Reserve Swan Islands in Crimea, 1983 photo by Konstantin Dudchenko

Even the Crimean residents will not all answer you where these islands are located and what makes them remarkable. But, perhaps, this is good, as well as the fact that they hid away from the noisy resort villages and beaches. Some kind of exoticism and not just somewhere, but in our native open spaces!

The Swan Islands are located off the northwestern coast of Crimea in the Karkinitsky Gulf of the Black Sea. The protected area includes 6 islands stretching for 8 km along the coast of the Crimea from the southwest to the northeast. The islands are separated from the Crimea and each other by shallow straits.


At the IV International Conference on the Conservation of Waterfowl (Iran, 1971), the Swan Islands were included in the list of protected areas of international importance.

North of Cape Tarkhankut, beyond the Bakalskaya spit, in the Karkinitsky Bay of the Black Sea, near the village of Portovoe (the old name is Sary-Bulat), once, more than a hundred years ago, there was a spit with lush vegetation and even a source of drinking water. There locals for the whole summer they drove out cattle as if they were on free pasture. But over the years, the scythe blurred and there were three pretty large islands... They began to be called Sary-Bulatskys, and the name Lebyazhyi appeared later. Naturally, they stopped grazing cattle there, and birds began to intensively inhabit the fertile places. The local population began to use this in every possible way: they mined the meat of game birds (they also traded in gourmet swan meat), while the scale of collecting bird fluff and eggs was such that they made it possible to use eggs not only as a food product, but also in mortars for the special strength of buildings.

By the way, the landowner Sayenko, who ran at the beginning in Sary-Bulat, on such a solution in 1903 built the five-domed Old Russian style St. George-Alexander Church with a monastery courtyard. Yes, so strong that an attempt to demolish it in 1985. was repeated three times, until the "atheist enthusiasts" left only the foundation of it (by the way, the bells, buried somewhere on the shore of the Karkinitsky Bay, have not been found ...)

Let's go back to the islands. It must be said that the sea, having created an island from the spit, did not calm down on this, and after a while six smaller ones "disappeared" from the three islands. And such a number of them was until recently, when suddenly one of the islands was swallowed up by the restless sea, having washed up a small spit instead. So after all the twists and turns of local relief formation, there are five islands. They received the name Lebyazhye with the light hand of the German scientist Brauler, who visited here at the end of the 19th century.


The scientist saw a huge colony of mute swans and crying swans and suggested that this is their nesting place. Apparently, he happened to be on the islands in July-August, since to this day, in these months, thousands of these royal birds fly here in order to throw off, as in Andersen's fairy tale, their old feathers and grow new ones. During the moulting period, swans cannot fly and choose these islands and the water area of ​​the shallow bay, overgrown with grass, which they eat with pleasure, as the safest ones. But swans do not build nests here and do not breed chicks, although some of the swans live on the islands throughout the year. These are young birds that do not lay eggs until 4-5 years of age, as well as adults who, for some tragic reason, have lost their pair.

There are legends about swan fidelity, and, although, indeed, swans create monogamous unions and live in pairs, in case of loss of a partner from a height they do not rush to the ground, but more often they look for their other half again. Here on our islands there is also such a "dating club" for lonely swans.

The largest, the black-headed gull, is also listed in the Red Book for its rarity. Their only colony on the Black Sea lives on these islands. And also a colony of gray heron - the largest bird in the south of the European part of the CIS. V recent times pink pelicans appeared on the nest. Numerous flocks of migratory birds also stop on the islands on their way to Africa, Europe, Asia: turukhans, ulits, sandpit cakes, terns, ducks, white-fronted and gray geese, swallows, larks, blackbirds, wagtails ... 100 thousand, and during the day, at the height of the flight - up to a million! It is not for nothing that the Swan Islands have a protected international status, because it is extremely important to preserve this "resting station" along the thousand-kilometer migration route of many birds.

