The overall aim of this project is to prepare and publish a paper on communities of birds on neglected areas, which will be based upon detailed study of distribution, diversity and peculiarities of ecology of the birds inhabiting such lands.

Various types of neglected habitats, which contain different species of common and endangered birds, occur in Europe. In Russia they appeared about fifteen years ago as a result of agricultural degradation and the abandonment of villages. Once the land stopped being cultivated, it became extremely attractive for birds because its thick vegetation and almost no human interference makes an ideal breeding ground.

Today the situation with these areas is swiftly changing and it is very important to study them for further conservation of these unique habitats.