Bird communities of old pine coniferous forests and the characteristics of their microhabitats in pine forests at least 160 years old

This paper presents the results of a study of bird populations connected with the oldest forest stands of pine coniferous forests in Kampinoska Forest, where the pine trees are minimum 160 years old. It presents the basic results concerning the distribution, selectiveness and habitat preferences of hole-nesters and the birds connected with old forests in connection with habitat characteristics. The studied areas were dominated by hole-nesters, and a significant share was of birds connected with gaps left after broken trees. A large group was made up by birds which collect invertebrates among trees and then the species which feed on trunks and branches. Large dimensions of pine trees and numerous cracks in bark, cracks in trunks and hollows under windfallen tress served as microhabitats for particular bird species. The index of species diversity and number of pairs were similar in every area, probably due to dozens of years of forest protection, thanks to which similar quantity and quality parameters developed in the areas.