Zasiedlenie poszczególnych typów budek lęgowych w lesie sosnowym - ocena efektywności kompensacji przyrodniczej względem różnych gatunków ptaków

We studied the use of 299 nest boxes placed as the biological compensation for forest removal during construction of A4 motorway in south−east Poland. Four types of nest boxes were placed in Scots pine stands: standard box type I (n=73), standard box type II (n=80), an open box (n=73) and a box for treecreepers Certhia sp. (n=73). During the first breeding season 78% of standard boxes I and 16% of standard boxes II were occupied. Standard boxes I were used mainly by the Great Tit Parus major and Blue Tit Cyanistes careuleus. Standard boxes II were used only by the European Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Neither open boxes, nor boxes for the treecreepers were occupied by any species. In the second breeding season similar number of standard boxes type I were used by tits, while starlings occupied significantly more boxes of type II than a year before. Boxes for treecreepers as well as open ones remained unoccupied. We emphasize the need of monitoring of the effects of any compensation as it allows to adjust proper methods for different species.