[1][2] Despite difficult circumstances, time spent surrounded by and observing nature—exploring the woods, riding horseback through the fields, and nursing owl, jackdaw, and magpies chicks—encouraged her to become a naturalist.
[3] Doctors again advised that she move to a climate more conducive to her health—either the mountains or the Black or Caspian Sea—so she accepted a research position at Azov-Syvash Nature Reserve in Soviet Ukraine.
[5][8][9] For the first time in southern Ukraine, her banding projects clarified the dates and paths of seasonal migrations and the breeding, nesting, molting, and wintering areas for many water and coastal birds.
[5] Ardamatskaya became affectionately known as the "Mother of the Mediterranean Gull" for her in-depth study of the species and the protective measures she developed that improved nesting conditions and restored their numbers.
[2][5] Based upon her extensive fieldwork, Ardamatskaya not only published over 170 scientific papers[1] but also fought for bird conservation throughout her life, providing youth education programming and advocating for a science-based approach to waterbird game season regulation.