Sponsored by:

Public system WPublisher


Article: Sylvia 50/2014






Adamík P.: Editorial PDF 25 kB 1
©álek M.: Long-term population decline of the Little Owl (Athene noctua) in a core area of its distribution in Bohemia abstract PDF 890 kB2–11
Paclík M. & Tyller Z.: Droppings as an indicator of nest box occupancy by roosting birds in winter abstract PDF 751 kB12–24
©evčíková K. & Koleček J.: Bird abundance and species richness of brownfields in central Moravia abstract PDF 204 kB25–40
Reif J., ©korpilová J., Vermouzek Z. & ©»astný K.: Population changes of common breeding birds in the Czech Republic from 1982 to 2013: an analysis using multispecies indicators abstract PDF 1.6 MB41– 65
Leąo P. & Kropil R.: Breeding bird assemblages of three West Carpathian oak- beech natural forests (eastern Slovakia) abstract PDF 296 kB66–85
Suvorov P., Sládeček M., Sitko J., Kolařík M. & Jelínek M.: Historical data on the Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) in the Czech Republic and a report on a recent record in 2012 abstract PDF 398 kB86– 93
Mlíkovský J. & Sládeček M.: Records of the Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (Aves: Laridae) from Czechia abstract PDF 441 kB94–98
Hertl I.: Wood-decaying fungus as an unusual cause of breeding failure in the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) abstract PDF 1.2 MB99–102
Vavřík M.: Rare birds in the Czech Republic in 2013 abstract PDF 1.8 MB103–128
Book reviews PDF 85 kB129–133

Abstracts

©álek M. 2014: Long-term population decline of the Little Owl (Athene noctua) in a core area of its distribution in Bohemia. Sylvia 50: 2–11.

The Little Owl is a small-sized nocturnal farmland predator whose European populations have declined significantly in the last decades, with many regional populations now extinct or on the brink of extinction. Similarly the population in the Czech Republic has declined markedly, however, the current distribution of the species and its long-term trends in numbers are insufficiently known. The main aim of this study was to determine a long-term population trend of the Little Owl in the core area of its distribution in Bohemia (Czech Republic). During the years 2000–2014, 261 localities were checked in north-western Bohemia, covering the total area of 2677 km2 of intensively used agricultural landscape. In total, 77 occupied territories were recorded at 59 localities during the whole study period, representing the mean population density of 0.29 calling males per 10 km2. At present (2014), the population density reaches only 0.09 calling males per 10 km2. Several high-density areas („local core areas“), with the mean population density reaching 1.52 calling males per 10 km2, have been recorded. All expected breeding territories were located within human settlements (51% residential buildings, 48% agricultural buildings, 1% industrial facilities). Long-term monitoring in several areas enabled to assess population trend during the study period. For example, the population at 11 annually monitored localities declined by about 79% during 2000–2014. The continual population decline is also known from recent years (2010–2014) with 56% population reduction recorded at 41 localities. This rapid population decline resulted in fragmentation of subpopulations within the monitored area which are more prone to extinction due to deterministic and stochastic factors. Management efforts and known effective conservation measures to increase the Little Owl population should be primarily directed to recently occupied localities and their surroundings to support immigration and gene flow between individual subpopulations.

Correspondence: martin.salipost.cz


Paclík M. & Tyller Z. 2014: Droppings as an indicator of nest box occupancy by roosting birds in winter. Sylvia 50: 12–24.

Nest boxes provide an opportunity to study bird life not only during the breeding season, but even in winter, when the birds use them as roost sites. Wintertime occupancy is usually detected by direct night checks of nest boxes, which are physically demanding and may disturb the roosting birds. Here we present an alternative way how to study the wintertime nest box occupancy based on the estimate of “droppings cover” from the photographs taken in late winter. We confronted the droppings cover with the occupancy revealed by direct night checks. The data were collected in the Království u Grygova floodplain forest, Olomouc District, Czech Republic, in 2007–2010. Nest box occupancy was clearly predictable from the droppings cover. We discuss the applicability of the model to predict nest box occupancy from the droppings cover, as well as factors that may affect the estimation of droppings cover from the photographs, such as the nest box size, length of the studied winter period, or the species of roosting birds.

