From June 2 to 8, 2025, Viktoriia Maksymchuk, a second-cycle (Master’s level) student majoring in Biology (specialty 091), took part in international field research focused on monitoring the population of the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) — one of the rarest birds in Europe.
The research took place in the Prypiat-Stokhid National Nature Park (Volyn region) as part of the LIFE4AquaticWarbler conservation project, supported by the European Union.
The monitoring involved participants from various countries — Ukraine, Lithuania, France, and Germany. Together, they worked in remote marshland conditions, conducting field expeditions using an international methodology to record male Aquatic Warblers in their breeding territories. The monitoring was led by Professor Zydrunas Preiksa (Lithuania), a renowned expert with many years of experience studying this endangered species.
Every day, the team carried out morning and evening surveys, recorded singing males, studied the condition of the habitats, analyzed vegetation, and documented other wetland bird species. This work not only provides up-to-date data on the species’ population but also helps identify threats and spatial changes within the populations. In recent years, a declining trend in the number of Aquatic Warblers has been observed in the monitored areas.
For students, participation in such research offers invaluable experience, combining hands-on involvement in real ecological processes with the development of environmental awareness and responsibility.
Department of Biology and Ecology