Comments on Yakutia’s Birds Class by A. E. Kulakovsky

Abstract

In 1912, A. E. Kulakovsky wrote an article "Species of anima and vegetal reign that are known to the Yakuts", which was published in 1929. In this work, A. E. Kulakovsky wrote that the Yakut youth does not know the names used in flora and fauna. This is true at present time, because junior school children and even adult high school students do not know the species composition of plants and animals not only in Yakutia, but also in some areas where they live. This work reveals not only Yakut, Russian and Latin names of birds, but also their habitats in the early 20th century. According to the list by A. E. Kulakovsky, there are 145 species of birds in Yakutia. Modern species composition includes 315 species. Comparing these materials, it is possible to establish the species that appeared on the territory of Yakutia during the 20th century. 35 new species of birds have entered the territory of Yakutia only during the recent years. It is the result of their natural settlement due to the destruction of the existing ecological barrier. The Yakut names of birds are one of the main indicators in this work which were first collected and published by A. E. Kulakovsky. In subsequent works, ornithologists use the same name, but without a reference to this work of A. E. Kulakovsky. This is due to the fact that the works by A. E. Kulakovsky was banned and unavailable for use by scientists. It should be noted that A. E. Kulakovsky cited the Yakut names of birds collected from the entire territory of Yakutia and most of them practically coincide in many of its areas. Studying this article, it is possible to determine the beginning of penetration and transformation some of the penetrated species into sedentary - rook, field and house sparrows, gray heron, woodcock, etc. Part of the bird species listed in the article is currently absent in the territory of Yakutia, which may be due to the pulsation of their habitats. These pulsations of habitats under favorable conditions contributed to the formation of stable populations of individual bird species.