Wyniki wyszukiwania - BazTech

1

Changes in the abundance of charadriiformes in Central Namibian Coast: a comparison of austral summers 1976/1977 and 2016/2017

Kopij Grzegorz

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2023

|

Vol. 71, nr 2-3

75-86

EN

In 2016/2017 austral summer, individuals of all charadriiform species were counted on selected sections of the Atlantic coastline between Cape Cross and Walvis Bay in Namibia, southern Africa (in total 72 km of coastline). Results were compared with similar data obtained in these sections forty years earlier (1976/1977 austral summer). Most wader species have showed decline, while most gulls and terns – increase in numbers. In overall, the Palearctic waders were more numerous in 1976/1977 (N = 9523 birds) than in 2016/2017 (N = 1164 birds) by the order of magnitude. In both periods the most numerous species were the ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres and sanderling Calidris alba. Among Lari, numbers of Damara tern Sternula belaenarum has decreased by the order of magnitude, numbers of the kelp gull Larus dominicanus has significantly increased, while numbers of Hartlaub's gull Larus hartlaubii remained similar in both years compared. All these gull species are breeding residents in Namibia. The only Palearctic tern species, the common tern Sterna hirundo was vagrant in 19976/1977, while in 2016/2017, it was not recorded at all. Changes in the number of Palearctic shorebirds recorded in the coastline between Cape Cross and Walvis Bay may could have been caused probably mainly by human disturbance. Changes in numbers of waders in other wintering places in South Africa were also reviewed.

2

Supermarkets - a wintering habitat for House Sparrow Passer Domesticus L.

Skórka P., Lenda M., Skórka J.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2009

|

Vol. 57, nr 3

597-603

EN

Animals often co-exist with humans inside buildings, however in birds such cases are only sporadically noted. In this paper we describe the occurrence of House Sparrows in supermarket interiors. The probability of House Sparrows presence was higher in larger markets and during winter period. The abundance and density of birds were positively and negatively related to the size of the supermarket, respectively. The birds were active at night. They foraged mainly along market shelves on bakery products, vegetables and cereals. We did not observe nesting inside market halls. The supermarkets seem to be hospitable wintering place for this species, however they may also be ecological traps imprisoning the birds once they find their way in. Moreover, House Sparrows may contaminate food, thus, the presence of such species inside supermarkets should be controlled.

3

Relative abundance and flock size of wintering Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra L. in Western Carpathians : a habitat influence

Ciach M., Bylicka M.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2009

|

Vol. 57, nr 1

181-189

EN

A study of wintering Common Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra L.) was conducted in the winter periods 2002/2003-2006/2007 in the Western Carpathians. Birds were surveyed on transects in natural mountain European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)-Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)- Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests of the Tatra Mts, Pieniny Mts, Babia Góra Mt. and Gorce Mts (total length 41.4 km) as well as in a habitat mosaic with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Mountain pine (Pinus mugo Mill.) stands in the Kotlina Orawsko-Nowotarska valley (total length 31.5 km). Birds mean density underwent annual changes from 1.9 to 15.5 ind. 10 km[^-1] in the natural mountain forests and from 0.9 to 12.1 ind. 10 km[^-1] in the habitat mosaic. The median flock size in the natural mountain forests was 2, and it varied from 1 to 4 in subsequent seasons. They were smaller than flocks recorded in the habitat mosaic in the valley - median 2.5 (from 2 to 7 in subsequent seasons). The size of foraging and flying flocks did not differ significantly in natural mountain forest nor in the valley habitat mosaic. In the natural mountain forests, birds preferred habitats dominated by Norway spruce, and avoided European beech-Silver fir forests. The median flock size was 2 in habitats with Norway spruce, and 8 in stands where Norway spruce was absent. The variation in bird density presumably reflected the changes in quantity and location of food resources. Birds moved within stands with varying proportions of Norway spruce in the mountains as well as between the mountains and the valley, where habitat with mosaics of Scots pine and Mountain pine dominated.

4

Influence of low temperatures on behaviour of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos L.)

Meissner W., Markowska K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2009

|

Vol. 57, nr 4

799-803

EN

Periods of severe winter weather are associated with increased food consumption and metabolic rates. Depending on food availability birds could use different strategies to maintain homeostasis. Mallards Anas platyrhynchos L. numerously winter in urban parks, where people feed waterfowl bread. This food source is easily digestible and provides a high energy, which may affect bird behaviour. Studies were conducted in two consecutive winters in the Gdańsk-Oliwa city park in northern Poland, a place where people feed mallards, bread daily. During the period of lowest temperatures (about -12[degrees]C) females spent only 6% of their time foraging, while males spent 17% foraging. During mild winter weather (mean temperature about -2[degrees]C) foraging took up 21% of time budget in both sexes. In the colder period a three fold increase in male agonistic behaviour was observed when compared to the mild period observations. Females spent the most of harsh winter period inactive, apparently relaying on accumulated energetic reserves. Males cannot reduce all activities like females, because pairing in mallards takes place mainly in autumn and early winter and males need to attract actively, display for, and defend mates.

5

Long-term population trends of corvids wintering in urban parks in central Poland

Mazgajski T., Żmihorski M., Halba R., Woźniak A.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2008

|

Vol. 56, nr 3

521-526

EN

Changes in the numbers of corvids wintering in Warsaw (Central Poland), in the last sixteen years were analyzed. Four species were studied: Rook Corvus frugilegus L., Jackdaw C. monedula L., Hooded Crow C. corone cornix L. and Magpie Pica pica (L.) The results were based on density data for birds foraging in three urban parks. The bird counts were conducted in November and December 1988.2003. It was found that the number of wintering Rooks decreased significantly (0.5 fold), populations of Jackdaws and Hooded Crows - increased (4.25 and 3.95 fold, respectively), and no apparent trends were observed for Magpies during this period. Observed trends for Rooks as well as comparisons of limited data gathered earlier in other areas may confirm suggestions about the changing of migration routes of this species.