Bird watchers are constantly research work to study all these birds and changes in conditions in the reserve. I am glad that these conditions began to improve gradually. For example, as a result of a decrease in the intensity of chemical processing of rice paddies, the coastal areas and the seabed are overgrown with grass, and this is the main food base for birds.

There are more fish and other marine life in the bay. The protection of land from poachers has improved: the staff of gamekeepers has doubled, equipment has appeared (cars, boats, although, of course, there are not enough of them). We also managed to save these places from attempts to issue hunting licenses, supposedly to earn money for development ... To invent the same thing: to scare and disperse all birds with “good” intentions to protect them with shooting and dogs. Then there will be no one to defend.

It's another matter if you organize excursions to the islands with an experienced ornithologist. Although the reserve is considered an ornithological reserve, together with birds, fish are also protected here (seahorse, thorn, beluga, Black Sea salmon are still found) and animals: sea (bottlenose dolphins, azovka and common barnacle) and land (large jerboa, white polecat; endangered species of the steppe viper and yellow-bellied snake). But of course, the main dream of local specialists remains the organization of the Karkinitsky reserve, which will include the entire bay, as well as the Bakalskaya spit and the salt Bakalskoye lake. Then, instead of a branch, there would be an independent reserve here. Maybe the Swan Islands will be lucky and they will be taken under his care by a rich and generous person who is not indifferent to our beast and bird, as the Askania-Nova nature reserve was once lucky with the wonderful Baron Falzfein.


At the end of May, offspring appear - thousands of chicks. Some sit in the nests waiting for their parents with food, while others prowl in the grass on their own. When a person appears, those that are older, hiding in the thickets, vigilantly follow him with black dots of their eyes, or run headlong to the water, stumbling and falling on the go.

Herons clumsily shy away in dense reeds, leaving their nests with half-released offspring. In the air there is an incessant hubbub and hubbub. Seagulls, screaming alarmingly, hover over their heads, “dive” menacingly, almost touching the alien with their wings, chase him and follow the boat leaving the islands for a long time. But usually at this time they try not to disturb the birds. Even gamekeepers and scientists are less likely to visit the islands for their observations.

At the height of summer, large flocks of swans gather around the islands to moult. Their number usually ranges from two to five thousand. During this period, they completely lose the ability to fly and ring them, catching up in the sea on a boat. Herons and gulls are also ringed here, which makes it possible to identify the paths of seasonal migrations of birds. In particular, there were returns of swan rings from Turkey, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and herons and cegrav - from North and Central Africa.
In autumn, the islands are no less lively than in summer, although by this time both the behavior and the species composition of birds have noticeably changed. The new offspring have already learned to fly, the gulls have become smaller, but there are so many migratory ducks and waders that if they could be frightened off all at once, they would have closed the sky with themselves.


When only one large flock of ducks rises into the air, the surroundings are filled with such a noise that it seems as if a train is passing nearby. The waters of the bay are darkened by the gathering of birds. From time to time, huge flocks break loose, make several circles over the islands and again, with noise and shouting, sink into the shallows. Even at night, the hubbub and the whistle of the wings of birds flying overhead can be heard from all sides.

Bird watchers have spotted pelicans here, but they are rare guests on the Swan Islands.

Swans usually stay away from the islands, they approach them only in inclement weather, in search of shelter. Often in the evening, before sunset, you can see a snow-white chain of swans flying over the water. Their flight is magnificent - a leisurely and stately flap of their wings, an amazing synchronization of the movement of the entire formation!

These small islands are composed of sand and shell deposits and are subject to constant changes in their configuration. From time to time there is even a change in the number of islands. The height of the islands above sea level does not exceed 1-2 meters. The largest of the islands is the fourth: about 3.5 km long and about 350 m wide. The strictly protected part of the islands covers an area of ​​52 hectares.


