Kot H. 2020. BREEDING AVIFAUNA OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN THE SZCZECIN COASTLAND. Kulon 25: 5-32.

ul. Traugutta 8, PL-08-110 Siedlce, e-mail: ekos@siedlce.cc 

Abstract. In 1979, a survey of breeding avifauna was carried out on the 36 km² study plot in an agricultural area in the Szczecin coastland (mesoregion: Nowogard Plain). 82 breeding species were recorded, and in 60 species the assessment of the number of breeding pairs was conducted. Possible breeding was also likely in further 11 species. The most abundant species were: Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris (48.9 pairs/10 km²), Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella (36.7 pairs/10 km²), and Common Whitethroat Curruca communis (32.9 pairs/10 km²). Less abundant (10.1-20.0 pairs/10 km²) were: Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Common Reed Bunting Schoeniclus schoeniclus, Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, and Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia. The density of breeding pairs of 26 species was in the range of 1.0 up to 10.0 pairs/10 km², while the remaining 25 species very rare (1-3 pairs). The most diverse group consisted of 37 species and these were species inhabiting forests and wooded land. This group accounted for 45.1% of all species considered breeding in the study plot. The least abundant (7 species) were, so-called „landscape species”, e.g., Eurasian Magpie Pica pica, Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, and Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria. The density of 43 species recorded in the Parlino study plot was compared with the results recorded in 10 other plots, which were studied with the territory-mapping method in the Koszalin coastland,  Middle Vistula river valley, and South Podlasie Lowland at the turn of 1970/1980. The highest mean density was reported in the Yellowhammer and Common Whitethroat (41.0 and 32.3 pairs/10 km², respectively), 2-4-fold lower in the Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Marsh Warbler, Common, Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, and Common Wood Pigeon.

Matyjasiak Ł. 2020. CHANGES IN THE SIZE OF THE BREEDING POPULATION OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN PIASECZNO COUNTY. Kulon 25: 33-48.

ul. Willowa 17, PL-05-520 Konstancin-Jeziorna, e-mail: lukaszm@legionista.com

Abstract. The White Stork is considered an umbrella species, which status and population trends may reflect the changes in the natural environment. Piaseczno County is one of the most intensively developing areas in the Mazovian Voivodeship and Poland. The monitoring of the breeding population status at the same sites to control the changes in the region so strongly influenced by urbanisation process is therefore particularly important. This study aimed to describe the current status of the breeding population of the White Stork in Piaseczno County based on the monitoring conducted in 2014-2018, to compare these data with those available for earlier seasons, to assess and analyse breeding parameters of this population, and finally to analyse the recoveries of individuals ringed as nestlings. The results of the present study showed that in different years 22 to 33 pairs were breeding in Piaseczno County. In the studied years, the density of the population varied from 3.5 pairs/100 km² (2018) to 5.3 pairs/100 km² (2014). When compared with the data from the International White Stork Census carried out in 1994 and 2004 on the current territory of Piaseczno County there was a decline in the number of breeding pairs from 51 pairs in 1994 (8.2 pairs/100 km²) to 22 pairs in 2018 (3.5 pairs/100 km²). The decline in the number of breeding pairs (HPa) and density of the White Stork pairs per 100 km² (StD) was recorded in all municipalities of the current Piaseczno County, except Lesznowola, where during 1994-2008 a slight increase was noted. The largest decline was recorded in two municipalities: Góra Kalwaria and Konstancin-Jeziorna. Over several last decades, similar to the majority of the populations monitored in Poland, there was a clear change in the nest placement: from the trees to the poles. The future monitoring may enable to learn whether the influence of the factors described in the present study on the size of the breeding population of the White Stork will cause its further decline that may finally lead to its extinction from Piaseczno County.

Rzępała M., Szczypiński P. 2020. OCCURRENCE OF THE CRESTED LARK GALERIDA CRISTATA IN THE EASTERN POLAND. Kulon 25: 49-68.

