasion, specialists at the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park have never stopped their vital work. They maintain a continuous monitoring effort regarding the war's environmental impact, documenting every ecological loss so the civilized world knows the truth. Due to mine threats, security restrictions, and combat operations, public access to the sea coast and its tourism appeal for Ukrainians have changed drastically. Today, the sea is closed to leisure, yet open to our shared sorrow and resolve.

World Tourism Day Under the Sign of Hope
Today, on World Tourism Day, we view our familiar marine landscapes through a different lens. Instead of bustling beaches and joyful travelers, a restrained reserve quietude and the echoes of war prevail here. Yet we firmly hope and believe: the day of our victory over the barbarians will surely come. Then the Black Sea will heal from its wounds, and Ukrainians alongside friends of Ukraine will return to enjoy its incredible healing power, boundless beauty, and free Ukrainian shores once more.

26/09/2026

HYDROLOGICAL CHALLENGES: WHY BIRD NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED AT CERTAIN TUZLY LAGOONS
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

The autumn bird migration through the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park continues, yet lately, a noticeable decrease in bird numbers has been observed at stopover sites across certain lagoons. This situation is vividly captured in video footage from early September 2026—a time when both August and September traditionally see the park's shallows teeming with massive, bustling flocks of waders.

The Hydrological Crisis: Why the Water Levels Drop
The primary reason for these shifts lies in a significant alteration of the hydrological regime. A section of the Tuzly lagoons relies directly on water inflows from the Danube. However, throughout the summer of wartime 2026 and continuing today, the water level in the Danube has remained critically low. The resulting water deficit shrinks shallow areas, dries up familiar feeding grounds, and sharply reduces the availability of invertebrates that migrating waders depend on.

Nature Seeks a Balance
Birds are exceptionally sensitive to environmental changes. Due to drought-induced shallowness, certain areas have lost their traditional appeal for large stopover flocks. Migratory travelers are forced to redistribute themselves across other parts of the park or seek out alternative, better-watered refuges.

Added to this are the severe anthropogenic pressures and destructive impacts of war, which only compound these ecological challenges. Nonetheless, park researchers continue to closely monitor ecosystem dynamics to document these shifts and safeguard this unique wetland habitat.

25/09/2026

A GOLDEN DAWN AT TUZLY: LIFE AND HOPE AMID THE NOISES OF WAR
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Every single day and night, the heavy noises of war echo across the protected shores, yet wildlife in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park refuses to yield. Despite all the challenges and anxieties, traveling birds continue their daily struggle for survival, striving to gather the vital energy and fat reserves needed for their long autumn migration southward.

This enchanting, seemingly serene dawn at Tuzly captures a true wonder of life. The first rays of the sun gild the water's surface, while an incredible gathering of birds bustles across the shallows. For them, every such hour is a crucial chance to prepare for a thousand-kilometer journey.

Every new dawn here stands as a symbol that life goes on against all odds. We continue to protect this priceless corner of wild nature, believing that future generations will greet the dawn here under a peaceful, free Ukrainian sky.

22/09/2026

THE NIGHTLIFE AT TUZLY: WADERS AND MOONLIGHT DURING THE WARTIME MIGRATION OF 2026
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

The shallow areas of the lagoons in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park have transformed into a bustling oasis of life amid the autumn migration of wartime 2026. Here, many species of birds find safe refuge and rest, with a significant portion being various types of waders.

Around-the-Clock Migration Rhythm
For these elegant travelers, time never stops during migration. They remain active around the clock, with their activity peaking particularly on moonlit nights. When the silver moonlight floods the protected shallows, movement across the shores does not cease.

During these hours, waders actively forage, probing the muddy banks for invertebrates to replenish their energy reserves. The nocturnal coolness relieves daytime fatigue, and the open expanse of the lagoons allows them to spot danger well in advance.

Despite the anxious backdrop of wartime, nature at Tuzly lives by its age-old, unbroken rhythm. We continue to safeguard this unique nocturnal peace for our feathered guests, believing in a bright and peaceful future.

21/09/2026

THE EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER: A NORTHERN TRAVELER ON THE SHALLOWS OF TUZLY
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Autumn migration across the expanses of the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park continues, delighting us with the diversity of feathered visitors arriving from the north. Among the travelers stopping on our shores, the European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)—a medium-sized wader of the plover family (Charadriidae)—draws special attention.

A Northern Guest on the Black Sea Coast
These birds nest across the harsh regions of northern Eurasia, stretching from Scandinavia to Eastern Siberia. In Ukraine, the golden plover can be encountered throughout the country during seasonal movements.

