The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland

In Poland, it is highly probable that in past centuries, Common Cranes (<i>Grus grus</i>) were widespread all over the country. In the 19th century, a particularly dramatic decline in this population took place when Common Cranes abandoned many regions. At present, this species inhabits...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marcin Polak, Romuald Mikusek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Birds
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/46
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850242312153595904
author Marcin Polak
Romuald Mikusek
author_facet Marcin Polak
Romuald Mikusek
author_sort Marcin Polak
collection DOAJ
description In Poland, it is highly probable that in past centuries, Common Cranes (<i>Grus grus</i>) were widespread all over the country. In the 19th century, a particularly dramatic decline in this population took place when Common Cranes abandoned many regions. At present, this species inhabits the whole of lowland Poland, only avoiding the uplands and mountainous regions in the south of the country. The rate of population growth between 2001 and 2018 was c. 5% per annum. The breeding population increased tenfold in the 30 years from 1990 to 2020. The results of the Polish Bird Monitoring Programme in 2018–2020 show that Common Crane numbers had stabilized. The latest count (2013–2018) of breeding pairs in Poland is 23,000–30,000, while that for the years 2010–2012 was 20,000–22,000, i.e., 15% of the European population or 19% of the breeding population in the EU. The greatest threats to the Polish Common Crane population come from habitat and climate changes, two factors that are inextricably interlinked. Experts are alerting that climate warming, in combination with increased pressure from human activities, can, in the long term, reverse this trend and lead to declines in Common Crane populations in this part of Europe.
format Article
id doaj-art-e034ce2792e14365824ada22d04023da
institution OA Journals
issn 2673-6004
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Birds
spelling doaj-art-e034ce2792e14365824ada22d04023da2025-08-20T02:00:18ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042024-10-015467168410.3390/birds5040046The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in PolandMarcin Polak0Romuald Mikusek1Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, PolandThe Foundation for Nature, Al. Spółdzielczości Pracy 36, 20-147 Lublin, PolandIn Poland, it is highly probable that in past centuries, Common Cranes (<i>Grus grus</i>) were widespread all over the country. In the 19th century, a particularly dramatic decline in this population took place when Common Cranes abandoned many regions. At present, this species inhabits the whole of lowland Poland, only avoiding the uplands and mountainous regions in the south of the country. The rate of population growth between 2001 and 2018 was c. 5% per annum. The breeding population increased tenfold in the 30 years from 1990 to 2020. The results of the Polish Bird Monitoring Programme in 2018–2020 show that Common Crane numbers had stabilized. The latest count (2013–2018) of breeding pairs in Poland is 23,000–30,000, while that for the years 2010–2012 was 20,000–22,000, i.e., 15% of the European population or 19% of the breeding population in the EU. The greatest threats to the Polish Common Crane population come from habitat and climate changes, two factors that are inextricably interlinked. Experts are alerting that climate warming, in combination with increased pressure from human activities, can, in the long term, reverse this trend and lead to declines in Common Crane populations in this part of Europe.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/46wetland birdshabitat suitabilityglobal warmingmigrationpredation
spellingShingle Marcin Polak
Romuald Mikusek
The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland
Birds
wetland birds
habitat suitability
global warming
migration
predation
title The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland
title_full The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland
title_fullStr The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland
title_full_unstemmed The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland
title_short The Past, Present and Future of the Common Crane (<i>Grus grus</i>) in Poland
title_sort past present and future of the common crane i grus grus i in poland
topic wetland birds
habitat suitability
global warming
migration
predation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/46
work_keys_str_mv AT marcinpolak thepastpresentandfutureofthecommoncraneigrusgrusiinpoland
AT romualdmikusek thepastpresentandfutureofthecommoncraneigrusgrusiinpoland
AT marcinpolak pastpresentandfutureofthecommoncraneigrusgrusiinpoland
AT romualdmikusek pastpresentandfutureofthecommoncraneigrusgrusiinpoland