<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In 2008, a coordinated census of Jackdaw Corvus monedula was carried out to assess breeding population, distribution and nest site selection in Slovenia. Data collection continued for unsurveyed areas in the 2009-2011 period, including information on former colonies and threats. A total of 663-794 Jackdaw pairs were recorded at 86 sites, while total Slovene breeding population was estimated to be in the range of 700-900 pairs. Over one third of pairs were recorded in Central Slovenia, notably the largest city Ljubljana (20.8%), followed by almost a quarter in the Podravje region. Most colonies numbered between 2 and 5 pairs, the largest occupying the Bežigrad district of Ljubljana (82-87 pairs). Large-scale density in geographically more or less uniform areas ranged from 3.65 pairs/10 km2 in the Sava plain to 0.15 pairs/10 km2 in mostly mountainous area in northern Slovenia. The majority of Jackdaws selected buildings for nesting (82.2% of pairs), while nesting in trees occurred less frequently (14.7%) and was almost entirely confined to the two easternmost regions of Slovenia. Nesting in cliffs was recorded at just two sites in Slovene Istria (3.1%). Average colony size differed significantly in relation to nest site type, with colonies in rock walls being on average the largest (median = 9.5 pairs), followed by colonies on buildings (6) and those in trees the smallest (3). Among pairs nesting on buildings, multi-storey residential buildings predominated (34.2%). A substantial percentage of population nested also on churches and tower blocks (14.4% and 13.5%, respectively). The highest percentage of pairs utilised holes in roofs (26.9%), followed by eaves (18.0%) and chimney pots (14.7%). Tree-nesting pairs occupied mostly small woods situated in open agricultural landscape. The most commonly used tree species was Beech Fagus sylvatica (53.1% of pairs) which hosted 14 of the total 16 forest colonies. For Jackdaws nesting in urban parks and avenues, plane trees Platanus sp. were the most important (30.6% of pairs). Their population stronghold was in lowlands, with 88.1% of pairs recorded at elevations under 400 m and the highest living colony in Slovenia at 578 m a.s.l. Jackdaws occurred on at least 54 specific sites in the past but became extinct there or declined severely by the time of this study. A minimum of 217-254 pairs were estimated lost at these sites, constituting a decline of 24% in c. 10-20 years. According to the IUCN criteria, Jackdaw would qualify as Vulnerable (VU) on the Red List of Slovenia. The commonest known cause of extinction/decline is renovation of buildings, a threat that is projected to escalate in the near future.</abstract>

Numbers, distribution and nest site characteristics of Jackdaw Corvus monedula in Slovenia and its conservation status

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Five hundred pellets of the Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii were collected at three roost-sites along the Slovenian coast and analysed. The diet was characterized mostly by the dominance of bottom dwelling fish species of the appropriate size. The Black Goby Gobius niger was the most dominant prey and represented the Shag’s main prey in the studied area (IRI% = 64.0). The results of the study confirm that the Mediterranean Shag preys mainly on fish species which are without commercial value for local fisheries.</abstract>

Borut Mavrič1, Roberto Odorico2, Urška Koce3 1 Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI–6330 Piran,

Roberto Odorico2, Urška Koce3 1 Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI–6330 Piran,

Shoreline, Società Cooperativa, Padriciano 99, IT–34149 Trieste–Trst,

DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia, Tržaška cesta 2, SI–1000 Ljubljana,

The diet of the Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii roosting along the Slovenian coast

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In a period of 30 years (1984-2013), 1,535 White Stork pulli were ringed on nest and 1,226 nests examined in NE Slovenia. The ringing was implemented in the regions of Dravsko polje, Slovenske gorice and Pomurje. In each season, from 9 to 85 nests were examined, the great majority of them built on overhead powerline pylons. On average, 51.16 pulli or 16.66% were ringed and 40.86 or 18.91% nests visited compared to the census of fledged pulli and inventoried nests in 1999 in NE Slovenia. A total of 71 finds or 4.6% were registered and 37 rings or 52% finds read. There were 26 (36.62%) local recoveries, while in foreign countries 34 (47.88%) recoveries of Slovenian-ringed storks were made. Two of our recoveries were registered abroad prior to 1984. There were 11 (15.49%) foreign recoveries. Local recoveries (n = 26) indicate breeding relationship (mixing) between the eastern and southern Slovenian breeding populations. The longest distance of breeding was 115 km in a beeline, the shortest 62 km (n = 4). Other 12 local recoveries at 1 to 38 km from the place of hatching concerns the native NE breeding area. Young sexually mature storks search for new breeding sites only in their fourth year of age. No ringed stork returned to the native nest as a young breeder. The oldest was 14 years old. Some of them breed in the wider area of the Pannonian Plain outside Slovenia, e.g. 3 in Austria, 2 in Serbia and 1 in Croatia. One of them bred in Slovakia 463 km away. In view of the presented recoveries it has been ascertained that the storks from NE Slovenia migrate across the Pannonian Plain, the Balkans and Asia Minor, down to the South African Republic of 8,923 km in a beeline (4 recoveries), using the eastern migration route. The western migration route was not ascertained. The majority of recoveries originated from the autumn migration period, with only one recovery known from the spring migration period. No less than 23 ringed storks, particularly young ones, were killed on migration owing to collisions with overhead power lines, which indicates inappropriate system of overhead power lines construction all over Europe.</abstract>