Mirosław Rzępała, e-mail: mirek@bocian.org.pl
Piotr Szczypiński, e-mail: piotr_szczypa@op.pl

Abstract. In 2020, several sites, where the Crested Lark may have potentially occurred, were controlled in the region of a high density of poultry farms. The survey was carried out on three study plots: „Siedlce” (2,170 km²), „Żuromin” (395 km²), and „Drohiczyn” (18 km²). A total of 276 objects, which included 161 poultry farms, 32 cattle and horse farms, 7 pig farms, 24 champignon production farms, two poultry abattoirs, two waste dumps, two sawmills,  straw storage and processing plant, animal feed plant, photovoltaic farm, abandoned state farm, vast excavations in the vicinity of an active aggregate mine and 41 other were controlled. Crested larks were recorded at 39 sites on the „Siedlce” study plot exclusively. The majority of larks were noted in poultry farms (30) or their close vicinity (2), while the remaining were recorded in cattle farms (5), champignon production farms, sawmill, and near the main office of a large company. Our survey showed that the Crested Lark returned to the Mazovian Lowland, from where it withdrew most probably at the turn of the XX and XXI century. One of the possible reasons for this process may be the development of several poultry farms in that agricultural landscape, which became an attractive habitat for this species.

Olszewski A., Matusiak J., Olech B. 2020. BREEDING BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF THE WHITE-TAILED SEA-EAGLE HALIAEETUS ALBICILLA IN THE KAMPINOS NATIONAL PARK. Kulon 25: 69-91.

Kampinoski Park Narodowy, ul. Tetmajera 38, PL-05-080 Izabelin; e-mail: ad.ol@wp.pl, jarekmatusiak@wp.pl, bogumila222@gmail.com

Abstract. The paper presents the changes in the number and distribution of breeding pairs, habitat selection, breeding parameters, feeding sites and diet of the White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla in the Kampinos National Park during 1992-2020. In the last few years, 5 breeding pairs were recorded, and the maximum density was equal to 1.3 pairs/100 km² on the entire study area and 1.7 pairs/100 km² on forest area exclusively. The breeding sites were in the western and central parts of the KPN. White-tailed sea-eagles nested in the scots pine and alder forests older than 100 years (102-189 years) and one nest in the park enclave by the Vistula River in riparian forest (50 years); mean 144 years. On average, there were 2.1 nests per breeding territory. The data on 75 broods were collected, of which 39 (52%) were successful. White-tailed sea-eagles reared 51-60 young in total, and when considering breeding pairs, it was 0.7-0.9 juvenile/breeding pair and 1.3-1.5 juvenile/pair with breeding success. The number of reared young was from one to two, only in one case three nestlings were recorded. The nests have been used for 6 years on average, while the longest period was 18 years. They were placed at an average height of 23.5 m. The distance between the occupied nests in adjacent territories (in 2000-2020) was from 9 to 16 km (on average – 12.3 km). The main feeding area of all pairs of white-tailed sea-eagles was the Vistula riverbed, but for the individual pairs, to a varying extent, these were also ponds, watercourses, wetlands, and open areas inside the KPN or in its buffer zone.

Murawski M., Antczak K. 2020. SPRING MIGRATION OF GEESE IN THE KURPIE PLAIN IN 2008-2020. Kulon: 93-116.

Marek Murawski, e-mail: merops@vp.pl
Krzysztof Antczak, e-mail: kuba.antczak@wp.pl

Abstract. In 2008-2020 a study on the dynamics of the spring migration of geese was carried out in selected parts of the Kurpie Plain. The study area covered mostly the Omulew river valley (a section between Michałowo and Czarnotrzew) and Gutocha fishponds in the Płodownica river valley. Bird counts were conducted irregularly, and the sampling effort differed among the seasons. During the first years of the study the location of feeding and roosting sites was determined, and in following seasons the number and species diversity of each flock were analysed on those sites, as well as the records of rare species were noted. The dominant species was the Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, while the Bean Goose Anser fabalis sensu lato was less numerous (88% and 12%, respectively). The species list also included the Greylag Goose A. anser. Rare species recorded in the study area were the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus, Pink-footed Goose A. brachyrhynchus, Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis, and the Barnacle Goose B. leucopsis. The results of the present study showed that the Kurpie Plain was an important stop-over site during the spring migration of geese. In 2017, i.e., during the season when birds were the most abundant, in 16-19 March, the total number of geese was estimated at 30,000 individuals in the Omulew river valley near Gutocha fishponds, on the meadow complex „Szeroka Biel” in the Szkwa river valley near Niedźwiedź. The largest flock was of over 11,000 greater white-fronted geese and a few bean geese sensu lato. The area of the Kurpie Plain, particularly the floodplain of the Omulew river, resembles the Biebrza river valley and includes vast wetlands and wet meadows, which are favourable feeding sites for migrating geese during the spring season. The establishment of a nature reserve or landscape park aiming to protect this habitat for migrating wader and waterbirds should therefore be considered.

