Hirundo 2/2000

Special issue on woodpeckers

Lõhmus, A., Elts, J., Evestus, T., Kinks, R., Kulpsoo, L., Leivits, A., Nellis, R. & Väli, Ü.
Numbers of breeding woodpeckers in Estonia
Summary: In 1999, the first large-scale mapping of breeding woodpeckers was carried out in Estonia. The numbers of breeding territories were studied in ten plots covering a total of 838 km² (incl. 449 km² of forested land).
All seven species that breed in Estonia were found. The areas of natural forests had almost all (6-7) of them, while mosaics of forests and agricultural areas had only 3-5 species (Table 3). In contrast, the highest total densities (over 200 territories per 100 km² of forest land) were found in forest-field mosaics. This was due to the pronounced dominance of Great Spotted Woodpecker (over 80% of all woodpeckers) there. However, the highest local density was found in the riverine forests of Alam-Pedja nature reserve (altogether 22 territories in fifteen stands with a total area of 1.1 km²).
The total densities of specialised species (i.e. excluding Great Spotted and Black Woodpecker) were highest in natural forest areas (52-63 territories per 100 km² of forest land) and much lower in managed forests (15-34) and forest-field mosaics (23-36). First of all, the difference between natural and man-influenced landscape were distinct in the White-backed Woodpecker (18-30 territories per 100 km² of forest land in natural and 3-9 in managed forest complexes, none in forest-field mosaics).
In general, the study confirmed the latest population estimates (Lõhmus et al. 1998) for the Grey-headed, Black, Lesser Spotted and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. The numbers of Green Woodpecker, which was abundant only on Saaremaa island, seem to be previously overestimated (less than 200 pairs, not 200-300) and those of the Three-toed Woodpecker underestimated (over 1000 pairs, not 500-1200).
During the last 50 years (excluding the second half of the 1990s) the numbers of six forest-dwelling woodpeckers have increased, apparently due to the twofold increase in forest area. At the same time the numbers of Green Woodpecker (and in ecologically similar Wryneck) have sharply decreased, which can result from the loss of seminatural habitats, their main foraging ground. In the nearest future, however, the recent intensification of Estonian forestry is likely to have a significant negative impact on the most sensitive forest species as well (e. g. White-backed Woodpecker). Forest reserve network, which according to Estonian Forest Policy should cover four per cent of forests, is not large and representative enough to avoid these declines.

Lõhmus, A.
Bird of the Year 1999: woodpeckers
Summary: Spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos spp.) were the Birds of the Year in Estonia in 1999. This paper summarizes 105 answers to a questionnaire, regarding how widely different species were known, their distribution, numbers and trends. Almost all people knew Great Spotted Woodpecker, which did not breed in only three studied localities. Rare species were much less known by people. The distribution of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was more even than that of the White-backed Woodpecker, which was particularly rare in the western archi-pelago, northern and north-western part of mainland Estonia (Fig. 2). Numbers of both latter species have declined in the last decade, in contrast to the stability or increase in the Great Spotted Woodpecker. The Middle Spotted Woodpecker was observed in at least three localities, and finally, in spring 2000, the first breeding of the species in Estonia was confirmed (see Kinks & Eltermaa, this volume).

Elts, J.
Breeding biology of Estonian woodpeckers
Summary: The paper summarizes data on nest sites, clutch and brood size and breeding phenology of seven Estonian woodpeckers. 312 nest record cards of the EOS database have been analysed, the majority (72%) of which represent the records about Great Spotted Woodpecker. From all other species only small numbers of cards are available, and not a single one about Green Woodpecker nests. In the future, observation quality should be improved, one one hand by recording clutch and brood sizes more often, and on the other hand by visiting nests more than just once.

Kinks, R.
Habitat use of woodpeckers in Estonia
Summary: Casual observations (mostly about foraging) of all eight breeding woodpeckers were gathered with a special questionnaire in 1999 and 2000 to explore the habitat use of woodpeckers in Estonia. Altogether 1977 observations from all counties were got, out of which 52% concern foraging, 18% calling, 19% drumming and 11% other activities of woodpeckers.
The foraging sites of Three-toed, Black and White-backed Woodpecker were almost entirely in forests. The relative frequency of managed forests was the highest in the Black Woodpecker and lowest in the White-backed Woodpecker. Majority of the foraging sites of Middle Spotted, Grey-headed and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were situated in parks, gardens and other habitats of sparse tree cover. Although Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers foraged most frequently in forests, they were often observed in parks, gardens and other habitats as well. The species most frequently encountered on ground and at feeders were the Grey-headed and the Green Woodpecker.
The Great Spotted, Black and Three-toed Woodpecker foraged more often in coniferous than in deciduous stands, while the Middle Spotted and White-backed Woodpecker mostly foraged in deciduous stands. The Black and Three-toed Woodpecker also foraged most frequently on coniferous trees, contrarily to Grey-headed, Middle Spotted and White-backed Woodpecker that used deciduous trees most often. Dead wood as foraging substratum was most often used by the Black and White-backed Woodpeckers.
Differences between winter and summer foraging sites were most pronounced in the White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers. In winter, the White-backed Woodpecker foraged more often on dead wood, while the Three-toed and Great Spotted Woodpecker used more deciduous trees in that season.

Kinks, R & Eltermaa, J.
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers in Räpina
Summary: In 2000, three Middle Spotted Woodpeckers were caught and ringed in Räpina park (SE-Estonia) and the first breeding case of the species in Estonia was confirmed. The nest was situated in living oak at 5.6 m in height. Nest-building started on 18 April, eggs were laid on the first week of May, nestlings hatched on 18 or 19 May. Both adults participated in nest-building, incubating and feeding of young. Food was brought to young on average after every 12 (1-49) minutes. The brood failed – two dead nestlings were found in the nest on 6 June.

Lõhmus, A., Elts, J., Evestus, T., Kinks, R., Nellis, R. & Väli, Ü.
Techniques for woodpecker census
Summary: Among birds of conservation concern, woodpeckers have been one of the least studied groups in Estonia. The paper gives an overview of woodpecker census techniques (based on literature and authors’ experience) and develops recommendations for Estonia. Using tape records of drumming, playback census of territories should be carried out in 10*10 km squares between mid-March and mid-May. In our pilot study all species responded almost equally well to the drumming of male White-backed Woodpecker (Fig. 3). Additionally, it is recommended to search for nests and to use occasional observations that could indicate territories. The paper briefly reviews the possibilities to use foraging tracks, and some problems with data interpretation and species identification.

Notes
Koppel, A.
Food of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in a Pinus nigra stand
Põldsam, H.
Great Spotted Woodpecker destroying a nest of Tree Sparrow
Põldsam, H.
Birds at salt feeders

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