Michał Ciach, Katarzyna Bul
Ornis Polonica 2024, 65: 79-92
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2024.2.1
Abstract: The Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea and White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus are closely associated with the running waters and inhabit fast-flowing streams. However, catchment-scale habitat preferences of these stream-dwelling species remain poorly recognized. The aim of this study was to assess species breeding habitat selection with respect to the topography and habitat type in the Beskid Żywiecki Mts (S Poland). The habitat characteristics increasing the probability of occurrence of the Grey Wagtail were increasing altitude, north-westerly aspect, gentler slope and decreasing distance from roads; in the case of the White-throated Dipper, they were gentler slope and decreasing distances from both roads and built-up areas and northerly aspects. While White-throated Dippers preferred watercourses that crossed open habitats (meadows, farmlands and early successional stages of forest) and avoided watercourses flowing through coniferous and mixed forest stands, Grey Wagtails showed no clear preferences for forest stands. Although the observed preference for man-made structures could be an artefact (since infrastructure tends to be concentrated in stream valleys), both species preferred locations where the stream gradient is gentler. Such sites, with local accumulations of larger volumes of water, create habitat suitable for aquatic invertebrates serving as the main food source of both studied species. As hydro-engineering works and forest management in adjacent terrestrial areas may change the character of watercourses and water quality (oxygenation and acidification), preservation of naturally flowing watercourses is important for conservation of stream-dwelling bird species.
Keywords: mountains, species distribution, the Carpathians, topography, water-related birds