Correspondence: martin.paclikpost.sk


©evčíková K. & Koleček J. 2014: Bird abundance and species richness of brownfields in central Moravia. Sylvia 50: 25–40.

In 2013, we studied bird assemblages of 21 brownfields (abandoned, at least partly built-up industrial and agricultural sites) in central Moravia, Czech Republic. In total, we registered 57 bird species, whereas 13 less abundant species were not recorded in the surroundings of the brownfields and they occurred only at the brownfields. The highest number of species was registered at larger sites and at the sites with rather high values of the Shannon Diversity Index, i.e. with heterogeneous, evenly distributed habitats. In most species, the densities fell into the published range and the highest densities were recorded in synanthropic species. The overall frequency and dominance of most bird species was low: 61% of the species occupied less than 25% of sites and dominance of 3 species was higher than 5%. Based on the index of habitat preference, most species preferred tree vegetation, while permanent grasslands were of the lowest preference. An important role in maintaining bird species richness in urban habitats should be taken into account when restoring brownfields for further use.

Correspondence: sevcikovakaseznam.cz


Reif J., ©korpilová J., Vermouzek Z. & ©»astný K. 2014: Population changes of common breeding birds in the Czech Republic from 1982 to 2013: an analysis using multispecies indicators. Sylvia 50: 41–65.

Long-term monitoring of bird populations delivers information on mechanisms of population regulation as well as early warning signals for conservation practice. In the Czech Republic, such data are collected within the Breeding Bird Monitoring Programme. For the purpose of this study, we used data covering 85 common bird species obtained in the period 1982–2013. We aim to describe population trajectories of 14 species groups defined by habitat use, habitat specialization, European breeding distribution and legal protection status. We employed the multispecies indicator approach by calculating geometric mean of population indices across species in a given group expressed in % relative to the reference year (1982). The indicator containing all species included in this study did not change significantly over the focal time period. However, particular species groups showed divergent temporal trajectories. Habitat specialists declined, particularly those occurring in open habitats, and the forest as well as urban specialists declined too. By contrast, habitat generalists increased and the pattern was driven by originally forest species recently colonizing human settlements. The results indicate that bird populations are rather affected by land use change than by climate change. Statutory protection does not seem to be able to cope with these drivers effectively, albeit many protected species have increasing populations.

Correspondence: jirireifnatur.cuni.cz


Leąo P. & Kropil R. 2014: Breeding bird assemblages of three West Carpathian oak-beech natural forests (eastern Slovakia). Sylvia 50: 66–85.

Investigations of breeding bird assemblages were carried out in three nature reserves in eastern Slovakia during 1999−2001. These reserves represent remnants of natural West Carpathian oak-beech forests. A combined territory-mapping technique was used to census breeding birds. In total, 49 breeding species were found within all three study plots during three breeding seasons. The mean rarefaction number of species per 10 ha ranged from 25.3 to 25.5. The mean density ranged from 72.5 to 89.3 pairs/10 ha. Both the presence of shrubs and the distance to forest edge were positively correlated with bird density. Hole-nesters represented the most numerous nesting guild in all three plots, their proportion reached around a half of the overall density in the particular plots. The qualitative Sørensen and quantitative Czekanowski- Sørensen similarity indices comparing plots in individual years reached values from 76.3% to 93.0%, and from 79.9% to 90.7%, respectively, which shows a close relation of the bird assemblages. Comparing the results from the Western Carpathian natural forests with data obtained in a similar study in the Białowieża National Park (three study plots: W, CM, MS), the standardized species richness was very similar in all study plots, except for the plot W in the Białowieża Forest, where a strong edge effect was evident. The mean total density was lower in the Carpathians by 2.4−44.0 pairs/10 ha. The relatively high diversity, similarity and year-to-year stability of the particular bird assemblages highlights the importance of near-natural forests for the conservation of valuable and relatively stable breeding bird assemblages.

Correspondence: lesotuzvo.sk


Suvorov P., Sládeček M., Sitko J., Kolařík M. & Jelínek M. 2014: Historical data on the Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) in the Czech Republic and a report on a recent record in 2012. Sylvia 50: 86–93.

