Sławomir Chmielewski
Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 29–38
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2016.1.2
Abstract: The studies of birds breeding in orchards and other agricultural habitats near Kłopoczyn (the area of 9 km2) were conducted in 2004. The contryside was dominated by apple orchards (65% of the area) as well as fields and fallow lands (27%). The studied orchards were managed intensively for fruit production by the input of agrochemicals. A total of 52 breeding or probably breeding species were found, including 19 species whose numbers were estimated. The most common species were the Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella (11 p/km2), Serin Serinus serinus (9.6 p/km2), Whitethroat Sylvia communis (2.2–2.7 p/km2), Grey Partridge Perdix perdix (2.0 p/km2), Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros (1.9 p/km2), White Wagtail Motacilla alba (1.8 p/km2) and Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio (1.6–1.9 p/km2). The Yellowhammer was found both inside the orchards and at their edges. Most pairs of the Serin (69%) established their territories among rural buildings, both in densely and sparcely built-up areas. The Whitethroat was encoutered mostly on meadows with bush clumps and near waters. The results were compared with the data from the plot „Łomianki” near Warsaw of a similar size and habitat type. The gathered data on species density corresponded with modelled data for the Whitethroat, Grey Partridge, Black Redstart and Magpie, but not for the Serin, Yellowhammer, White Wagtail, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix.
Keywords: birds of orchards, breeding densities, habitat selection, predictive densities
