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Results of Corncrake Survey on the Nemunėlis River Valley

1999; Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University; Volume: 9; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13921657.1999.10512298

1648-6919

Linas Balčiauskas, Laima Balčiauskienč,

Avian ecology and behavior

The Corncrake survey carried out on the Nemunėlis River valley and at the edge of the Biržų Giria forest in 1998-1999 has revealed this area, partially neglected by people, to be distinguished by very high Corncrake density. In the 43-km-long transect from Kvetkai to Nemunėlio Radviliškis, 57 ‘singing’ male Corncrakes were recorded in 1998 and 73 in 1999. The highest density of Corncrakes was observed in the part of the valley with low-intensity farming and meadows of the forest edge. In the part of the valley with high-intensity farming the density of Corncrakes averaged out at 0.85 pairs/km2 in 1998 and 1.05 pairs/km2 in 1999, while in that with low-intensity farming – 0.67 and 0.65 pairs/km2, respectively. We consider that some 500-600 Corncrake pairs breed in Biržai Region. On the current farming intensity, high density of Corncrakes will be maintained without special measures of conservation.