Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment
The Eurasian Nuthatch is a common bird species that uses artificial nest boxes for roosting in many areas across Europe. However, the knowledge about its roosting habits in urban habitats is lacking. In our study, conducted across three study sites in the city of Bratislava (forest, and two parkland...
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Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Tichodroma |
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| Online Access: | https://tichodroma.sk/pdfs/36/Tichodroma_36_9_Matejka.pdf |
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| author | Martin Matejka Hana Tomanovičová Martin Gera Zlatica Országhová |
| author_facet | Martin Matejka Hana Tomanovičová Martin Gera Zlatica Országhová |
| author_sort | Martin Matejka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Eurasian Nuthatch is a common bird species that uses artificial nest boxes for roosting in many areas across Europe. However, the knowledge about its roosting habits in urban habitats is lacking. In our study, conducted across three study sites in the city of Bratislava (forest, and two parklands), we observed this species roosting 151 times (1.7% of 9153 checked boxes). The mean nest-box occupancy by roosting Nuthatches, as well as their proportion among roosting birds, decreased from oakwood to parklands, varied significantly between checks, seasons, and was positively correlated with the number of roosting Great Tits. Mean relative air humidity and precipitation between 18:00 and 19:00 positively influenced nest box occupancy. The number of roosting Nuthatches also varied within a single winter (October to February), with the highest numbers recorded in November and December. A significant prevalence of recorded males was observed only in two parklands (accounting for 83.3% N = 18 and 79.2%, N = 22 of all records, respectively), while in woodland habitat, the sex ratio was nearly equal (males comprised 51.1%, N=94). Within a single winter season, 36.2% of roosting birds (N =58) were faithful to their roosting locality (i.e., recorded more than once in the season), with a mean fidelity rate of 0.1. Individuals recaptured over multiple winter seasons were observed only in the woodland area, accounting for 17.1% (N =35). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-66ee39bb6b4a4a5d85f9abb380a86b86 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1337-026X 2644-4992 |
| language | ces |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tichodroma |
| spelling | doaj-art-66ee39bb6b4a4a5d85f9abb380a86b862025-08-20T02:51:53ZcesSlovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest EcologyTichodroma1337-026X2644-49922024-12-0136253710.31577/tichodroma.2024.36.9Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environmentMartin Matejka0Hana Tomanovičová1Martin Gera2Zlatica Országhová3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, SlovakiaMeteorology Division, Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth, and Meteorology and Climatology, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina F1, 842 48 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, SlovakiaThe Eurasian Nuthatch is a common bird species that uses artificial nest boxes for roosting in many areas across Europe. However, the knowledge about its roosting habits in urban habitats is lacking. In our study, conducted across three study sites in the city of Bratislava (forest, and two parklands), we observed this species roosting 151 times (1.7% of 9153 checked boxes). The mean nest-box occupancy by roosting Nuthatches, as well as their proportion among roosting birds, decreased from oakwood to parklands, varied significantly between checks, seasons, and was positively correlated with the number of roosting Great Tits. Mean relative air humidity and precipitation between 18:00 and 19:00 positively influenced nest box occupancy. The number of roosting Nuthatches also varied within a single winter (October to February), with the highest numbers recorded in November and December. A significant prevalence of recorded males was observed only in two parklands (accounting for 83.3% N = 18 and 79.2%, N = 22 of all records, respectively), while in woodland habitat, the sex ratio was nearly equal (males comprised 51.1%, N=94). Within a single winter season, 36.2% of roosting birds (N =58) were faithful to their roosting locality (i.e., recorded more than once in the season), with a mean fidelity rate of 0.1. Individuals recaptured over multiple winter seasons were observed only in the woodland area, accounting for 17.1% (N =35).https://tichodroma.sk/pdfs/36/Tichodroma_36_9_Matejka.pdfovernightingurban ecologycavity nesting birdsslovakia |
| spellingShingle | Martin Matejka Hana Tomanovičová Martin Gera Zlatica Országhová Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment Tichodroma overnighting urban ecology cavity nesting birds slovakia |
| title | Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment |
| title_full | Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment |
| title_fullStr | Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment |
| title_short | Roosting of the Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) in various habitats of urban environment |
| title_sort | roosting of the eurasian nuthatch sitta europaea in various habitats of urban environment |
| topic | overnighting urban ecology cavity nesting birds slovakia |
| url | https://tichodroma.sk/pdfs/36/Tichodroma_36_9_Matejka.pdf |
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