Issue 2016-4

Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 237–247

Numbers, density and breeding success of the Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina in the Knyszyn Forest (NE Poland) in 1999–2015

Adam Zbyryt, Edyta Kapowicz, Robert Kapowicz, Karol Zub

Abstract: The objective of this study was to recognize distribution, number and breeding success of the Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina in the Knyszyn Forest. The research was carried out on the study plot of 450 km2 in 1999–2015 , and in the whole Natura 2000 area SPA Puszcza Knyszyńska PLB200003 (1395 km2) in 2010–2014. We investigated the effect of year, nest tree species, nest site (forest interior, distance to the river valley or forest edge) and number of years the territory was occupied on breeding success. In 1999–2003 and 2010–2014 the number of breeding pairs of the Lesser Spotted Eagle varied between 46 and 58 in the whole Natura 2000 area. On the study plot we found 20 to 22 breeding pairs in 1999–2015, whose mean density reached 4.7 pairs/100 km2 (SD=0.1; range 4.7–4.9). The breeding success (percentage of nests with min one offspring fledged) varied from 33.3% (2007) to 70.5% (2006) (mean 53.9%; SD=8.8; Me=52.9). The number of nestlings per 100 km2 ranged from 1.11 juv./100 km2 (2009) to 2.67 juv./100 km2 (2002, 2006) (mean 2.07 juv./100 km2; SD=0.57). Breeding success was significantly affected by the year of the study (generalized linear mixed model, Z=10.18, P<0.001) and total rainfall in June (Z=3.06, P=0.002), while the remaining analysed factors were not significant. A single pair used on average 3.0 nests (SD=1.3; range 1–6; Me=3.0), each of them usually occupied for 4 consecutive years. During 27 years (data from 1989–2015), breeding territories were occupied for 21.9 years on average (SD=6.5; range 7–27; Me=23). The Lesser Spotted Eagle population makes up >2% of the Polish population, and it was stable during 17 years of monitoring.

Key words: Lesser Spotted Eagle, the Knyszyn Forest, Puszcza Knyszyńska, breeding success, breeding density

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 248–263

Numbers and distribution of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus and Golden Plovers Pluvialis aprica­ria in Poland in autumn 2014

Włodzimierz Meissner, Arkadiusz Sikora, Jacek Antczak, Sebastian Guentzel, Przemysław Wylegała

Abstract: In autumn 2014 the third census of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus and Eurasian Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria was carried out. A total of 113,254 Lapwings and 43,138 Golden Plovers were recorded at 368 sites in October, while in November 293 sites hosted 21,029 Lapwings and 27,036 Golden Plovers. Both species were more common in northern Poland, compared to remaining parts of the country, and it hosted 81% and 88% of all Lapwings and Golden Plovers, respectively, in October, and 84% and 83% in November. Most flocks of Lapwings consisted of 101–500 birds (41% of flocks in October and 29% in November), while the medium flock size was 170 ind. in October and 80 ind. in November. In October Golden Plovers usually formed flocks of 101–500 birds (19%), but in November the most frequent (26%) were flocks containing 11–50 birds. An average flock of Golden Plovers consisted of 97 birds in October and 62 in November. During both months mixed flocks constituted 26% of all. Lapwings dominated in 72% of mixed flocks, while in 22% Golden Plovers. In October 36% of Lapwings stayed in the fields with winter-crops, whereas 24% in the fields without winter-crops. Golden Plovers were also encountered mostly in these two habitat types (52% and 28%, respectively). In November Lapwings were observed mostly on fish ponds (67%) and the share of birds in the fields with winter-crops dropped to 25%. In October 2014 Poland hosted 1–2% of the North European population of the Lapwing, and about 4–7% of the Golden Plover population, indicating the importance of this area for these species.

Key words: Lapwing, Golden Plover, autumn migration, habitat use

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 264–273

Spring migration dynamics, phenology and sex ratio of Pochard Aythya ferina and Tufted Duck A. fuligula at the Okolowice fish ponds (SE Poland)

Grzegorz Kaczorowski

Abstract: In 2012–2014, spring migration dynamics, phenology and sex ratio of Pochard and Tufted Duck were studied at the fish ponds (127 ha of, 1 m average water depth) in the western part of Lesser Polish Upland (SE Poland). In total, 8 016 Pochards and 8 378 Tufted Ducks were recorded in during 150 surveys. Arrivals from wintering grounds for both species occurred at the same time: 25.02–11.03 in the Pochard and 1–10.03 in the Tufted Duck. Pochard migration peaked at the beginning of April (1–5.04) and in the second decade of April (11–15.04) in the Tufted Duck. The sex ratio was male-biased, both in the Pochard (75%) and Tufted Duck (62%). Males/drakes formed bachelor groups which accounted for 3.6% in Pochards and 2.6% in Tufted Ducks. Couples were observed more frequently in the Tufted Duck (15% of all individuals vs. 4% in the Pochard). The results clearly show the male-biased sex ratio spring and early summer, which is characteristic for populations returning from wintering quarters in Western and Southern Europe.

Key words: migration dynamics, bachelor groups, sex ratio, Pochard, Tufted Duck, southeast Poland

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 274–278

Next update of systematics and taxonomy of the Polish bird checklist

Tadeusz Stawarczyk

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 279–285

First results of colour-ringing of Common Crane Grus grus nestlings in Poland

Bartosz Krąkowski, Hubert Czarnecki

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 286–289

Joint brood parental care by a female House Sparrow Passer domesticus and a pair of Tree Sparrows P. montanus

Kamil Kryński

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 290–291

Reedman R. 2016. Lapwings, Loons and Lousy Jacks: The How and Why of Bird Names. Pelagic Publishing, Exeter

Piotr Tryjanowski

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Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 292–293

Mystery bird 85

Jan Lontkowski

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