Grzegorz Orłowski, Waldemar Górka
Ornis Polonica 2010, 51: 77–92
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2010.2.0
Abstract: The paper describes the avifauna breeding in reedbeds and meadows situated within the sewage farm in Wrocław (an Important Bird Area). In the 91 reedbed plots, covering 159.5 ha in total (range of occupied reedbeds 0.018–29.30 ha), the most common species was Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus (frequency of 90.1%). Also abundant were Sedge Warbler A. schoenobaenus (286 territories, frequency 70.3%), Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus (154, 85.7%), Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus (107, 53.8%), Marsh Warbler A. palustris (116, 57.1%), Bluethroat Luscinia svecica (68, 37.4%), Savi’sWarbler Locustella luscinioides (40, 19.8%), Water Rail Rallus aquaticus (39, 22.0%) and Grasshopper Warbler L. naevia (39, 35.2%). Compared with the 1990s, the reduction of the number of swaths on the meadows after 2000, most probably contributed to an increase of Corncrake Crex crex and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix. On the other hand, in the recent decade, the numbers of Lapwing Vanellus vanellus and Redshank Tringa totanus has declined, while Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa has disappeared from the area completely. The disappearance of these meadow waders, is most likely caused by overgrowing of meadows as well as by the decline of the area of sewage-flooded meadows. The numbers of some bird species in the sewage farm (e.g. Water Rail, Sedge Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Bluethroat and Savi’s Warbler) belong to the highest in Silesia, supporting the need of a more strict protection.
