Nature reserve Swan's islands

Ornithological reserve Swan's Islands has international significance, and it is part of the Crimean nature reserve, although it is located not on the very north-west coast, but is removed from the coast by 3.5 kilometers in the Karkinitsky Bay. Swan's Isles consist of six separate islands stretching along the bay for 8 kilometers. The largest of the group's islands is the fourth, its length is about 3.5 kilometers, and the width is about 350 meters.

Around the reserve Swan's Islands, both on the water and on the shore, the boundaries of the guard zone are defined.

The islands were formed as a result of sediments of shells and sand, so the species, and most importantly, the number of islands can change with time. Above the surface of the water, almost all the islands rise equally - 1-2 meters.

The island land and the surrounding water have rich animal and vegetable food, and the shallow and warm waters of the bay attract a variety of birds, mostly waterfowl, to this part of the Black Sea. The security zone of Swan's Islands is approximately 52 hectares. Therefore, 320 species of birds feathery feel here, and about 25 species of ships are coming to the nesting grounds.

Swan's islands can boast of being the largest wintering and nesting site for swamp and waterfowl in Crimea. In addition, this ornithological reserve is on the way, which every year makes migratory birds, trying to go to wintering from European countries to Africa and Asia.

For nesting Swan's islands have chosen silver gulls, gull-laughing gulls, black-headed gulls, white and gray herons, pelicans, waders, flamingos and other birds. But most of all Lebyazhy Islands are proud of swans-doves. The Crimea became a real pilgrimage site for these birds, and over 6,000 gather here during the summer season. On the islands in the Karkinitsky Bay, swan-doves don’t nest, but only survive moulting, during which birds are very vulnerable. And in the last days of autumn, these Crimean islands are occupied by swan-swimmers, who make here a short stop before a long flight to wintering places.

In addition to birds, in this ornithological reserve, dolphins, such as whitefish and bottlenose dolphins, as well as porpoises, a white chorus and a large jerboa, found themselves in the Black Sea. They inhabit the Swan Islands and reptiles - yellow-belly skid, steppe viper, and, of course, many fish, in particular rare Black Sea salmon and others.