Piotr Wilniewczyc
Ornis Polonica 2020, 61: 197–224
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2020.3.2
Abstract: In 2011–2016 birds were counted at 18 study plots representing typical habitats of Niecka Nidziańska (SE Poland) using the combined mapping method. Densities of birds ranged 46.9–139.6 pairs/10 ha in forests, 95.3–392.6 pairs/10 ha among village buildings, 37.0–48.3 pairs/10 ha in meadows, 16.3–23.0 pairs/10 ha in farmlands, 162.5–182.8 pairs/10 ha in reedbeds and 27.7 pairs/10 ha in xerothermic grasslands. Species richness and densities were higher by 30% and 50%, respectively, in Niecka compared to other macroregions of Lesser Poland Upland. Values of species richness and densities found in the the Nida Valley were higher by 12% and 28%, respectively, compared to mean values in the studied area, while in flooded meadows and villages higher by 48% and 185%, respectively. Densities of some species were high compared to national means, e.g. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava – 5.6 pairs/10 ha in a field, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis – 7.5 pairs/10 ha and European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola – 1.9 pairs/10 ha in a xerothermic grassland and Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica – 128.2 pairs/10 ha in some villages. In fishpond reedbeds high densities were found for Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides – 12.2 pairs/10 ha, Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus – 14.5 pairs/10 ha, Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus – 47.2 pairs/10 ha, Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus – 10.7 pairs/10 ha and Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus – 16.2 pairs/10 ha. High species richness and densities result probably from a warm and dry climate, diversity of habitats, abundance of food and extensive model of agriculture and fishing.
Keywords: : the Nida Valley, ecological succession, extensive agriculture, flooded meadows, oak-hornbeam forests, riparian forests, xerothermic grasslands