Right now, from early dawn through the daylight hours, these birds can be seen across the various shallows of the Tuzly lagoons. They have been migrating along the Black Sea coast through our national park for over a month now, setting a course toward the Mediterranean countries.

Despite all today's challenges, the protected lagoons remain a reliable sanctuary for thousands of birds that trust these shores during their grand journey.

18/09/2026

WADERS AT TUZLY: A MOMENT OF REST BEFORE A THOUSAND-KILOMETER JOURNEY TO AFRICA
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

The autumn of the wartime year 2026 in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park has proven quite loud and unsettling, with the echoes of hostile "Shaheds" and gunfire frequently disrupting the reserve's peace. Yet, even under this heavy pressure, nature follows its immutable laws: the autumn migration of birds toward distant Africa is steadily gaining momentum.

Diverse Waders Taking a Break
The accompanying video captures a wonderful sight: a flock of various species of waders resting on the muddy shores of the national park. For these feathered travelers, Tuzly serves as an essential layover.

Ahead lies a colossal journey spanning thousands of kilometers all the way to their African wintering grounds. To conquer such a distance, the birds need strength, and our protected lagoons provide them with everything they require—safety and abundant feeding grounds.

Every such stopover by waders and other migrants reaffirms the resilience of wild nature. We continue to protect this unique migratory corridor and believe in a peaceful future for our land.

16/09/2026

THE COMMON REDSTART: A BRIGHT TRAVELER IN THE WHIRLWIND OF TULZY'S AUTUMN MIGRATION
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

In the heat of September, the scale of the autumn bird migration through the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park reaches its grand peak. Despite the heavy and destructive impact of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine, life in the reserve pulses fiercely according to its own laws, untouched by the enemy.

The Stream of Life Across the Wild Spit
From dawn until dusk, tens of thousands of various small birds pass through the wild sandy spit of the lagoons. These tiny wings are heading far south—for a long wintering journey deep into the savannas and forests of equatorial Africa.

Among this continuous stream, the Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)—an elegant bird of the redstart genus within the Old World flycatcher family—stands out brilliantly. Measuring under 15 cm, it immediately catches the eye with its striking plumage and characteristic rufous tail, which it twitches nervously.

An Unexpected Guest at "Tuzly Amazonia"
This little traveler got so carried away chasing insects along its migratory route that it accidentally flew right inside the inspectors' building at the "Tuzly Amazonia" ranger station. Our inspectors carefully checked the bird, made sure it was completely unharmed, and released it back into the open sky to rejoin its flock.

Every such encounter is a reminder of how delicate yet indomitable the natural world around us is. We continue to protect this vital migratory corridor alongside our feathered neighbors.

Thank you for your interest in our work. If you would like to support us, we would be grateful if you visited our online store (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/store).

10/09/2026

THE COMMON RINGED PLOVER: A TINY TRAVELER IN THE VAST WORLD OF TUZLY
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Despite the destructive noises and devastation inflicted on wildlife by Russia's war against Ukraine, the unbroken flow of life pushes through our protected landscapes. Autumn migration in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park continues, and among the thousands of other birds passing through our lagoons is the Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula).

A Slender Traveler from the North
This slender wader, slightly smaller than a starling, stands out with its elegant appearance, relatively short bill, and short legs. In Ukraine, the ringed plover nests primarily in Polissya, choosing sandy riverbanks and open spaces for breeding. However, during seasonal migrations, this species can be found across the country, with the largest numbers traditionally occurring along major rivers and the sea coast.

For these traveling birds, Tuzly serves as a vital stepping stone on their long journey to distant African wintering grounds. Despite all wartime challenges, these small plovers find the muddy shallows they so desperately need here to rest and regain their strength. They once again remind us of nature's incredible resilience, which marches on toward the victory of life against all odds.

Thank you for your interest in our work. If you would like to support us, we would be grateful if you visited our online store (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/store).

09/09/2026

THE RUFF: MASS AUTUMN MIGRANT AT TUZLY AND SCIENTIFIC FIELDWORK
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

The autumn expanses of the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park are currently brimming with birds arriving from distant northern regions. Among these travelers, the Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)—a remarkable wader of the sandpiper family—stands out prominently.

In autumn, these birds migrate en masse from the harsh tundra, choosing our protected lagoons as a vital layover. Here, they actively forage across the damp shallows for invertebrates, building up the essential energy reserves needed to complete their long journey to Africa.

Despite difficult times, ornithological research in the park continues. During recent fieldwork, researchers carefully captured a Ruff, attached a scientific ring, recorded all necessary biological data, and safely released the bird back into the wild. Every such study helps unlock the mysteries of avian flyways, proving that life and science at Tuzly never stop.

Thank you for your interest in our work. If you would like to support us, we would be grateful if you visited our online store (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/store).

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