Meshcherskaya lowland, or Meshchera, is a uniquely beautiful original corner of Russian nature, perfectly preserved in its original form. The great Russian writer Konstantin Georgievich Paustovsky wrote very warmly and with great love about these places. He noted the simplicity and modesty of the Meshchera nature, endowed with an amazing and attractive power, which you want to touch again and again.
History of the founding of the reserve
In the southeastern part of Meshchera, the Oksky State Reserve was organized. His date of birth is 1935. The purpose of creating a nature protection and research area was an attempt to preserve and increase the population of the rarest animal - the muskrat. This amazing animal is the same age as the extinct mammoths. And for this alone it deserves the title of a living monument of nature.
In 1989, the Oksky Reserve in the Ryazan region was territorially expanded to create a biosphere test site. This is the only natural complex in Russia that complies with the strict requirements of the MAB global program for biosphere reserves.
Natural characteristic of the area
BThe climatic conditions of the region played an important role in the formation of the flora and fauna of Meshchera. Sufficiently cold winters, warm summers, and abundant annual rainfall have created a favorable environment for the growth of rich vegetation and the settlement of various animals and birds.
Meshcherskaya lowland was formed due to the melting of glaciers, and it is an infertile sandy plain covered with multiple forests of coniferous, deciduous and mixed types. Approximately a quarter of the territory occupied by the Oksky Reserve is dominated by water bodies - numerous lakes and lowland swamps. Floodplain meadows are distinguished by a rich variety of herbs.
Bison nursery
In 1959, the Oksky reserve provided its territory for breeding Caucasian-Belovezhskaya bison. The nursery covers an area of about two hundred hectares. During the first thirty years, two dozen of these rare animals were brought into it. Over the years of its existence, about four hundred bisons have been born and safely grown up.
With the help of a special method of adaptation of animals born in zoos, young bison are gradually introduced into the natural environment. The need for this arose due to the fact that mammals born in artificial conditions are not adapted to life in the wild, which is why there is a high probability of their imminent death.
Since 1967, the Oksky Nature Reserve has also been included in the world program for the resettlement of bison. Photos of these animals, born in the nursery and subsequently taken out of it,widely represented in the museum. Information is also provided on the places of new settlements of artiodactyls. More than two hundred animals have received a permanent residence permit in Checheno-Ingushetia, in the Caucasus, in the Oryol, Bryansk, Tver regions. The settlement of young bison in Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania was successful.
Nursery of rare species of cranes
To restore the fading population of the Siberian white crane (Siberian Siberian Crane) in 1979, it was decided to create a bird nursery, the place for which was hospitably provided by the Oksky Reserve. The map of the area, located in the Museum of Nature, contains information about the location of the nesting sites of Siberian Cranes and other species of rare cranes.
For the initial education of the parent stock, two dozen rare breeds of seven species of cranes were brought to the nursery. In addition, crane eggs collected in the wild were supplied to the reserve. Over the years of successful work, one and a half hundred birds have been grown. A special merit of the staff of the reserve can be considered their ability to teach young individuals to fly independently. For this purpose, hang gliders are used, from the side of which crane cries are heard in the recording, calling for young shoots.
Animal world
The fauna inhabiting the protected area is typical for the center of the European part of Russia. The Oksky Nature Reserve is open to protect populations of rare and endangered animals and birds. About six dozen species live on a vast territory.mammals, two hundred and fifty birds, and forty species of fish.
The world of predatory animals is represented by wolves, foxes, raccoon dogs, martens, ferrets, ermines, otters, weasels. In recent years, traces of a lynx and a brown bear have been noted.
Boars settled in the reserve in the fifties of the last century. The number of individuals is kept at a constant level due to the abundance of food.
A large population of elk has long lived in the reserve. The strengthening of conservation measures has made it possible to significantly increase the number of ungulates.
Among aquatic mammals, the most common are beavers, muskrats, minks, and otters. Insectivorous representatives of the fauna are moles, common and small shrews, hedgehogs. A considerable number of rodents are also known - water rats, field and forest mice, garden dormouse, hare, hare, flying squirrel.
Avifauna
For the territory of the Oksky Reserve, covered with various forests, a typical settlement of sedentary bird species: capercaillie, black grouse, partridge. The bird fauna is rich in predatory representatives. These are various types of hawks, a kite, a buzzard, a honey buzzard. There are also more rare species of birds of prey - white-tailed eagle, osprey, short-toed eagle, falcon-balaban. It is also worth noting the numerous populations of various species of owls, owls, owls.
Due to the fact that there are very few open spaces on the territory of the reserve, there are small populations of the steppe eagle, golden eagle, imperial eagle, gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon.
Deserves special attentionthe black stork, which has become a kind of emblem of the Oksky Reserve. The bird builds its nests in hard-to-reach and remote places, being afraid of predators and shunning people.
The study of the life of birds is carried out by accounting for various groups of birds in the conditions of their permanent habitat. Ornithologists are registering during special studies.
Rare Species
Russian muskrat is a relic insectivorous animal that lives only within the former USSR. The endemic is included in the Red List of IUCN species (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), as well as in the Red Book of Russia.
The same list also includes the giant evening bat, one of the largest species of bats. The Greater Spotted Eagle, or whooper eagle, a rare bird of prey, requires special treatment.
Thanks to the special conditions of the Oksky State Natural Biosphere Reserve, the natural habitat for unique and rare animals is preserved, which allows not only to stop the process of extinction, but also to contribute to the active restoration of populations.
Museum of Nature in Brykin Bor
Oksky Nature Reserve has a museum on its territory containing colorful and vibrant expositions. They represent almost all the animals of the protected area in their natural environment.
Experienced guides will tell you about the history of the creation of the reserve and the success of its work for almost eighty years. Accompanied by employees of the reserve, you can make a trip tohabitats of bison and Siberian Cranes. The most interesting moment is the feeding of animals and birds.
So that the crane chicks do not get used to people, the staff of the nursery put on special costumes imitating an adult bird. For the convenience of eating, a device similar to a crane's beak is put on the hand.
Bison, despite their intimidating appearance, behave towards people quite peacefully. Zoo visitors are allowed to feed animals with apples, carrots, young pine twigs. Also, everyone is allowed to take a photo with animals in the background.
Location of the protected area
Oksky State Biosphere Reserve is located between the rivers Oka and Pra, covers a total area of 55,760 hectares. In the central part, a strictly protected area is allocated - the core. Around it is the Biospheric Polygon. The southeastern part of the reserve is a protected area.
Useful information
Oksky Nature Reserve. Address: Spassky district of the Ryazan region.
The nearest settlement is the village of Brykin Bor.
Opening hours of the Museum of Nature: from 10 am to 5 pm every day (except Monday).
Oksky nature reserve: how to get there by car
- from Ryazan take the P123 road towards Solotchi;
- after the bridge across the Oka, turn and move to Spassk-Ryazansky;
- movement in the direction of the village of Izhevskoye (the birthplace of K. Tsiolkovsky);
- Brykin Bor village is the final destination of the route.
The length of the entire journeyis 130 kilometers.