The natural conditions of the islands - shallow water, an abundance of plant and animal food - attract many birds here, mainly waterfowl. This is one of greatest places wintering and nesting of waterbirds in the Ukraine. In addition, the Swan Islands are located on an important section of the migratory route of birds from Europe to Africa and Asia. The number of bird species found in the territory and water area of ​​the reserve reaches 265.

The reserve is constantly inhabited by about 25 species of birds. Black-headed gulls, gulls, gulls, gulls, herring gulls, cormorants, many species of ducks, pelicans and flamingos, white and gray herons, waders and others use it as a nesting place. Mute swans, whose population in summer time of the year reaches 6,000 individuals do not nest here, but only wait out the molt, during which they are most vulnerable.

In late autumn, whooper swans also appear on the islands, leaving for the winter. In different years, here you can observe 10-30 thousand ducks of various species, up to 2 thousand geese. In addition to birds, the reserve also protects mammals living here: dolphins - bottlenose dolphins, white-barrels, porpoises; big jerboa and white polecat. In addition, two endangered species of reptiles are protected here: the steppe viper, the yellow-bellied snake and 4 species of fish: thorn, beluga, Black Sea salmon, seahorse.

From - March, 11th 2012

Even the Crimean residents will not all answer you where these islands are located and what makes them remarkable. But, perhaps, this is good, as well as the fact that they hid away from the noisy ones. I myself, although I heard that there are reserved bird islands somewhere in the north-west of the peninsula beyond Razdolny, but all "hands did not reach" to find out more about them.

And this summer, a familiar tour guide-enthusiast mentioned in a conversation about the development of a new resort route, namely an ornithological route (for bird lovers): “There is an opportunity to see pelicans and flamingos in the wild, in natural conditions,” he said, “and do not be surprised so, you do not need to go far for this.

We have them here - on the Swan Islands. " Wow, just some kind of exotic and not somewhere, but in our native open spaces! "So what, just come and see?" I wondered. “Well, not so easy, of course. Special permission is needed, because these are reserved places. We are negotiating with the management of the reserve about such an opportunity for specially trained small groups of tourists. Perhaps they will agree, because the funds will go to the needs of the farm, since they have enough problems ... ”That's when I wanted to know what kind of farm it is and where suddenly such amazing birds come from in Crimea. And here's what turned out.

North of Cape Tarkhankut, beyond the Bakalskaya spit, in the Karkinitsky Bay of the Black Sea, near the village of Portovoe (the old name is Sary-Bulat), once, more than a hundred years ago, there was a spit with lush vegetation and even a source of drinking water. Local residents drove cattle there for the whole summer as if they were on free pasture. But over the years, the spit eroded and three rather large islands appeared. They began to be called Sary-Bulatskys, and the name Lebyazhy appeared later. Naturally, the grazing of cattle there ceased, and the fertile places began to be intensively populated by birds. The local population began to use this in every possible way: they mined the meat of game birds (they also traded in delicious swan meat), the scale of the collection of bird fluff and eggs was such that they made it possible to use eggs not only as a food product, but also in mortars for the special strength of buildings.

By the way, the landowner Sayenko, who ran at the beginning in Sary-Bulat, on such a solution in 1903 built the five-domed Old Russian style St. George-Alexander Church with a monastery courtyard. Yes, so strong that an attempt to demolish it in 1985. was repeated three times, until the "atheist enthusiasts" left only the foundation of it (by the way, the bells, buried somewhere on the shore of the Karkinitsky Bay, have not been found ...)

Let's go back to the islands. It must be said that the sea, having created an island from the spit, did not calm down on this, and after a while six smaller islands "disappeared" from the three islands. And such a number of them was until recently, when suddenly one of the islands was swallowed up by the restless sea, having washed up a small spit instead. So after all the twists and turns of local relief formation, there are five islands. They received the name Lebyazhye with the light hand of the German scientist Brauler, who visited here at the end of the 19th century.

