Marcin Polak
Ornis Polonica 2021, 62: 189–209
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2021.3.2
Abstract: This paper presents the results of bird counts carried out in 2008–2019 in arable fields in the Lublin region (eastern Poland). The survey was conducted during the whole year using the point method. In total, 374 one–hour counts were carried out at 76 points located throughout the region. During the research a total of 80,386 individuals of 137 species, belonging to 16 orders, were detected. The Starling Sturnus vulgaris was the most numerous species (25%); the dominant group included also the Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (11%), Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (11%), Skylark Alauda arvensis (6%) and Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria (5%). During a single count, 1 to 3,094 birds (mean=215.7 individuals; 95% CI: 353.5–408.1; N=374) of 1 to 30 species (mean ± SD=12.6 ± 5.8) were recorded. In the annual cycle, most birds were observed during autumn migration. Abundant marginal elements of the landscape (such as hedgerows, bushes, woodlots and field ponds), high habitat diversity and fertile soils in the Lublin region contributed to the high species richness. The highest species richness was recorded in the Volhyn-Podole Upland. The survey provided evidence that farmlands were widely used by species inhabiting other types of habitats, especially during migration.
Keywords: annual cycle, farmland, Lublin region, point counts
