Supplementum 8/2005

Ülo Väli
11 bird species of conservation concern – habitats and their protection

Abstract

In the current publication, habitats of the Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia, the Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, the Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia, the Corncrake Crex crex, the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos, the Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, the Woodlark Lullula arborea, the Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva, the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, and the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana are described and the habitat protection measures for these species are suggested.

The first part of the book contains short abstracts about species, and the protection of their habitats. In the second part, more detailed overviews are given, to enable understanding the background of every suggested protection measure. Every species is treated in a separate chapter. In the beginning of every chapter, the current status in Estonia and in Europe and the purpose of the conservation of the species are presented, as well as the short summary about its numbers, distribution and breeding phenology. This will be followed by a detailed overview about studies of species’ habitats, both in landscape and nest site level, performed in Estonian and elsewhere. Also protection measures used in Estonia and in other countries are introduced. Finally, further protection needs and purposes are discussed, and optimal protection measures are suggested. The suggestions are distinguished as general and concrete actions. General actions should be used for protecting the Estonian population of a species by making strategic decisions in a national level. Concrete measures should be used to save a particular nest site. The latter could not be used, of course, in every single nest site of numerous species, but one should consider using them in nature reserves, and these suggestions could act as guidelines for the landowners caring about the nature.

The publication is available only in Estonian without English summaries.