The scientist saw a huge colony of mute swans and crying swans and suggested that this is their nesting place. Apparently, he happened to be on the islands in July-August, since to this day, in these months, thousands of these royal birds fly here in order to throw off, as in Andersen's fairy tale, their old feathers and grow new ones. During the moulting period, swans cannot fly and choose these islands and waters overgrown with grass, which they eat with pleasure, as the safest ones. But swans do not build nests here and do not breed chicks, although some of the swans live on the islands throughout the year. These are young birds that do not lay eggs until 4-5 years of age, as well as adults who, for some tragic reason, have lost their pair.

There are legends about swan fidelity, and, although, indeed, swans create monogamous unions and live in pairs, in case of loss of a partner from a height they do not rush to the ground, but more often they look for their other half again. Here on our islands there is also such a "dating club" for lonely swans.

Quite a lot of swans fly here for wintering (sometimes up to 5 thousand individuals), because the bay practically does not freeze, and if it does freeze, then there are always large openings. Sometimes, in extreme cold, some of the swans fly to the beaches of Yalta, Sevastopol, Evpatoria. There people feed them. And then the birds again return to their quiet, cozy, safe island kingdom-state, which since 1949. is officially an ornithological branch of the Crimean State Reserve. This means that on the Swan Islands it is not only forbidden to hunt birds, but also to disturb them in general, as well as to fish, collect medicinal plants, and generally conduct any activity.

The area of ​​the islands themselves is 52 hectares, the surrounding shallow water is 9612 hectares. The adjacent water area of ​​the Karkinitsky Bay and the coastal lands of the Razdolnensky and Krasnogvardeisky districts are also protected. Only gamekeepers and ornithologists are allowed to be here, who observe the birds in different time of the year. Indeed, in addition to swans on the islands, you can see another 260 species of birds, 49 of which are listed in the Red Book! Such, unfortunately, now such rare birds as: spoonbill, ibex, yellow heron, white-eyed duck, cormorant, stilt, chigrava, curlew, bustard, steppe kestrel, curly pelican, etc. There are only 250 of them left in the world. up to 50 individuals. Some of them nest here, others come only in winter, and still others rest on the flight. Most large colony birds of the Swan Islands belongs to the order of gulls (among others, the Herring Gull or Martyn). There are more than 5 thousand pairs of them.

The largest, the black-headed gull, is also listed in the Red Book for its rarity. Their only colony on the Black Sea lives on these islands. And also a colony of gray heron - the largest bird in the south of the European part of the CIS. Recently, pink pelicans have appeared on the nest. Numerous flocks of migratory birds also stop on the islands on their way to Africa, Europe, Asia: turukhans, ulits, sandpit cakes, terns, ducks, white-fronted and gray geese, swallows, larks, blackbirds, wagtails ... 100 thousand, and during the day, at the height of the flight - up to a million! It is not without reason that the Swan Islands have a protected international status, because it is extremely important to preserve this "resting station" along the thousand-kilometer migration route of many birds.

Bird watchers are constantly researching all these birds and changing conditions in the reserve. I am glad that these conditions are gradually improving. For example, as a result of a decrease in the intensity of chemical processing of rice paddies, the coastal areas and the seabed are overgrown with grass, and this is the main food base for birds. There are more fish and other marine life in the bay. The protection of land from poachers has improved: the staff of gamekeepers has doubled, equipment has appeared (cars, boats, although, of course, there are not enough of them). We also managed to save these places from attempts to issue hunting licenses, supposedly to earn money for development ... To invent the same thing: to scare and disperse all birds with “good” intentions to protect them with shooting and dogs. Then there will be no one to defend.

