Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Czeszczewik D. & Walankiewicz W. (2003) Natural nest sites of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in a Primeval Forest. ARDEA 91 (2): 221-229
Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca have been studied intensively in nest boxes, but data on their reproduction in natural nest holes is scarce. We present data on the location of 180, and on the dimensions of 104 Pied Flycatcher holes and some breeding data collected in the Bialowieza National Park. In the oak-lime-hornbeam stands flycatchers preferred hornbeam Carpinus, in the riverine alders Alnus and ashes Fraxinus for breeding. The holes were on average 8.2 m above the ground, in trees of mean diameter at breast height of 46 cm. Holes were situated mostly in tree trunks (84%), in living trees (76%). The share of woodpecker-made holes was 34%. Their minimum entrance diameter was 3.5 cm on average. Openings were usually circular or slightly oval (69%). The distance between the hole entrance and bottom (danger distance) was 25 cm. The median bottom area was 102 cm2. Neither the volume nor the bottom area of the hole influenced the clutch size. Of the 100 broods studied 49 were lost due to predation. In Bialowieza Forest, the Pied Flycatcher population bred higher, and in holes with a longer danger distance in comparison with other areas. The last feature proved most important for brood safety - tree holes with longer danger distance were safer for broods than shallow ones


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