Ringing of White Storks Ciconia ciconia in NE Slovenia during the 1984–2013 period

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In 2015, we used the same method as in the 1989-1996 period to count calling males of the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in selected 1x1 km squares of Ljubljansko barje (central Slovenia). We counted 39 males, which is 87% less compared to the survey 20 years ago. Quails were found in 56% fewer squares. Since Quail populations are known to fluctuate greatly between years, we think that the most realistic long-term estimate for population decline would be somewhere between 50 to 90%. We detected that within only one week males stopped calling in some squares, while in others they began calling although they had not been detected there before, indicating possible relocations. This dynamics should be considered when designing a population monitoring protocol for the Quail.</abstract>

Population size of the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix at Ljubljansko barje decreased in the last twenty years by half, perhaps even (much?) more

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In 2015, 170 bird species were recorded during bird ringing activities in Slovenia. We ringed 73,371 birds belonging to 162 species, there were 132 foreign recoveries of birds ringed in Slovenia, 120 recoveries of birds ringed abroad and found in Slovenia, as well as 1964 local recoveries. The most frequently ringed species were Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and Great Tit Parus major. In ringed nestlings, Great Tits and Tree Sparrows Passer montanus predominated. In 2015, the first preliminary ringing of Scops Owls Otus scops during migration took place, resulting in the highest number of Scops Owls ringed so far. Concerning recoveries of birds ringed in Slovenia and later recorded abroad and birds ringed abroad and later recorded in Slovenia, the commonest were Mute Swans Cygnus olor and Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus. The longest-distance recovery concerned a Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniculus found in Sweden (2,144 km away). Among the interesting finds were also the first finds of ringed Pygmy Cormorants Microcarbo pygmeus so far from breeding sites in Hungary. Among rare species, Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis and a pair of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus were caught and ringed, the latter for the very first time in Slovenia after more than 100 years. An overview of records of the Parrot Crossbill is given herein, as well as analysis of irruptive years of the Red Crossbills Loxia curvirostra between 1980 and 2015, when the probability of boreal Crossbill species occurrence is the highest. According to the ringers’ data, the irruptive years of Red Crossbills in Slovenia were 1984, 1985, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The article points to the probability that Parrot Crossbills have been overlooked in the past, since larger specimens of Crossbills were ringed mostly in irruptive years, but no specific bill measurements important for distinguishing between Parrot and Red Crossbill had been taken.</abstract>

Bird ringing in Slovenia in 2015 and the occurrence of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus

Results of the January 2016 waterbird census in Slovenia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria was observed during cold winters in different parts of Croatia, along the Adriatic coast, on islands as well as inland. Their origin remains unknown, but they may belong to the population nesting in the Alps or in Dinaric parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The overwintering along the Adriatic coast was explored during field observations, but also from the literature and museum data. The field investigations were carried out in Istria, North Dalmatia, Paklenica NP, Kornati NP and central Dalmatia, Krka NP. In total, 96 observations were made: 35 specimens from museum collections and literature and 61 during field research. The Wallcreeper was observed in Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons in Paklenica NP during cold winters, but not during milder winters. In the Paklenica NP, the earliest individuals were observed on 10 Oct and the latest on 28 Apr. On the complete east Adriatic coast and in Croatian inland, the earliest record was made on 6 Sep and the latest on 2 May. There are 5-10 individuals overwintering in Paklenica National Park.</abstract>

Public Institution Paklenica National Park, dr. Franje Tuđmana 14a, HR–23244 Starigrad-Paklenica,

National Museum Zadar, National History Department, Medulićeva 2, HR–23000, Zadar,

Public Institution Kornati National Park, Butina 2, HR–22243, Murter,

Public Institution Natura Histrica, Riva 8, 52100 HR–Pula,

Wintering sites of Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria on the east Adriatic coast

First record of Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea in Slovenia

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 42 (2021): Issue 190-191 (December 2021)

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Volume 41 (2020): Issue 186-187 (December 2020)

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Volume 40 (2019): Issue 182-183 (December 2019)

Volume 40 (2019): Issue 180-181 (November 2019)

Volume 39 (2018): Issue 178-179 (December 2018)

Volume 39 (2018): Issue 176-177 (November 2018)

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Volume 37 (2016): Issue 168-169 (November 2016)

Volume 36 (2015): Issue 166-167 (December 2015)

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Volume 35 (2014): Issue 162-163 (December 2014)

Volume 35 (2014): Issue 160-161 (November 2014)

Volume 34 (2013): Issue 158-159 (December 2013)

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Volume 33 (2012): Issue 154-155 (December 2012)

Volume 33 (2012): Issue 152-153 (March 2012)

Volume 32 (2011): Issue 150-151 (December 2011)

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Volume 31 (2010): Issue 145-146 (September 2010)

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Volume 30 (2009): Issue 141-143 (January 2009)

Volume 30 (2009): Issue 140 (March 2009)

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