Collecting
trips to Ukraine in 2002, 2005 and 2011
I am a Ukrainian so I include some photos that are not only field
work related. I studied at a university in the Ukraine and did my
Ph.D. at the Institute of Zoology, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.
I closely co-work with several colleagues from the Ukraine and my
last field trips there took place in 2009 and 2011.
Crimean Mountains
Crimea
was a major wine-growing region since the ancient Greeks
Cormorants
returning after breakfast of shrimp and fish
Longhorn
beetle
Rays are
common in shallow lagoons so we had to walk carefully
It looks
like they are stomping on one of their brothers!
Yuriy Kuzmin
trying to photograph a tiger beetle
With my 35X
zoom I did not have to work as hard.
A cow enjoys a day on the beach
Aquatic birds are abundant and diverse
Barn
swallow
That
reminded me musical notes.
A plover
on the sea shore
Members of
our field crew with the park ranger's family
Preying
mantis came in the evening to hunt near light.
A quiz:
find a moth on this picture.
Common tree frog - Hyla arborea
Dung beetle
This wild fire moved in our direction so
we had to pack up and be ready to take off, but it was tamed by
ground crews and helicopters
Wild flax is an important component of steppe
(Eurasian prairie) vegetation
Engine needs to cool off
These oak tree galls were caused by wasp larvae
Jumping spiders are my undisputed favorites
Ready to strike
Preparing for the field collecting
House of the park ranger.
Wild steppe flowers.
Yellowjacket
Mosquitos are annoying on all continents, but less dangerous
as disease vectors in Europe
This spider has magnificent chelicerae!
These snails are hibernating through the summer attached
to plants.
Sunset in the Black Sea Reserve
Sunrise
Conditions are not too luxurious, but sufficient
I prefer to sleep in my tent rather than in the building
with mosquitoes
This young kitten supplied me with fresh shrews and
voles to dissect
Resting after hard night's work.
Carpathians are my favorite region of Ukraine. A little
rest on the hike to the summit (not Everest, but still tiring)
Reached it. Petros is the second highest mountain in
Ukraine. The highest one (Hoverla) is on the background.
Pitfall trap
My friend's house built in a traditional Carpathian
style
Common grass snakes are easy to find early in spring
Spring Vetchling Lathyrus vernus
Looking for frogs in spring
Tree frogs can be found in water only during breeding
season
Morels can be found in spring
Wasp nests are everywhere!
This colorful bee is about 3 mm long
Garden spider Argiope bruennichi
Busy Kiev's central street - Khreshchatyk
Independence Square in Kiev
Hetman (cossack military leader) Bogdan Khmelnitsky
Ancient Greek city of Khersones in Crimea
Sr. Andrew's Church
St. Michael's church (note the traditional onion-shaped
domes)