Tomasz Tumiel, Paweł Białomyzy, Grzegorz Grygoruk, Michał Korniluk, Piotr Świętochowski, Marcin Wereszczuk
Ornis Polonica 2020, 61: 1–13
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2020.1.0
Abstract: In 2011 and 2012 a survey of selected breeding species in the Special Protection Area Dolina Narwi PLB200001 was conducted. The area of 234.7 km2 includes the Narew National Park and its buffer zone. Numbers of most waterbirds and wetland species have declined in comparison with the 80s and 90s of the 20th century, and some species disappeared from the area. The species that stopped nesting in the area are: the Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, Red-necked Grebe P. grisegena, Eurasian Teal Anas crecca, Northern Pintail A. acuta, Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Ferruginous Duck A. nyroca, Tufted Duck A. fuligula, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix, Ruff Calidris pugnax, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata and Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus. Population increases have been found only for the Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Greylag Goose Anser anser, Common Crane Grus grus and Bluethroat Luscinia svecica. The detected changes are in line with national population trends of these species. The most valuable species recorded in 2011 and 2012 were the Bluethroat (265–300 pairs), Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola (4 males) and the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (2–3 pairs). Furthermore, the area still hosted a nationally important breeding population of the Garganey (15–20), Water Rail Rallus aquaticus (69), Corncrake Crex crex, (155–165), Spotted Crake Porzana porzana (50–92), Little Crake Zapornia parva (18), Great Snipe Gallinago media (6–8) and Common Snipe G. gallinago (260–280). Population declines in most cases have been the result of habitat changes associated with low water levels, the shrinkage of pastures and hay meadows, and probably increased predator pressure.
Keywords: abundance changes, Narew River, Narwiański National Park, Special Protection Area, waterbirds