It's another matter if you organize excursions to the islands with an experienced ornithologist. Although the reserve is considered an ornithological reserve, together with birds, fish are also protected here (seahorse, thorn, beluga, Black Sea salmon are still found) and animals: sea (azovka and white-barrel) and land (large jerboa, white polecat; endangered species of the steppe viper and yellow-bellied snake). But of course, the main dream of local specialists remains the organization of the Karkinitsky reserve, which will include the entire bay, as well as the Bakalskaya spit and the salt Bakalskoe lake. Then, instead of a branch, there would be an independent reserve here. Maybe the Swan Islands will be lucky and they will be taken under his care by a rich and generous person who is not indifferent to our beast and bird, as the Askania-Nova nature reserve was once lucky with the wonderful Baron Falzfein.

1633

The Swan Islands in Crimea are located in the northwest, in the Karkinitsky Bay (Razdolnensky District). Few people know about it, but it is unique and definitely worth a visit. The Swan Islands in Crimea are part of the Crimean Nature Reserve, namely its ornithological branch. As the name implies, in this place you can meet almost all types of birds that inhabit the peninsula, and at the same time admire beautiful nature northern Crimea. Here you can see swans, pelicans, herons and even flamingos, as well as hundreds of other bird species.

• The length of the islands is 8 km, the maximum width is 350 m.
• The configuration of the islands is still changing under the influence of the sea, since the islands were formed in the process of the deposition of shell rock and sand about 100 years ago, earlier there was a sand spit on this place.
• You can visit the Swan Islands in Crimea only if you are located near the reserve - the entrance to the territory itself is limited. However, there is a camping site and a suitable infrastructure for tourists. For this, a boat is floating in the water area of ​​the reserve, allowing you to see the coast and its inhabitants.
• It will be interesting to come here at different times of the year - you will always find many interesting birds. Swans and other species winter here from autumn to spring.
• The reserve Lebyazhyi Islands of Crimea was included in the list of objects of protection of international importance.
• Dolphins, rodents, reptiles, like the steppe viper and the yellow-bellied snake, and even fish, for example, the Black Sea salmon, are also protected by the reserve.

When the Swan Islands reserve was created in Crimea

On February 9, 1949, the Swan Islands Nature Reserve appeared in the Crimea. Not only six islands with an area of ​​52 hectares were taken under state protection, but also the water area of ​​the bay itself and the surrounding coastal territory. Back in the middle of the 20th century, Crimean ornithologists determined that Swan Island is a haven for hundreds of species of migratory birds. At different times of the year, more than 6,000 birds accumulate in the Lebyazhyi Islands nature reserve in Crimea.

The branch is considered a natural laboratory, a place where specialists come to conduct phenological observations, study the influence of human activity on environment... That is why the entrance here is limited and an independent tourist will not be able to get here.

Thanks to the vigilance of the reserve's researchers, in 1967 it was possible to expand the boundaries of the protected area, because the construction of the North Crimean Canal and the beginning of agricultural activities in the Razdolnensky district for growing rice began to negatively affect the local flora and fauna.

And a little later, in 1971, the Karkinitsky Gulf became known worldwide as unique place a large concentration of birds (mainly waterfowl and semi-aquatic). They arrive here for wintering, molting, nesting, and also stop on their way to warmer climes... The fact is that the reserve is located on the migration route of birds from Europe to Asia and Africa.

Currently, the lands of the ornithological branch are divided into three sections. The first one is the Swan Islands of Crimea (52 hectares). The second is the Karkinitsky ornithological reserve (27 hectares). The third is the protected area of ​​the branch, which includes the coastal line and part of the bay (16 hectares). Studying the Crimea and the Swan Islands in the photo, one can estimate the scale of the reserve.

What birds can be found on the Swan Islands in the Crimea?

About 255 bird species are concentrated on a small territory of the Lebyazhy Islands in Crimea. A black stork, a red-headed beetle, a loon, a Siberian crane, a piglet, a wagtail, a black tit, and a southern nightingale fly here. Sometimes you can see cormorants, pink and curly pelicans, snake eagle, warbler and bullfinch. On the Swan Islands there are mallards, whistle teals, wigeons, gray geese. In late autumn, there is a large concentration of coots. Their number can reach eight thousand. Seagulls, terns, sandpipers, snipe, lapwings - all of them and many other representatives of the feathered world fly to the Swan Islands in search of food and shelter.

