Tomasz Buczek
Ornis Polonica 2023, 64: 52–70
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2023.1.4
Abstract: The study of the House Martin population was carried out in Lublin (SE Poland) within the administrative boundary of the city of (147.47 km2) in 2016, and then in 2018–2021 in order to determine the impact of thermo-modernization on the number of selected colonies. The obtained results of the number and distribution of martins were compared with the results of unpublished studies from the 1960s, 1980s and 1990s. Historical data on the distribution of swallow colonies were plotted on the maps of urban development in particular periods that were reproduced by the author. The studied population consisted of 655 breeding pairs, including 520 pairs inhabiting high-rise buildings (at least 4-storey buildings). From the early 1960s to 2016, the area of high buildings increased five times, and the number of House Martins 15 times, from 35 to 520 pairs with the most intense increase recorded at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s. For the location of the colony, martins preferred areas with a high rate of biologically active area or their vicinity. The relationship between the location of the colony and the areas with a high biologically active surface coefficient was observed. In the last three decades martin colonies disappeared from central districts and moved to housing estates located on the outskirts of the city, which can be associated with changes in the availability of rich feeding grounds and nesting material. The abandonment of colonies on renovated and thermo-modernized buildings was also observed. On housing estates, House Martins nested in densities of 4.0–72.6 pair/10 ha. In suburban areas, the densities were much lower (1.2 pair/km2). In selected housing estates with 5-storey buildings, 74% of martins (N=86 nests) chose the 3rd and 4th storey. In housing estates with mixed 5- and 12-storey buildings, they occupied the 3rd, 4th and 8th storey (respectively: 12%, 15% and 15%; N=218 nests). In one of the districts, where the buildings have not changed in time, the House Martins changed their preference from the 3–6-storey in 1991 (56%; N=71) to the 7–10-storey in 2016 (66%; N=43) what may have been caused by the growth of trees in this district. In high-rise housing estates, House Martins most frequently placed nests in window openings (82.4%; N=675 occupied and unoccupied nests), and in suburban areas under the eaves of the roof (64.1%; N=117). In high buildings, 42.0% (N=520) of House Martins nests were built on walls facing east, 22.8% north, 18.0% south and 17.2% west. In two housing estates where buildings were insulated in 2016, after two years, the number of occupied nests decreased from 27 to 7 and from 12 to 2. The nesting success of pairs nesting in high-rise housing estates was 88% (N=344). The main cause of brood losses was deliberate or accidental damage to the nest (34.1%; N=41).
Keywords: bird synurbization, breeding ecology, causes of changes in the number, changes in the number, Delichon urbicum, House Martin, Lublin, population number
