Arkadiusz Fröhlich, Michał Ciach
Ornis Polonica 2013, 54: 237–246
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2013.4.1
Abstract: In 1986–2012, a total of 225 observations of the Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus in 133 locations in the city of Kraków (south Poland) were recorded, including a total of 89 observations of breeding and probably breeding pairs. During the breeding season the birds have used primarily urban greenery (parks, trees among buildings and along communication routes), urban woodlots and gardens, and to a lesser extent, allotments and cemeteries. In 2012, the density in the single large-area sample plot was 5.5–7.5 pairs per 10 km². The Syrian Woodpecker territories were located primarily in areas dominated by the old, dispersed settlements and where mature trees of large size were present. Breeding territories were found also in a mosaic of greenery near the railway tracks and in urban areas, in park, cemetery, in woodlots along the river and woodlots along the railway tracks. Nesting holes (N=14) were excavated in five tree species, although the White Willow Salix alba dominated. The average height and diameter at breast height of nesting trees was 10.8 m (SD=6.7, range 5–25 m) and 40.7 cm (SD=11.4, range 25–61 cm), respectively. Holes were located an average at the height of 4.3 m (SD=1.7, range 2,5–9 m). Results of this study indicate that the number and density of the Syrian Woodpecker in urbanized environments may have been relatively high, and city populations may have been significantly higher than it was expected before. Colonization of a niche yet free from other woodpeckers, may be the cause of the ongoing expansion of the species. The abundance of urban populations of the Syrian Woodpecker and its habitat preferences suggest that in the forthcoming years, a further expansion and ingress into the cities of western and northern Poland may be expected.
Keywords: city, Dendrocopos syriacus, Syrian Woodpecker, urbanization