The main asset of the Swan Islands in Crimea is the mute swan. He really found a real refuge on the Swan Islands. The fact is that during the molting period, it loses its ability to fly, therefore it becomes vulnerable in the face of danger. Occasionally, more than 5,000 swans have gathered on the islands.

Swan Islands in Crimea: how to get there?

Those who first hear about this place immediately have a question: Swan Islands in Crimea, where is it? As already mentioned, it is necessary to go to the Razdolnensky district in the north of Crimea. The Swan Islands themselves in Crimea are located behind Cape Tarkhankut, in fact, between it and the border with Ukraine. Nearest locality- the village of Portovoye. The most convenient way to get here is by car, and then take a boat trip around. The islands are far from coastline 3.5 km, so you won't be able to look at the reserve from the shore.

Boats usually leave from the village of Portovoye. It can be reached by regular buses from Evpatoria, Razdolny, but keep in mind: transport rarely goes here.

Coordinates for the navigator: 45 ° 52′17 ″ N (45.871479), 33 ° 31′34 ″ E (33.52607). If you are going to Portovoye in your car, explore the Swan Islands in Crimea on a map.

The reserve "Swan Islands" is currently an ornithological branch of the Crimean Nature Reserve and is located in the Karkinitsky Bay of the Black Sea on the Swan Islands. Its area is more than 9.6 thousand hectares. The Karkinitsky ornithological state reserve, whose area is more than 27.6 thousand hectares, also adjoins the reserve. The strictly protected part of the islands covers an area of ​​52 hectares. The climate in the reserve is arid, temperate continental. Summers are hot and dry here, while winters are mild and with little snow, with frequent thaws. And only sometimes, in especially harsh winters, all the straits, both between the islands and with the mainland Crimea, freeze over.

When the German scientist Brauler visited the islands at the end of the 19th century, he saw a huge number of white mute swans and he decided that there were their nesting places, so he named these islands "Swan Islands". And this territory was first reserved in 1947, and since 1949 it has become a branch of the Crimean nature reserve, which is currently the Crimean nature reserve. The main direction of his work is the protection of near-water birds.

The Lebyazhyi Islands reserve includes the territory of six islands, composed of sand and shell deposits and separated from each other by shallow straits. They stretched along the coast of the Crimea from the southwest to the northeast for 8 km. The islands are not only subject to constant changes in their configuration, but from time to time there is a change in their number. The thing is that the height of the islands above sea level does not exceed 1-2 meters, therefore they are susceptible to storms. Most large island is about 3.5 km long, with a width of about 350 m.

All islands of the reserve are surrounded by shallow waters, where there is an abundance of both plant and animal food. All this attracts many waterfowl here, and therefore it is one of the largest wintering and nesting sites for waterbirds in Ukraine. It should also be noted that the Swan Islands are on the migratory route of birds from Europe to Africa and Asia.

Ornithological observations have shown that 265 species of birds are found on the territory and water area of ​​the reserve, but only about 25 species of birds constantly live in the reserve. Black-headed gulls, gulls, gulls, gulls, herring gulls, cormorants, many species of ducks, pelicans and flamingos, white and gray herons, waders and others constantly nest here. In summer, up to 6,000 mute swans are registered in the reserve, which do not nest here, but only wait out the molt. During molting, the bird cannot take off, therefore the wild, uninhabited habitat is especially important for it. And mute swans hibernate in southern countries, and nest in the lower reaches of the Danube, Dnieper, in the Volga delta and in the flooded areas of the Kuban. Whooper swans appear on the islands late autumn before flying further south for the winter. Many different species of ducks stop here, in different years they were observed in the range of 10-30 thousand and up to 2 thousand geese.

