Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
March 3 is World Wildlife Day. The holiday is designed to show people the beauty of animals and plants, and also to remind them of the importance of preserving biological diversity on the planet. On this day, it is worth going for a walk in the picturesque corners of forests and parks, enjoying their beautiful views. One of the best places for such walks in Moscow can be VDNKh. Here you can meet squirrels, as well as tits, woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays, magpies, ducks, owls and other birds. VDNKh invites you to take a break from the bustle of the metropolis and enrich your knowledge of wildlife.
Wander through an ancient oak grove and treat curious squirrels
To see and study the habits of birds and animals, VDNKh guests need to go to the Kamensky ponds cascade, the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove, and Ostankino Park. Many trees grow in these places and there are ponds, so most of the feathered inhabitants have chosen them.
You can start your walk from the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove. This is a unique place on the territory of VDNKh. There is a natural broad-leaved forest here, which has been preserved for many centuries. In the 18th-19th centuries, the oak grove belonged to the possessions of one of the most prominent noble families – the Sheremetevs. However, a dense forest was on this territory in the 16th century. Today, pedunculate oaks, as well as larch, pine, Manchurian walnut and other trees grow in the grove. The average age of oaks is 150 years, but there are also 200-year-old specimens.
The Sheremetyevskaya oak grove is one of the squirrels’ favorite habitats. In winter, their fur is bluish-gray, and in summer, it is red. You can bring healthy treats for the friendly rodents: walnuts and pine nuts, dried fruits, sunflower seeds or wheat crackers. The main thing is that the treat is not salty, fried or sweet, and does not contain aromatic or flavor additives.
Another place where hundreds of squirrels live is Ostankino Park. In addition, you can watch the nimble fluffy animals and listen to the birds singing by climbing the eco-trail. This half-kilometer walking path is above the ground. Its height reaches 6.5 meters. Walking along the path is safe for both adults and children. The structure is completely fenced with railings, and the boards have an anti-slip coating. From above, visitors can admire the beautiful views of nature and notice squirrels and birds in the tree branches. The path has many twists and turns, so the walk will not seem monotonous. In the evenings, the lighting is turned on here.
After the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove, it is worth heading to the cascade of Kamensky ponds. It was created in 1803. In 1954, all four ponds became part of the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (later VDNKh). During the reconstruction in 2018, the reservoirs were drained, cleaned and refilled with water. The most notable object here is the Golden Ear fountain. It is located in the center of the Third Kamensky pond and is considered the most spectacular at VDNKh. In early spring, it is pleasant to admire the beautiful views here. And when it gets warmer, there is a chance to meet common newts, toads, grass and sharp-nosed frogs, viviparous lizards and snakes.
Meet the red duck and other birds
According to ornithologists, more than 70 species of birds live at VDNKh in the warm season, including rare species listed in the Red Book. Most of them fly away to the southern regions for the winter when the cold weather sets in. But there are also those that live in the exhibition park area all year round. For example, tits, sparrows, woodpeckers, crows, nuthatches, jays, magpies. Most of the birds live near the Kamensky ponds cascade, the eco-trail in the Sheremetyevskaya oak grove and in Ostankino Park.
Common mallards live on the VDNKh ponds. They have frost-resistant paws with few nerve endings. Thermoregulation is arranged in a special way. The arteries that bring blood to the ducks’ paws are closely intertwined with the veins, which ensures the exchange of heat between the hot arterial and colder venous blood. Thanks to this, mallards can easily walk on ice and snow.
And in the Ostankino Park lives the common shelduck, or red duck. These birds are listed in the Red Book of Russia under the third category of rarity. During wintering, shelducks gather in small groups with other birds.
Owls live in Ostankino Park and the N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences. These birds are nocturnal, so they can only be seen at night. Four species of owls can be found at VDNKh: the gray owl, the long-eared owl, the long-tailed owl, and the pygmy owl. These places are also home to two species of hawks that lead an exclusively diurnal lifestyle: the sparrowhawk and the goshawk.
Anyone going for a walk around VDNKh should take bird food with them. Stationary and hanging feeders can be found in Ostankino Park. Winter feeding will help birds survive the cold. In addition, this is a great opportunity to watch them and study their habits. Different treats in the feeder will attract certain types of birds. For example, if you put cereals, sparrows will flock there. Pine cones, nuts, and acorns will interest woodpeckers and jays. Bullfinches will come to taste dried rowan or hawthorn berries.
However, it is important to remember that birds should not be given fresh and rye bread, smoked and fried foods, chips and salted seeds. The amount of food should not be excessive. In addition, do not put in the feeders what you were going to throw away, you need to put only fresh products. You can feed them with unsalted seeds, oatmeal, fresh and dried fruits and berries.
Before the walk, it is recommended to study the “VDNKh Bird Book”. The publication contains interesting information about different species and behavioral characteristics of birds, including those wintering in their native lands. In addition, a map of the exhibition and Ostankino Park is published here, where the most convenient places for bird watching are marked. The electronic version of the book is posted on the VDNKh website.
With the arrival of spring, migratory birds will return to VDNKh. The first to arrive here after wintering will be rooks, starlings and finches. Guests will be able to see them very soon – in March. In April, thrushes, warblers and robins usually return. And in May, the park will be filled with the delightful singing of nightingales and the ringing chirping of orioles and lentils.
The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) is one of the largest green areas of the capital. Its ensemble is a unique object of landscape architecture, a monument of garden and park art of the mid-20th century.
Today VDNKh is a major international exhibition center, a museum city and a modern platform for education and recreation of city residents and tourists. Many important cultural, scientific and economic events are held here, which are visited by tens of thousands of people. The total area of the territory is more than 325 hectares.
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