Dombrowski A, Łukaszewicz M. 2020. SPRING CONCENTRATIONS OF WETLAND AND WATERBIRDS IN THE UPPER LIWIEC VALLEY IN 2007 AND 2013. Kulon 25: 117-129.

Andrzej Dombrowski, Mazowiecko-Świętokrzyskie Towarzystwo Ornitologiczne; ul. Świerkowa 18, PL-08-110 Siedlce, e-mail: adomb@wp.pl
Marcin Łukaszewicz, Mazowiecko-Świętokrzyskie Towarzystwo Ornitologiczne; ul. Radomska 7, PL-26-670 Pionki, e-mail: lukaszewicz-m@wp.pl

Abstract. During early spring in 2007 and 2013, regular surveys of wetland and waterbirds were carried out in a vast area of the floodplain (600 ha) in the upper Liwiec valley between Krzymosze and Klimonty (22^o48’E, 52^o17’N). Those two studied seasons differed in the level of flooding of this plain with water: 2007 – low flooding, 2013 – significant flooding of the whole valley. In total, 77,350 individuals representing 33 species of wetland and waterbirds were recorded in both seasons. Hydrological conditions were the main factors shaping the structure and dynamics of wetland and waterbirds communities during their spring stopover in the upper Liwiec valley. In 2007, 16 species were observed, while in 2013 – 34. The average number of birds was 42% higher compared to 2013. In 2007 only 7 species were more abundant than in 2013, i.e., Northern Lapwing V. vanellus, Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, Bean Goose/Tundra Bean Goose Anas fabalis/ serrirostris, Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, Greylag Goose A. anser, Common Crane G. grus. While in the wet season of 2013 these were 16 species, which included all duck species Anatinae except the Gadwall Mareca strepera, gulls Laridae, Ruff Calidris pugnax, Common Redshank Tringa totanus, and Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa. The maximum number of individuals during a single control were recorded in the Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope – 8,000 individuals, Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Lapwing – 6,700, Eurasian Golden Plover – 4,500, Bean Goose – 1,500, Ruff – 650 and Northern Pintail Anas acuta – 150. When considering the entire bird community, its maximum number during a single control in 2007 was 18,952 individuals, and in 2013 – 11,147. In the dry season of 2007, wetland and waterbirds were almost 6-times more abundant than in the wet season of 2013. Yet swimming birds composed 79.1% of the whole community in the exceptionally wet season in 2013 compared to 42.2% in the drier season in 2007. In 2013 the most abundant were phytophages mostly due to a high percentage of ducks, while in 2007 these were entomophages, yet the phytophages’ share was also high. Bird numbers recorded in two analysed seasons indicate that the upper Liwiec valley is among the seven most important stopover sites for wetland and waterbird species on the Mazovian Lowland. In 2007 and 2013 the species richness and abundance of the majority of species were exceptionally high. Only in those two seasons during 2005-2020, the maximum number of wetland and waterbirds staging in the SPA Liwiec River Valley exceeded 20,000 individuals.

Gottfried T., Gottfried I., Jakubiec J., Zając M. T. 2020. CHIROPTEROFAUNA OF THE STOŁOWE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK DURING THE NON-WINTER PERIOD. Kulon 25: 131-148.

Tomasz Gottfried: Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Nietoperzy, ul. Wojska Polskiego 28, PL-60-637 Poznań, e-mail: t.gottfried@nietoperze.pl
Iwona Gottfried: Zakład Ekologii Behawioralnej, Uniwersytet Wrocławski,
ul. Sienkiewicza 21, PL-50-335 Wrocław, e-mail: iwona.gottfried@uwr.edu.pl
Jadwiga Jakubiec: Park Narodowy Gór Stołowych, ul. Słoneczna 31, PL-57-350 Kudowa-Zdrój: e-mail: j.jakubiec@pngs.com.pl
Tomasz M. Zając: Instytut Nauk Biologicznych, Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie, ul. Wóycickiego 1/3, PL-01-938 Warszawa, e-mail: tomzajc@gmail.com

Abstract. The research aimed to supplement the knowledge of Chiropterofauna in the Stołowe Mountains National Park. In the period from mid-July to the beginning of November 2019, echolocation calls recording and mist-netting were carried out in the entire Park. The presence of 17 species of bats (out of 18 previously reported) was confirmed and one new species was found in the Park – the Alcathoe bat Myotis alcathoe. The most frequently captured and most frequently recorded species was the barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus. The highest number of species (13) and bat records (63% of all records) were noted in coniferous forests Vaccinio-Piceetea. The second important habitat was acidophilous beech forests Luzulo nemorosae-Fagetum, which constituted 18% of the Park’s area, and where 15% of all records of bats and 11 species were noted. Our research indicates that the entire area of the Stołowe Mountains NP is used by bats and that the Park is important for the preservation of forest species such as the Bechstein’s bat Myotis bechsteinii, lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri, and the barbastelle bat.

