Ornis Polonica 56, 2015: 149–189
Population estimates of breeding birds in Poland in 2008–2012
Tomasz Chodkiewicz, Lechosław Kuczyński, Arkadiusz Sikora, Przemysław Chylarecki, Grzegorz Neubauer, Łukasz Ławicki, Tadeusz Stawarczyk
Abstract: In this paper we present new estimates of breeding bird populations in Poland for 2008–2012. The estimates are based on both published and unpublished data, as well as information from experts. Most data come from four basic sources: (1) Monitoring of Birds of Poland, (2) data collected by the Polish Avifaunistic Committee, (3) species specific assessments, (4) regional assessments. In 2008–2012 a total of 230 bird species nested in Poland, from one to several million pairs of a single species. Within a group of 46 rare species (1–300 pairs) , 24 were extremely scarce whose numbers do not exceed 20 pairs. A total of 42 species were classified as very uncommon (301–3,000 pairs), and 39 as uncommon (3,001–30,000 pairs). Further 52 species were classified as fairly numerous (30,001–300,000 pairs), and 44 as numerous (300,001–3,000,000 pairs). Only 7 species were classified as very numerous (3,000,001–30,000,000 pairs), but they made almost half the number of all birds breeding in Poland. Poland is an important site for 45 species breeding in Europe, and as many as 106 species nesting within EU boundaries, supporting >5% of breeding populations. These results indicate the importance of Poland as breeding place for many endangered and rare European bird species. They also should be taken into account while preparing bird conservation plans in Poland.
Key words: national abundance, breeding birds, trends, monitoring, Poland
Ornis Polonica 56, 2015: 190–211
Rare and uncommon breeding birds in the Special Protection Area Napiwodzko-Ramucka Forest (N Poland)
Arkadiusz Sikora, Marian Szymkiewicz, Andrzej Górski, Grzegorz Neubauer
Abstract: In 2012, a total of 152 breeding bird species were found in the Special Protection Area (SPA) Napiwodzko-Ramucka Forest PLB280007 (1,166 km2, northern Poland). Either censuses or survey sampling methods (counts on 35 random plots of 4 km2) were applied to produce reliable population size estimates for selected 80 species. In total 34 species from the EU Birds Directive Appendix 1 and 12 listed in the Polish red data book of animals were recorded as breeders. This area is particularly important at a national level (>1% of Polish population) for the Osprey Pandion haliaetus (5 pairs, 15% of national population), Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (460–750 p, 7.6%), Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus (7–9 p, 7.6%), Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus (40–60 p, 2.9%), Black Kite Milvus migrans (10–14 p, 2.0%), Little Crake Porzana parva (30–40 p, 2.0%), Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva (685–745 p, 1.7%), White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (17–22 p, 1.6%), Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix (4 males, 1.5%) and Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina (32–35 p, 1.3%). The studied area also supports substantial local populations of the Goldeneye Bucephala clangula (100–120 p, 3.2%), Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (460–480 p, 2.4%) and Stock Dove Columba oenas (240–320 p, 1.1%). The nature reserve Las Warmiński (ca 18 km2, 2% of the forest SPA area) and adjacent areas represent the key breeding sites for several species and are therefore especially valuable. This area supports 99% of the Collared Flycatcher F. albicollis population in the SPA, and other important species are the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius (30%), Red-breasted Flycatcher (25%), White-tailed Eagle and Goldeneye (20% each), Stock Dove (12%) and Tengmalm’s Owl (7%). The biggest breeding aggregations of Goosander Mergus merganser and Great Crested Grebe (ca 30% of the SPA populations for both species) are located at lakes within the reserve and the adjacent Łańsk Lake.
Key words: Napiwodzko-Ramucka Forest, Special Protection Area, breeding birds, valuable and uncommon species
Ornis Polonica 56, 2015: 212–219
Assessment of the number of breeding pairs of the Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos depending of the survey method
Marek Elas, Krzysztof Kajzer, Mateusz Grzębkowski, Artur Koliński, Andrzej Różycki, Dawid Sikora, Łukasz Wardecki, Andrzej Węgrzynowicz
Abstract: The survey of breeding population of the Common Sandpiper along the 51 km long section of the Middle Vistula River [a part of an Important Bird Area (IBA PL083) and Special Protection Area (PLB 14004)] was carried out between mid-April and mid-June 2013. Birds were recorded during transect control along the river banks and during kayaking and boating by motorboat. The detectability of breeding territories were variable due to method and date. The most effective was multiple transect control in which 98% of territories (estimated based on combination of all methods used) were detected. Regarding breeding status the most efficient was transect survey conducted between April and May (52% of territories were detected) and the least efficient was transect survey in late May (15% of territories detected). Detectability during kayaking was more than twice higher than during control by motorboat (56% to 23% of territories detected). Mixed method combining walking control between April and May and kayaking (84% of territories detected) was characterized by the highest detectability of censused Common Sandpiper territories. We also outlined restrictions of counting breeding population of the Common Sandpiper on big lowland semi-natural river, which have to be taken into account to compare results in following years of monitoring.
Key words: Common Sandpiper, Middle Vistula River, breeding population, nesting, survey methods
Ornis Polonica 2015, 56: 220–238
Impact of air traffic on birds (part II)
Michał Skakuj, Ignacy Kitowski, Dorota Łukasik
Ornis Polonica 2015, 56: 239–247
The advancement in studies on avian malaria driven by molecular techniques
Adam Krupski
Ornis Polonica 2015, 56: 248–249
Mystery bird 80
Jan Lontkowski