The aim of the study was to test whether the methods using the playback technique produce accurate data of population size when compared to the standard mapping and nest-searching methods. The three-visit method with audio-stimulation was found to produce data of the same accuracy (100%, n = 11 territories) as the standard mapping method, but the nest-searching method and single-visit with audio-stimulation yielded slightly lower estimates, 91% and 82% respectively, in comparison to the previously mentioned methods. However, the three-visit method with audio-stimulation was 2.2 times less time consuming than the five visits which used the standard mapping method (9h vs 20h). The three-visit method with audio stimulation could be appropriate for assessing distribution and abundance, and also for monitoring purposes.
REFERENCES
P. Angelstam
,
J.-M. Roberge
,
A. Lõhmus
,
M. Bergmanis
,
G. Brazaitis
,
M. Breuss
,
L. Edenius
,
Z. Kosiński
,
P. Kurlavicius
,
V. Lārmanis
,
M. Lūkins
,
G. Mikusiński
,
E. Račinskis
,
M. Strazds
,
P. Tryjanowski
2004. Habitat suitability index modelling as a conservation tool — a review of habitat parameters for forest birds in the Baltic Sea region. In:
P. Angelstam,
M. Breuss
(eds). Targets and tools for the maintenance of forest biodiversity. Ecological Bulletins 51 (in press). Google Scholar
S. Bachmann
,
G. Pasinelli
2002. Raumnutzung syntop vorkommender Buntspechte Dendrocopos major und Mittelspechte D. medius und Bemerkungen zur Konkurrenzsituation. Orn. Beob. 99: 33–48. Google Scholar
M. Becker
,
K-H. Heyne
1994. Verbreitung und Bestandsgröβe des Mittelspechts (Dendrocopos medius) im Raum Trier, westliches Rheinland-Pfalz. Dendrocopos 21: 17–33. Google Scholar
C. J. Bibby
,
N. D. Burgess
,
D. A. Hill
,
S. H. Mustoe
2000. Bird census techniques. Academic Press, London. Google Scholar
J. Bühlmann
,
G. Pasinelli
1996. Beeinfussen kleinflächige Waldnutzung und Wetter die Siedlungsdichte des Mittelspechts Dendrocopos medius. Orn. Beob. 93: 267–276. Google Scholar
P. Chylarecki
,
Z. Rohde
,
P. Zieliński
,
M. Gromadzki
2001. [Common Breeding Bird Survey]. OTOP/Stacja Ornitologiczna IE PAN, Gdańsk. Google Scholar
K. Conrads
,
W. Conrads
1992. Der Mittelspecht (Picoides medius) im Beller Holz (Kreis Lippe). Ber. Naturwiss. Ver. Bielefeld 33: 5–46. Google Scholar
U. Gärdenfors
2001. Classifying threatened species at national versus global levels. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16: 511–516. Google Scholar
D. E. Glue
,
T. Boswell
1994. Comparative nesting ecology of the three British breeding woodpeckers. Brit. Birds 87: 253–269. Google Scholar
E. Günther
1992. Untersuchung zum Brutbestand, zur Bestandsentwicklung und zum Habitat des Mittelspechtes (Dendrocopos medius) im nordöstlichen Harz (Sachsen Anhalt). Orn. Jber. Mus. Heineanum 10: 31–53. Google Scholar
J. del Hoyo,
A. Elliott,
J. Sargatal
(eds). 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. VII. Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Google Scholar
R. R. Johnson
,
B. T. Brown
,
L. T. Haight
,
J. M. Simpson
1981. Playback recordings as a special avian censusing technique. In:
C. J. Ralph,
J. M. Scott
(eds). Estimating numbers of terrestrial birds. Studies in Avian Biology, No. 6: 68–75. Google Scholar
M. Kempa
2003. [The number and spatial distribution of woodpeckers nest-holes (Picidae) in a managed forest near Krotoszyn]. M. Sc. thesis, Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, University of Adam Mickiewicz, Poznań. Google Scholar
Z. Kosiński
,
A. Winiecki
2003. [Estimation of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius — a comparison between the mapping technique combined with audio stimulation and nest searching method]. Not. Ornitol. 44: 43–55. Google Scholar
R. J. Lambeck
1997. Focal species define landscape requirements for nature conservation. Conservation Biology 11: 849–856. Google Scholar
T. D. Mazgajski
2002. Nesting phenology and breeding success in Great Spotted Woodpecker Picoides major near Warsaw (Central Poland). Acta Ornithol. 37: 1–6. Google Scholar
G. Mikusiński
,
P. Angelstam
1997. European woodpeckers and anthropogenic habitat change: a review. Vogelwelt 118: 277–283. Google Scholar
N. S. Morozov
1994. Inter-analyst variation in the combined version of the mapping method: the role of experience. Acta Ornithol. 29: 89–99. Google Scholar
W. Müller
1982. Die Besiedlung der Eichenwälder im Kanton Zürich durch den Mittelspecht Dendrocopos medius. Orn. Beob. 79: 105–119. Google Scholar
T. Noah
2000. Siedlungsdichte, Habitat und Bestandsentwicklung der Spechte im NSG “Innerer Unterspreewald”. Otis 8: 75–98. Google Scholar
J. Nowakowski
1994. [The mapping method — absolute or merely relative numbers?]. Not. Ornitol. 35: 373–387. Google Scholar
G. Pasinelli
2000. Oaks (Quercus sp.) and only oaks? Relations between habitat structure and home range size of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius). Biol. Conserv. 93: 227–235. Google Scholar
G. Pasinelli
2001. Breeding performance of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius in relation to weather and territory quality. Ardea 89: 353–361. Google Scholar
G. Pasinelli
2003.
Dendrocopos medius Middle Spotted Woodpecker. BWP Update. Vol. V (1): 49–99. Google Scholar
G. Pasinelli
,
J. Hegelbach
,
H.-U. Reyer
2001. Spacing behavior of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker in central Europe. J. Wildl. Manage. 65: 432–441. Google Scholar
B. Pettersson
1985. Extinction of an isolated population of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius (L.) in Sweden and its relation to general theories on extinction. Biol. Conserv. 32: 335–353. Google Scholar
J. Pinowski
,
K. Williamson
1974. Introductory informations of the Fourth Meeting of the International Bird Census Committee. Acta Ornithol. 14: 152–164. Google Scholar
C.H. Randler
2000. Verbreitung, Bestand und Siedlungsdichte des Mittelspechts Dendrocopos medius im Stromberg, Nordwürttenberg. Orn. Anz. 39: 197–206. Google Scholar
H. Robles
,
P. P. Olea
2003. [Distribution and abundance of Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius in a southern population of the Cantabrian Mountains]. Ardeola 50: 275–280. Google Scholar
L. Schmitz
1993. Distribution et habitat du Pic mar Dendrocopos medius en Belgicue. Aves 30: 145–166. Google Scholar
A. Spitznagel
1993. Warum sind Spechte schwierig zu erfassende Arten? Beih. Veröff. Naturschutz Landschaftspflege Bad.-Württ. 67: 59–70. Google Scholar
P. Südbeck
,
T. Gall
1993. Der Mittelspecht (Picoides medius) in Schleswig-Holstein — Erfassungsprobleme und ihre Konsequenzen für Bestandsschätzungen. Corax 15: 211–221. Google Scholar
L. Tomiałojć
1980. The combined version of the mapping method. In:
H. Oelke
(ed.). Bird census work and nature conservation. Göttingen, pp. 92–106. Google Scholar
