Tomasz Chodkiewicz, Lechosław Kuczyński, Arkadiusz Sikora, Przemysław Chylarecki, Grzegorz Neubauer, Łukasz Ławicki, Tadeusz Stawarczyk
Ornis Polonica 2015, 56: 149–189
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2015.3.0
Abstract: In this paper we present new estimates of breeding bird populations in Poland for 2008–2012. The estimates are based on both published and unpublished data, as well as information from experts. Most data come from four basic sources: (1) Monitoring of Birds of Poland, (2) data collected by the Polish Avifaunistic Committee, (3) species specific assessments, (4) regional assessments. In 2008–2012 a total of 230 bird species nested in Poland, from one to several million pairs of a single species. Within a group of 46 rare species (1–300 pairs) , 24 were extremely scarce whose numbers do not exceed 20 pairs. A total of 42 species were classified as very uncommon (301–3,000 pairs), and 39 as uncommon (3,001–30,000 pairs). Further 52 species were classified as fairly numerous (30,001–300,000 pairs), and 44 as numerous (300,001–3,000,000 pairs). Only 7 species were classified as very numerous (3,000,001–30,000,000 pairs), but they made almost half the number of all birds breeding in Poland. Poland is an important site for 45 species breeding in Europe, and as many as 106 species nesting within EU boundaries, supporting >5% of breeding populations. These results indicate the importance of Poland as breeding place for many endangered and rare European bird species. They also should be taken into account while preparing bird conservation plans in Poland.
Keywords: breeding birds, monitoring, national abundance, Poland, trends
