The importance of non-forest tree stand features for protection of the Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus in agricultural landscape: a case study from South-Eastern Poland

Non-forest tree stands are important habitats for many species of birds in the agricultural landscape. They are also the main habitat of the Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus, whose numbers have been decreasing in recent years in some parts of Europe. Recognition of the habitat requirements of this species may help better planning of its protection in the context of the treed agricultural landscapes. During this study, the habitat preferences of the Syrian Woodpecker were determined in the agricultural landscape of South-Eastern Poland. A set of 12 habitat parameters of tree stands located in the breeding territories of the Syrian Woodpecker (n = 122) and in randomly chosen control areas (n = 122) located outside the range of the breeding territories of this species were characterized. The number and species diversity of trees was significantly higher in stands located in Syrian Woodpecker territories than in the random control areas. Stands occupied by breeding pairs also had trees of worse health condition and a larger proportion of fruit trees. The model best explaining the probability of the occurrence of the species indicates that the Syrian Woodpecker requires mainly the presence of tree stands with a greater species diversity of trees, as well as tree stands in worse health condition. When planning the protection of this species’ habitats in the agricultural landscape, the characteristics of non-forest tree stands noted above should be taken into account.

Complementarity of Nesting Ornithocomplexes in Urban Faunae (through the example of Melitopol, Southern Ukraine)

The results of the study of birds nesting in Melitopol conducted in 2011-2019 are presented. The distribution and correlation of bird species in urban biotopes based on a raster map with squares of 1x1 km is provided. There are 170 bird species registered in the city throughout the year, including 104 nesting species; over the last 50 years their number has increased by 69 species. Nesting ornithocomplex of the areas of the city with multi-storey buildings include 16 species, areas with individual buildings – 23 species, industrial sites - 21 species, green areas - 51 species, reed thickets - 27 species, agricultural landscapes - 24 species, floodplains - 9 species, floodplain meadows - 9 species. Over the last decades, birds of Corvidae family - Garrulus glandarius, Pica pica, Corvus monedula, C. frugilegus, C. cornix, C. corax - have inhabited the city and formed urbanized populations. Of the birds of prey - Falco tinnunculus and Athene noctua. The taxonomic and ecological structure of ornithocomplexes of the city is considered. The basis of ornithocomplexes are widespread species of synthantropes and dendrophylles. Introduced species (Phasianus colchicus) and invasive species (Streptopelia decaocto, Dendrocopos syriacus, D. minor, Phoenicurus ochruros, etc.) also inhabited the city. Representatives of the dendrophylic group predominate in the ecological structure of onitocomplexes of the studied area, which includes 47 species (45.2%), lymphophyllous group is represented by 26 species (25.0%), sclerophyllous – by 14 species (13.5%), campophyllous – by 9 species (8.7%), the limnophyllous-dendrophyllous group is represented by 1 species (0.9%), dendrophyllous-sclerophyllous – by 6 species (5.8%) and limnophyllous-sclerophyllous – by 1 species (0.9%). Complementarity of urban ornithocomplexes is high due to the syntantropic species - dendrophylles and sclerophylles.

Monitoring of Artificial Nests in Horticultural Ecosystems-Observation of Woodpeckers Ethology

In order to increase the integrated protection of horticultural ecosystems by using the biological fight, the installation on artificial nests, is an important measure to help the insectivore birds. In a research program, a number of 166 artificial nets for Passeriformes birds were installed in different ecosystems as parks, botanical gardens and orchards in the South-Eastern part of Romania. During the nests monitoring period an interesting, but in the same time warring phenomenon, was noticed: a certain number of artificial nets were prayed by woodpeckers, especially by Dendrocopos major (Great Spotted Woodpecker). In Romania, all the ten European woodpecker species are nesting, nine being sedentary and one (Jynx torquilla) migratory, leaving the country in autumn. Woodpeckers in general, are very useful in woody plant biological protection, having a predominant insectivore nutrition and being the only one to keep under control the insects that are leaving on, inside and under the trees bark. The paper presents some data regarding the woodpeckers ethology in the studied ecosystems. More research are needed to understand the woodpeckers behaviour and to find protection methods of useful birds' nests against the woodpeckers attack. Keywords: useful birds; Dendrocopos major; Dendrocopos syriacus; Passer montanus; Picus viridis.