Mateusz Albrycht, Michał Ciach
Ornis Polonica 2013, 54: 247–256
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2013.4.2
Abstract: The highest species’ diversity occurs at the intermediate level of urbanization, and urban green areas greatly influence bird species composition and abundance. The aim of this study was to compare the breeding bird community of the Rakowice Cemetery in Kraków (south Poland), at present and in 1974. After nearly four decades breeding bird density decreased from 57.9 pairs/10 ha to 48.4 pairs/10 ha. However, nine species associated with farmland disappeared, while five forest species appeared instead. Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Fieldfare Turdus pilaris, Robin Erithacus rubecula, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, and Nuthatch Sitta europaea increased in numbers most significantly. A disappearance or a considerable decline of House Sparrow Passer domesticus, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, Serin Serinus serinus, Greenfinch Chloris chloris and Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina was noted. The changes of birds abundance were presumably caused by the growth of trees height and age and increasing number of tree hollows. The decline of several species, on the other hand, was most likely caused by the decreasing amount of areas covered with lawns, the reduction of shrub coverage, modernization of the cemetery chapel, and the progressive urbanization of the cemetery surroundings, which leads to the isolation from rural areas.
Keywords: breeding bird community, cemeteries, urban greeneries, urbanization, urbanized environments