From other groups of vertebrates in the water area and on the territory of the reserve, there are bottlenose dolphins, white-barrels and porpoises; as well as large jerboas, ground squirrels, murine rodents, chori; two types of endangered reptiles: the steppe viper and the yellow-bellied snake, and from the fish: thorn, beluga, Black Sea salmon, seahorse ...

Swan Islands in Crimea: pelicans and flamingos in a protected corner of the peninsula Crimean cities swans arrive . Even the Crimean residents will not all answer you where these islands are located and what makes them remarkable. But, perhaps, this is good, as well as the fact that they hid away from the noisy resort villages and beaches. I myself, although I heard that there are reserved bird islands somewhere in the north-west of the peninsula beyond Razdolny, but all "hands did not reach" to find out more about them. And this summer, one familiar tour guide-enthusiast mentioned in a conversation about the development of a new resort route, namely, an ornithological route (for bird lovers): - There is an opportunity to see pelicans and flamingos in the wild, in natural conditions, - he said, - and do not be surprised so, you do not need to go far for this. We have them here - on the Swan Islands. Wow, it’s some kind of exotic and not just somewhere, but in our native open spaces! ”“ And what, just come and see? - I was surprised. - Well, not so easy, of course. Special permission is needed, because these are reserved places. We are negotiating with the management of the reserve about such an opportunity for specially trained small groups of tourists. Perhaps they will agree, because the funds will go to the needs of the farm, since they have enough problems ... That's when I wanted to know what kind of farm it is and where suddenly we have such amazing birds in Crimea. And here's what turned out. Reserve "Swan Islands" in Crimea North of Cape Tarkhankut, behind the Bakalskaya spit, in the Karkinitsky bay of the Black Sea, near the village of Portovoe (the old name is Sary-Bulat) once, more than a hundred years ago, there was a spit with lush vegetation and even a source of drinking water ... Local residents drove cattle there for the whole summer as if they were on free pasture. But over the years, the spit eroded and three rather large islands appeared. They began to be called Sary-Bulatskys, and the name Lebyazhyi appeared later. Naturally, they stopped grazing cattle there, and birds began to intensively inhabit the fertile places. The local population began to use this in every possible way: they mined the meat of game birds (they also traded in gourmet swan meat), while the scale of collecting bird fluff and eggs was such that they made it possible to use eggs not only as a food product, but also in mortars for the special strength of buildings. By the way, the landowner Sayenko, who ran at the beginning in Sary-Bulat, on such a solution in 1903 built the five-domed Old Russian style St. George-Alexander Church with a monastery courtyard. Yes, so strong that an attempt to demolish it in 1985. was repeated three times, until the "atheist enthusiasts" left only the foundation of it (by the way, the bells, buried somewhere on the shore of the Karkinitsky Gulf, have not been found since that time). Let's go back to the islands. It must be said that the sea, having created an island from the spit, did not calm down on this, and after a while six smaller ones "disappeared" from the three islands. And such a number of them was until recently, when suddenly one of the islands was swallowed up by the restless sea, having washed up a small spit instead. So after all the twists and turns of local relief formation, there are five islands. They received the name Lebyazhye with the light hand of the German scientist Brauler, who visited here at the end of the 19th century.

