Abundance, species composition and age structure of gulls Laridae in the Gulf of Gdańsk area during non-breeding season.

Włodzimierz Meissner, Joanna Staniszewska, Szymon Bzoma

Abstract: From November to April of the seasons 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, twice a month gull surveys were undertaken in three places in the Gulf of Gdańsk area. During autumn and winter months, the Herring Gull Larus argentatus was the most abundant species at the rubbish dump in Szadółki (max. 11 907 inds, 83-91% of all gulls) and in the fishing harbour in Władysławowo (max. 2 052 inds, 76-85% of all gulls), followed by the Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus (max. 666 and 228 inds, respectively, up to 6.5%). The Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus occurred in low numbers during autumn and winter, but peaked in March-April (max. 3 355 in Szadółki and 1 589 inds in Władysławowo). The city beach held lower numbers of gulls in general. Herring and Black-headed Gulls were most numerous there during winter (max. 843 and 519 inds, respectively), and were closely followed by the Common Gull L. canus (19-22% of all gulls). Compared to the 1980s, numbers of wintering Black-headed Gulls declined sharply. Numbers of Herring Gulls increased evidently only at the rubbish dump, whereas in the remaining places the higher proportion of this species was caused by lower numbers of Black-headed Gulls. Similarly to the 1980s, adult Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls peaked in the area during late autumn and winter. Following their departure in spring, the most common age-class were first-winters. A similar pattern was found in the Black-headed Gull. First-winter Common Gulls were uncommon.

Abundance and distribution of the Mute Swan Cygnus olor in the Łódź region.

Radosław Włodarczyk, Tomasz Janiszewski

Abstract: In Łódź province local population of the Mute Swan was estimated on the level of 133 pair and 700-1500 non-breeders in years 1998-2006. The population size fluctuated annually without any noticeable trend. The number of birds was influenced by factors connected with reproduction, mortality and human activity within the water body occupied by swans. Thr breeding sites were mostly found in the northern part of study area, mainly in Warsaw-Berlin proglacial stream valley, where usually solitary pairs bred at fish ponds. Concentrations of breeding pairs were recorded only at dam reservoirs and larger fish ponds. Between 1999 and 2006 winter population of the Mute Swan was estimated for 350 to 790 birds, most of which (75-95%) wintered at the four largest rivers of the region (Warta, Pilica, Ner and Widawka).

Birds of the Skaryszewski Park in Warsaw in 1957-2006.

Maciej Luniak, Michał Lesisz, Andrzej Marciński, Wiesław Nowicki

Abstract: The Skaryszewski Park in the centre of Warsaw is an extensive (50 ha), nearly 100 year old park, visited by large numbers of people. Its tree stand is rich in holes, and there are ponds and large open grassy spaces. In the last 50 years, the avifauna of the breeding and winter seasons in the Park was investigated four times at 12-15 year intervals. While the habitat conditions for the Park's birds did not change much during this period, the extent of urbanization (development) of its immediate surroundings increased considerably. In breeding seasons 2004 and 2005, and in winter 2005/06, a total of 58-59 species were recorded in the Park, including 37 breeding or probably breeding ones and 32-33 species observed in winter. The density of the breeding population calculated for the entire Park area (50 ha) was similar in both years - 66 and 67 pairs/10 ha; that of the wintering birds was c. 80 ind./count/10 ha. Dominant among the breeding birds were hole nesters (11 species, 47% of the total number), and crown and high-bush nesters (14 spp. and 37% respectively). Among the overwintering birds, 18 regularly occurring species made up c. 90% of the total numbers. During the last 50 years the species richness and, probably, the abundance of birds in the Park did not change much, however 9 species that used to breed in the Park no longer did, mainly due to their general crisis in Warsaw, while 9 other species did became permanent breeders there, mostly as a result of synurbization. The abundance of species nesting on the ground and in low shrubs decreased by 2%, that of high nesting species - increased by 8%, and hole breeders decreased by 12%.

Rare birds recorded in Poland in 2006.

Komisja Faunistyczna

Summary: This report includes 439 accepted records from 2006, as well as 44 earlier ones, concerning 90 species and subspecies. No new species has been recorded for the first time in Poland. Highlights of the year were: the third record of the Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris, the fourth of the Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans, as well as the sixth and seventh of the Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica. Occurrence of the following species is also noteworthy: three records of the Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius and numerous records of: Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (53), Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (13), Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus (16), Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (14), Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (10), Dotterel Charadrius morinellus (10), and Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni (23).