Przemysław Kurek, Bartosz Skowron, Tomasz Święciak
Ornis Polonica 2018, 59: 264–272
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2018.4.2
Abstract: The Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes is a boreal species with patchy distribution in Poland that has been rarely the subject of research. The aim of this project was to investigate habitat preferences of the species in an isolated population in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. In 2000–2004 we found 20 Nutcracker territories, where nesting was confirmed or probable. All territories were located in coniferous forests, dominated (at least 90% share) by the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, aged 34 years on average. There were no territories in mixed or deciduous (beech) forests. We conclude that ageing of preferred Scots pine stands may result in the population decline in the future. Counts performed in 2014–2016 in the former breeding territories revealed that only 4 of 20 sites (20%) from 2000–2004 were still occupied.
Keywords: habitat preferences, Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, Nutcracker, pine forests