Chmielewski S., Żóralski R. 2020. OCCURRENCE OF VOLUCELLA ZONARIA (PODA, 1761) (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE) IN POLAND. Kulon 25: 149-163.

Sławomir Chmielewski, Mazowiecko-Świętokrzyskie Towarzystwo Ornitologiczne, e-mail: sch6@wp.pl
Robert Żóralski, ul. Norwida 9, Reda, e-mail: robert@insects.pl

Dombrowski A. 2020. AN ATTEMPT OF PREDATION ON THE EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE STREPTOPELIA DECAOCTO BY A FLOCK OF MAGPIES PICA PICA. Kulon 25: 167-168.

Mazowiecko-Świętokrzyskie Towarzystwo Ornitologiczne; e-mail: adomb@wp.pl

Abstract. On 2 June 2005 I found a nest of the Wryneck Jynx torquilla in a crack in the wall among the stones of the former forge in Czepielin village (52°13,817’N, 22°23,823’E). I observed an adult bird with food entering this crack several times, which suggested feeding nestlings.

Dombrowski A. 2020. BUILT-IN BROOD OF THE WRYNECK JYNX TORQUILLA. Kulon 25: 165-166.

Mazowiecko-Świętokrzyskie Towarzystwo Ornitologiczne; e-mail: adomb@wp.pl

Abstract. In this short note, I described an attempt of predation on adult Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto by a flock of eleven Magpies Pica pica. I observed it in the single-family housing on the edge of Siedlce town on 20 March 2010. The effect of that attack is unknown.

Mortka K. 2020. UNUSUAL NESTING OF THE SAND MARTIN RIPARIA RIPARIA. Kulon 25: 168-170.

e-mail: sep67@wp.pl

Abstract. On 6 August 2020, I found an unusual nesting site of the Sand Martin Riparia riparia – the nest was in the crack in the concrete wall of the canal in Warsaw about 5 meters above the water surface and 40 meters from the Vistula bank

Cichocki J.,  Janik-Superson K., Królikowska K., Lach J., Rabiasz J, Zwijacz-Kozica T. 2020. THE HAZEL DORMOUSE MUSCARDINUS AVELLANARIUS IN THE DIET OF THE RED FOX VULPES VULPES AND PINE MARTEN MARTES MARTES IN THE TATRA NATIONAL PARK. Kulon 25: 171-175.

Jan Cichocki, Katedra Zoologii, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski, ul. Szafrana 1, PL-65-516 Zielona Góra, e-mail: j.cichocki@wnb.uz.zgora.pl
Katarzyna Janik-Superson, Klaudyna Królikowska, Jakub Lach, Pracownia Biobank, Katedra Biofizyki Molekularnej, Wydział Biologii i Ochrony Środowiska, Uniwersytet Łódzki, ul. Pilarskiego 14/16, PL-90-231 Łódź
Jarosław Rabiasz, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Tatrzański Park Narodowy, Kuźnice 1, 34-500 Zakopane

Abstract. The material for the analysis of the red fox Vulpes vulpes and pine marten Martes martes diet was collected in the Tatra National Park in summer 2019. The determination of prey species was based on the analysis of undigested remains and DNA metabarcoding. The hazel dormouse remains were recorded in five samples of the red fox and one sample of the pine marten scats. The species was present in the diet of those predators from June to September based on the material collected in the central part of the Tatra Mountains. It is the first record of the hazel dormouse in the diet of the red fox and pine marten in the Tatra Mountains. 

Cichocki J., Ważna A., Rabiasz J., Zwijacz-Kozica T. 2020. THE BROWN BEAR URSUS ARCTOS REMAINS IN THE DIET OF THE GRAY WOLF CANIS LUPUS. Kulon 25: 176-178.

Jan Cichocki, Agnieszka Ważna, Katedra Zoologii, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski, Szafrana 1, PL-65-516 Zielona Góra e-mail: j.cichocki@wnb.uz.zgora.pl

Abstract. The remains of the brown bear Ursus arctos were found in the scats of the gray wolf Canis lupus collected in the central part of the Tatra Mountains in June 2018. It was the first record of wolves feeding on a bear from the Polish Carpathians. Probably wolves were feeding on the carcass of the bear.