bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polish party system in the period of post-solidarity modernization
Authors: Boiarska Yevheniia ,   Mariupol State University
Published: March 2023

The current socio-political situation in the European region and in the world is characterized by profound and qualitative changes. The party system of the Republic of Poland is also undergoing significant transformations, objectively related, first, to the logic of the political party system in the country with the beginning of democratization in 1989-1990 and the functioning of political parties, on the other - to European features of political and party systems. For Ukraine, the experience of transformations and peculiarities of the development of the Polish party system is relevant and useful due to the similarity of political, economic, and socio-cultural situation at the beginning of the development of party systems and opportunities to adapt the Polish experience to Ukrainian realities. The object of research is Polish political parties, and the subject of research is the peculiarities of the transformation of the Polish party system. The chronological boundaries of the study cover the period from 1989-1990, when the country began the process of modernization of the party system, to 2019, when the last parliamentary elections took place in the country. The analysis of current publications related to political transformations in Europe and the problems of the Polish political party system shows an active academic discussion about the functioning of the Polish political party system and the factors influencing its functioning. As a result of our research, we have made a number of important conclusions. The transformation of the Polish party system took place in a cycle of modernization - the institutionalization of parties - return to power of the left parties - return to power of the right parties. Voters' sympathies for left-wing parties are explained by the social guarantees they promise to the electorate. The consequence of the institutionalization of the Polish party system is a tendency towards bipartisanship, at least the functioning of large, mass parties, as well as active party competition of political parties for power. The process of building a party system in post-communist Poland was a competition between communist and liberal-democratic forces. The dualistic principle of party division, which is based on the division into "left" and "right", was one of the reasons why the two most dominant political parties in Poland today are the «Civic Platform» and «Law and Justice». It has been established that today's Polish party system is in a cycle of sympathy for the right-wing forces. The victory of the political party "Law and Justice" in the 2015 and 2019 elections and the formation of a majority government, without coalitions with other political forces, led to the destruction of the relative political balance provided by coalition agreements between political parties. Also in the functioning of political parties was found widespread use of manipulative technologies: in intra-party relations, during election campaigns and community service.
Alcohol consumption in everyday life of Mariupol ueyzd greeks: source study aspect
Authors: Arabadzhy Svitlana ,   Mariupol State University
Published: March 2023

The studies examine the complex of sources reflecting Mariupol uyezd Greeks alcohol consumption in the XIXth – early XXth centuries. The existing complex of the written sources is classified into stamped (official) and clerical documents, descriptive and statistical materials and periodicals’ materials, sources of special origin. It was determined that the stamped regulatory documents were created due to the existence of the problem of the population’s alcohol abuse and were directed to the minimization of its negative influence by means of prices and fines increase. The stamped sources are representational, most of them are kept in the State Archival Funds of Donetsk region. It was proved that the clerical materials, the doctors’ reports in particular, have the unique data that reflect the scope of alcohol consumption among the Greek villagers and are also complemented with the personal reflections of medical sphere representatives. The descriptive and statistical materials give the significant data concerning quantity of the places where alcohol-containing products were produced, distributed and stored. They also enable to trace the dynamics of their growth; accordingly they represent demand for services in the alcohol beverage market. The article demonstrates that the materials of the city’s newspaper complement the data of the official sources with the “vivid content”, cover the crimes that were committed under the influence of alcohol. They describe the detected crimes, mainly murders and robberies, stepwise that allow tracing peculiarities of the Greek population’s deviant behavior. The sources of special origin concerning the Greeks’ alcohol consumption in their everyday life are represented by travel notes including foreigners’ letters, applications and expeditions’ materials. The article shows that these sources have completely opposite data as to people’s alcohol consumption. It also characterizes the conditions under which they were written and characteristic features of their authors.
Legal status of ship mechanics of the merchant navy of the Azov-black sea region of the XIX - early XX centuries
Authors: Kovalchuk Tetiana ,   Azov Maritime Institute of National University “Odessa Maritime Academy”
Published: March 2023

This article reveals the problems of the personnel of the crews of sea-going merchant vessels of the Azov-Black Sea region. The unrestrained development of domestic and foreign trade in the conditions of a shortage of professional personnel of the merchant navy pushed the Russian Empire to the legal regulation of the competencies of ship mechanics in the early XX century. Until 1903, the legal status of mechanics in the Russian merchant navy was uncertain. Ship mechanics in the Trade Charter of 1893 were listed as members of the crew of free hire and were not part of the command staff. This created serious inconveniences both for ship captains, who found it difficult to cooperate with mechanics, and for mechanics who had no legal basis to manage their immediate subordinates (drivers and firemen). In addition, in the Russian Empire at that time there was no clear system of ship mechanics training for both cabotage and long-distance navigation due to the low level of population’s education, and insufficient attention from the state to the problems of the merchant navy. «Regulations about mechanics on ships of the merchant navy», approved in 1903 defined the state benefits to ship mechanics − deprivation from military service and enlistment in the command of the ship, provided an opportunity to obtain the rights of honorary citizen. It defined the requirements for those who aspired to obtain the positions of ship mechanics: reaching the age of majority, passing the tests of the qualification commission and the presence of a practical qualification. The regulation of the legal status of ship mechanics at the legislative level has influenced on the organization of their training in the Russian Empire. In 1901, a mechanical department for the training of ship mechanics was opened at the Odessa School of Merchant Shipping, for the first time in the Russian Empire. There were no educational institutions in which they could receive higher education in the early XX century. The appearance of the «Regulations on Mechanics on Merchant Navy Ships» in 1903 corrected the negative situation caused by the legal uncertainty of the rights and responsibilities of merchant navy mechanics. The provision raised the prestige of ship mechanics, who received officer's rights and, at the same time, increased their salaries.
Volunteers on the defens of Mariupol: hostilities in sector "M" in september 2014 and the participation of ukrainian volunteer formations in them
Authors: Kravchenko Mykola ,   М. Ѕ. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Sourse Studies, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Published: March 2023