So far only 9 observations of the Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) have been registered by the Czech Rarities Committe. Several other records were mentioned in literature without detailed documentation and, thus, they cannot be considered as reliable. In 2012, the tenth observation was made in the centre of Prague. Here we summarize historical data on the occurence of this species in the Czech Republic including an overview of museums specimens. In addition, we discuss in detail the most recent finding of the Glaucous Gull. As shown by dissection, the main cause of the bird´s death was the aspergilotic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillomycosis is one of the most common bird diseases of fungal origin. Little is known on its occurrence in wild bird populations. In addition, parasitological analysis revealed three trematode species: Diplostomum spathaceum, Ichthyocotylurus variegatus and Gymnophallus deliciosus. The latter one has never been described in the Glaucous Gull before.

Correspondence: petr.suvorovhotmail.com


Mlíkovský J. & Sládeček M. 2014: Records of the Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (Aves: Laridae) from Czechia. Sylvia 50: 94–98.

The Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) is a year-round inhabitant of the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Only two records of this species were known from the Czech Republic thus far (2012–2013). Collections of the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, contain a specimen collected in Central Bohemia in January 1866, which was incorrectly registered in literature as a Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus. This specimen, first mentioned by Frič (1872), is thus the first historical record of the Iceland Gull from the Czech Republic. Another specimen deposited in the National Museum, Prague, was obtained with Woborzil’s collection and was probably collected in Bohemia before 1865, but clear evidence for this is lacking. Thus, we consider this specimen only as a possible record.

Correspondence: jiri_mlikovskynm.cz


Hertl I. 2014: Wood-decaying fungus as an unusual cause of breeding failure in the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). Sylvia 50: 99– 102.

When carrying out an owl survey and checks of hollow trees in the Velká Bíteą region (Moravia, Czech Republic) in 2014, an unsuccessful breeding attempt of the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) was documented, which was caused by the growth of a wood-decaying fungus of the genus Pholiota. At the time when the hatchlings were over 10 days old, the fungus filled the hollow completely and thus imprisoned the female with the young and made it impossible for the male to bring them food. The male put the hunted prey at the hole entrance. Without human help, the female would have probably died in the nest.

Correspondence: hertlatlas.cz


Vavřík M. and FK ČSO 2014: Rare birds in the Czech Republic in 2013. Sylvia 50: 103–128.

The 20th report of the Czech Rarities Committee, working under the Czech Society for Ornithology (CSO), includes records of rare bird species in the Czech Republic, submitted for assessment to the Committee in the year 2013 and early 2014. In this period, the Committee received altogether 115 records, 105 of them (91%) were accepted and seven rejected (in most cases, possible confusion with other species could not be excluded based on the available description, or the misidentification was even proved); the remaining three records had not been solved by the date of publication of this report. Besides the assessed records, the report also includes a number of other records of registered species which were sent to the Committee or were obtained from web pages and online discussion groups of the CSO. In 2013, the Committee was composed of the following members: Jiří Horáček (chair), Jiří ©írek (secretary), Martin Vavřík, Jaroslav Cepák, David Heyrovský and Jaroslav ©imek (since Miroslav Jelínek stepped down from the function on 1 January 2013, the Committee has been composed of six members only). In 2013, three new species for the Czech Republic were recorded – the Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus), Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana) and Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata). In addition, the first record of the Western Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) from the year 2009 was accepted. Other interesting records include the 3rd finding of the Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides), 4th record of the Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii), 4th and 5th records of the Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), 7th finding of the Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), 7th finding of the Pallas's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus), 10th to 12th records of the Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), 10th to 16th findings of the Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus). Unusual numbers of individuals were recorded in the Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides); among registered species the highest numbers since 2008 were recorded in the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), Little Crake (Porzana parva), Sanderling (Calidris alba), Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) and Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis).

Correspondence: vavrik.martinseznam.cz


14.12.2014
Počet názorů: 0 Přidat názor

Reakce čtenářů



    © Česká společnost ornitologická 2002-2017
    Články vyjadřují názory autorů a jsou majetkem redakce. ISSN 1803-6791