engleski

Establishing the Monitoring of Woodpeckers in the Croatian Karst

This paper summarize results of a study on distribution and abundance of woodpeckers in the highest part of the NW Dinaric Alps, Croatia, from 2004 to 2007. The aim of the study was to establish the basis for implementing a monitoring project focused on woodpeckers as part of an extensive Karst Ecosystems Conservation Project. Tree mountain forest types were covered: deciduous beech forests, mixed fir-beech forest, and coniferous fir or spruce forests. Woodpeckers were counted on 117 counting stations organized in 9 routes. Sound luring was used. Seven species of woodpeckers were found in the study area, but relative density were acquired for four species: Lesser Spotted Dendrocopos minor, Great Spotted Dendrocopos major, White-backed Dendocopus leucotos and Three-toed Woodpecker Picodies trydactilus. Great Spotted Woodpecker was the most frequent species with 45 territories determined in total (average 0, 38 territories/counting station). Relative density of Three-toed Woodpecker was 0, 31 territories /counting station and of White-backed Woodpecker 0, 26 territories/counting station. Habitat selection analyses showed that Three-toed Woodpecker selected coniferous and White-backed Woodpecker deciduous beech forests, while in Great Spotted Woodpecker it showed no habitat selection. Relative density of Lesser spotted woodpecker was rather low (0, 09 territories/counting station).

woodpeckers; karst; Croatia

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