Jerzy Michalczuk, Monika Michalczuk
Ornis Polonica 2015, 56: 67–75
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2015.2.0
Abstract: The number of Syrian Woodpeckers was estimated in agricultural landscape in the eastern part of Zamość Region (SE Poland). In the studied area (305 km2) the number of territories declined from 64 to 31, and the number of breeding pairs from 49 to 23 over nine years (2004–2012). The density decreased from 2.1 to 1.0 territories /10 km2 of the entire study area, and from 15.4 to 7.4 territories/10 km2 in the Syrian Woodpecker’s optimal habitat (41.7 km2 of anthropogenic afforestations). The mean density of breeding pairs decreased from 1.7 to 0.8 /10 km2 of the entire study area and from 12.2 to 5.5 breeding pairs/10 km2 of anthropogenic afforestations. The decrease of the Syrian Woodpecker population in agricultural landscape results probably from degradation or harvesting of orchards, being the most important nest sites and foraging habitats for this species. To better understand population trends of the species, a monitoring programme should be implemented within its breeding range.
Keywords: Dendrocopos syriacus, habitat degradation, population decline, rural landscape, Syrian Woodpecker