The scientist saw a huge colony of mute swans and crying swans and suggested that this is their nesting place. Apparently, he happened to be on the islands in July-August, since to this day, during these months, thousands of these royal birds fly here in order to throw off, as in Andersen's fairy tale, their old feathers and grow new ones. cannot fly and choose these islands and the water area of ​​the shallow bay, overgrown with grass, which they eat with pleasure, as the safest. But swans do not build nests here and do not breed chicks, although some of the swans live on the islands throughout the year. These are young birds that do not lay eggs until 4-5 years of age, as well as adults who, for some tragic reason, have lost their pair. There are legends about swan fidelity, and, although, indeed, swans create monogamous unions and live in pairs, in case of loss of a partner from a height they do not rush to the ground, but more often they look for their other half again. Here on our islands there is also such a "dating club" for lonely swans. White swans in Crimea Quite a lot of swans come here for wintering (sometimes up to 5 thousand individuals), because the bay practically does not freeze, and if it does freeze, then there are always large openings ... Sometimes, in extreme cold, some of the swans fly to the beaches of Yalta, Sevastopol, Evpatoria. There people feed them. And then the birds again return to their quiet, cozy, safe island kingdom-state, which since 1949 has officially been the ornithological branch of the Crimean State Reserve. This means that on the Swan Islands it is not only forbidden to hunt birds, but also to disturb them in general, as well as to fish, collect medicinal plants, and generally conduct any activity. The area of ​​the islands themselves is 52 hectares, the surrounding shallow water - 9612 hectares. The adjacent water area of ​​the Karkinitsky Bay and the coastal lands of the Razdolnensky and Krasnogvardeisky districts are also protected. Only gamekeepers and ornithologists are allowed to be here, who observe birds at different times of the year. Indeed, in addition to swans on the islands, you can see another 260 species of birds, 49 of which are listed in the Red Book! Such, unfortunately, now rare birds such as: spoonbill, glossy ibis, yellow heron, white-eyed duck, little cormorant, stilt, chigrava, thin-billed curlew, bustard, steppe kestrel, curly pelican, etc. There are only 250 to 50 individuals. Some of them nest here, others come only in winter, and still others rest on the flight. The most numerous colony of birds on the Swan Islands belongs to the order of gulls (among others, the Herring Gull or Martyn). There are more than 5 thousand pairs of them. The largest, the black-headed gull, is also listed in the Red Book for its rarity. Their only colony on the Black Sea lives on these islands. And also a colony of gray heron - the largest bird in the south of the European part of the CIS. Recently, pink pelicans have appeared on the nest. Numerous flocks of migratory birds also stop on the islands on their way to Africa, Europe, Asia: turukhans, ulits, sandpit cakes, terns, ducks, white-fronted and gray geese, swallows, larks, blackbirds, wagtails ... 100 thousand, and during the day, at the height of the flight - up to a million! It is not for nothing that the Swan Islands have an international reserve status, because preserving this "resting station" on the thousand-kilometer migration route of many birds is an extremely important matter. Swan mother and her cubs Ornithologists are constantly researching all these birds and changes in conditions in the reserve. I am glad that these conditions began to improve gradually. For example, as a result of a decrease in the intensity of chemical processing of rice paddies, the coastal areas and the seabed are overgrown with grass, and this is the main food base for birds. There are more fish and other marine life in the bay. The protection of land from poachers has improved: the staff of gamekeepers has doubled, equipment has appeared (cars, boats, although, of course, there are not enough of them). It was also possible to save these places from attempts to issue hunting licenses, allegedly to earn money for development ... To invent the same thing: to scare and disperse all birds with "good" intentions to protect them with shooting and dogs. Then there will be no one to protect. Another thing is if you organize excursions to the islands with an experienced ornithologist. Although the reserve is considered an ornithological reserve, together with birds, fish are also protected here (seahorse, thorn, beluga, Black Sea salmon are still found) and animals: sea (bottlenose dolphins, azovka and common barnacle) and land (large jerboa, white polecat; endangered species of the steppe viper and yellow-bellied snake). But of course, the main dream of local specialists remains the organization of the Karkinitsky reserve, which will include the entire bay, as well as the Bakalskaya spit and the salt Bakalskoye lake. Then, instead of a branch, there would be an independent reserve here. Maybe the Swan Islands will be lucky and they will be taken under his care by a rich and generous person who is not indifferent to our beast and bird, as the Askania-Nova nature reserve was once lucky with the wonderful Baron Falzfein.