Dynamics of Bird Communities in South-Eastern Ukraine (1987–2017)

Spatial information is provided as WGS84 decimal latitude and longitude. Temporal coverage. 1987–2017; visits during the nesting period (approximately 20 April–20 June), typically 06:00–10:00 in fair weather, with at least two surveys per season per transect. Sampling methodology.

Line-transect counts without fixed strip width. Birds were recorded visually and by sound; fly-overs were excluded unless feeding over transects. Each transect was placed within a homogeneous habitat patch.

Where needed for density estimation, detections were analysed with the Distance framework. Taxonomic scope. Class Aves; more than 80 breeding species of open and wetland habitats.

Scientific names follow the GBIF Backbone taxonomy; higher ranks (kingdom to genus) are supplied for interoperability. Data records. Darwin Core Occurrence table including at minimum: occurrenceID, eventDate, scientificName, decimalLatitude, decimalLongitude, basisOfRecord = HumanObservation, occurrenceStatus = present; where available, organismQuantity and organismQuantityType, and site or locality.

Quality control. Field forms were digitised and georeferenced in GIS; taxon names were validated against the GBIF Backbone; coordinates were range-checked (−90…90; −180…180). Climate covariates used in associated analyses are not required to reuse the occurrence data.

Intended use. Time-series assessments of avifaunal change, habitat-area effects, and functional-diversity applications in steppe and wetland systems. Please cite the dataset when used.