High density of breeding Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos in the Middle Vistula River, Poland

Elas, Marek; Meissner, Włodzimierz

doi:10.18194/ws.00141

Cited by 4 publications

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“…The probability of avoiding flooding of the nest within the breeding season varied from 0.78 to 0.84, and there was a significant difference in the probability of nests not being flooded between different FEDs at the 95% confidence level (Friedman test with Conover adjustment, F = 15.15; p < 0.001). Hierarchical clustering based on the probability of avoiding flooding of the nest revealed three clusters with different survival rates: early FED (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43), middle FED , and late FED (72-79) (Figure A1, Figure 7). The probability of nests not being flooded in the middle period was significantly lower than for nests in the late period (Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni adjustment, W = 56, adjusted p < 0.001).…”

Section: Effect Of Fed On Probability Of Avoiding Flooding Of the Nestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[28,29]. The average density of this species in the middle Vistula River is 5.7-6.5 pairs/10 km of the river, but it reaches up to 35 pairs/10 km locally [30,31]. The breeding of Common Sandpiper populations on small rivers has been studied in detail [32][33][34]; however, in mountain rivers, spring floods result in the spontaneous restoration of natural habitats and may increase the number of breeding pairs due to the increase in breeding site availability and food abundance [35,36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Floods on Nest Survival Probability of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Breeding in the Riverbed of a Large Lowland European River

2023

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The natural valleys of large rivers provide suitable nesting and foraging sites for many bird species. In this study, we assess the effects of water fluctuations during the breeding season on Common Sandpipers’ nest survival on a semi-natural section of the Vistula River, and evaluate which tactics this species can adopt to minimise the effects on a long-term scale. Birds can avoid losses due to flooding by adjusting the timing of nesting to avoid the occurrence of extreme water conditions, and/or by choosing a safe nesting location. We found that nest location is a direct response to periodic high water, and the threat of flooding seems to be one of the important determinants of Common Sandpiper nest placement. The choice of nest location is not random, as 70% of pairs nested above a height that provides an 80% chance of avoiding flooding of the nest. For the lowest-lying nests found in this study, nesting success was reduced up to 92% because of inundation. Birds choose more elevated places, even during the second half of the season when the threat of flooding is lower. Their preference for nesting above a certain height does not change over the breeding season, which corresponds to the very small impact of the date of first egg laying on breeding success. Those who breed earlier in the season have a slightly higher risk of being flooded, but nesting in more elevated places reduces this risk much more than shifting the time of breeding.

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Section: Effect Of Fed On Probability Of Avoiding Flooding Of the Nestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Floods on Nest Survival Probability of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Breeding in the Riverbed of a Large Lowland European River

2023

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Habitat Selection and Negative Effect of River Regulation on the Abundance of the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), a Riparian Shorebird

Elas,

Grabska‐Szwagrzyk,

Meissner

2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Rivers and other freshwater ecosystems have been severely changed by humans. This resulted in a distinct decline in the abundance of many aquatic organisms, as well as those living in water‐dependent habitats. Our work aimed to study the habitat selection of breeding common sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos) and the impact of river regulation on the occurrence of this species. Data were collected on a 100‐km stretch of the Vistula River, a semi‐natural, lowland and large European river. The distribution of birds was determined based on two censuses, while environmental variables were collected based on Sentinel‐2 satellite imagery classification, digital elevation model (DEM), digital surface model (DSM) and official data of river regulations. The length of the shoreline of either the river or vegetated islands had a positive effect on the number of breeding territories of the common sandpiper. This indicates the importance of the presence of a natural riverbed with a complex shoreline. Moreover, sandpipers preferred islands over the river shores as nesting habitat. River regulations, such as groynes and riprap, had a negative impact on the abundance of breeding common sandpipers even though the river regulation was not intensive. The negative effect has been persisting for many years after the regulation was implemented, despite the degradation of regulatory structures over this period.

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Factors Affecting Survival of Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) Nests along the Semi-Natural Vistula River in Poland

Elas,

Witkowska,

Meissner

2024

Animals

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Predation is an important factor limiting bird populations and is usually the main factor influencing nest survival. In riverine habitats, flooding poses an additional significant challenge. Our study aimed to elucidate the influence of nest location and incubation timing on the survival of common sandpiper nests in a large, semi-natural, lowland river. The survey was carried out in central Poland on the Vistula River, in 2014–2015, 2021, and 2023, along two river sections 2 km and 10 km in length. The nest survival rate was 27%, which is twice as low as that reported on small upland rivers, with flooding being an additional factor causing losses on the Vistula River. Our research showed that mammalian and avian predation accounted for 51% of losses and flooding for 49% of losses. The negative impact of floods on nest survival decreased as the breeding season progressed between May and July, while the chances of being depredated increased during the same period. Nests placed under shrubs were less likely predated than nests located in grass. Moreover, locating the nest in proximity to water increased nesting survival and in fact, more nests found in our study were situated close to the water’s edge.

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High density of breeding Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos in the Middle Vistula River, Poland

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

The Effect of Floods on Nest Survival Probability of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Breeding in the Riverbed of a Large Lowland European River

The Effect of Floods on Nest Survival Probability of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Breeding in the Riverbed of a Large Lowland European River

Habitat Selection and Negative Effect of River Regulation on the Abundance of the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), a Riparian Shorebird

Factors Affecting Survival of Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) Nests along the Semi-Natural Vistula River in Poland

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