The article examines the course of hostilities in Sector "M" in September 2014, as well as the participation of Ukrainian volunteer formations in them. The source base of the study is based on analytical materials of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, publications organized with the assistance of the Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, memoirs of participants and unregulated documentation of volunteer battalions. The aim of the publication is to to find out the role of Ukrainian volunteer formations in hostilities in Sector M in early September 2014. To achieve this goal, the article examines the sources that cover this topic, identifies the list of Ukrainian volunteer formations stationed at the time in Sector "M", and the nature of their participation in military operations. The research methodology involves the application of the principles of historicism, the usage of studying whole historical sources and being objective. Descriptive method, methods of classification and systematization as well as methods of analysis and synthesis have been used. The scientific novelty is caused by unexplored topics within academic science. It’s the first scientific review of hostilities on the Azov coast in the first days of autumn 2014. The prospects of further research is that by studying the course of hostilities in this strategically important section of the front, it is possible to analyze in more detail the military-political events of the period under study as a whole. The conclusions of the study are to determine the key role of Ukrainian volunteer formations (primarily the Azov Battalion and the Cossack unit in the border detachment (Т.Shevchenko’s Kyiv cossack regiment), as well as volunteer battalions "Shakhtarsk" and "Slobozhanshchina" and some crews of the Dnipro-1 battalion) in the defense of Mariupol on September 4-5, 2014. Given the strategic importance of the Azov section of the front, it is possible to state the significant contribution of volunteer formations to the military-political events of autumn 2014 in general.
Breeding biology of the Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus in Lapland, Sweden
Authors: Gierow Peter , Gierow Martin
Published: March 2023

We have studied a population of individually colour ringed Lapland Buntings at Ammarnäs, Swedish Lapland in 1984—1989. Pairs arrived together at the study site at the time of snow melting (late May to early June). Territorial behaviour (i.e. singing by the males) usually lasted about 10 days. In 1986 and 1987 males sang throughout the incubation period (20–25 days); in the latter year this may have been caused by extensive nest predation. Females were most often seen feeding close to their nests, while males were less confined to their territories. Some observations of territorial birds feeding together in flocks were made during the breeding season. The territory density at the study site was 29/km2 which is a slight increase compared to figures from before 1984. Egg-laying was highly synchronized and more than 75% of the females initiated their clutch within 6 days after the first egg in the first clutch was laid. The average clutch size decreased with progress of the breeding season (-0.057 eggs/day). Clutch size decreased with calendar day in a bi-phasic pattern, decreasing slowly between 28 May and 13 June (-0.02 eggs/day) and more rapidly between 14—20 June (-0.09 eggs/day). The average clutch sizes for these two periods differed significantly (5.59 vs. 5.02). The lower clutch size late in the season may at least partly be caused by younger females breeding later and having smaller clutches. Females that were known to be old (3K+) had significantly larger clutches than young (2K) and unringed (3K+) females (5.74 and 5.31, respectively). The former group (3K +) on average laid their first eggs on 11 June compared to 14 June for the latter (2K and 3K+). 53% of the females started to incubate before the clutch was complete, resulting in a 1-2 days hatching asynchrony. Nestlings remained in the nest until they were 10-11 days old. 92% of the unpredated eggs hatched and only 6 %of the nestlings died during the nest period. During five of the study years, 14% of the nests were predated. In the sixth year (1987), as much as 88% of the nests were lost by predation. Thus, predation seemed to have a rather low impact on the population during normal years. However, in the year after the large nest predation (1988) the density of breeding birds reached its minimum suggesting that at least short term effects can occur.
Utbredning, beståndsstorlek samt långtidsförändringar i beståndens storlek hos övervintrande sjöfåglar i Sverige
Authors: Nilsson Leif
Published: March 2023

Midwinter counts of waterfowl have been undertaken in Sweden since the start of the International Waterfowl Counts in January 1967. The present report presents data on distribution and numbers of wintering waterfowl in Sweden based on intensive counts in January 1987—1989.The distribution of the different species was compared with an earlier period of intensive counts in 1971—74, showing only small differences. On the other hand most waterfowl were markedly concentrated during the cold winter of 1987. Significantly increasing trends in numbers were found for Aythya ferina, Bucephala clangula, Mergus serrator and Cygnus olor, whereas Fulica atra increased markedly over the first years to "crash" after the 1978/79 hard winter. The other species showed fluctuations between different years, in many cases with lower indices during hard winters. Internationally, B. clangula and C. olor also showed increasing trends in NW Europe. Sweden is an important winter area for A. fuligula, B. clangula, M. merganser and C. cygnus with 13–17% of the total NW European population in Swedish waters.
Distribution, reproductive success, and population trend in the Dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii on the Swedish west coast
Authors: Blomqvist Donald , Johansson Olof C
Published: March 2023

In 1989, the breeding population of the Dunlin in the provinces of Bohuslän and Halland on the Swedish west coast was surveyed. The total population size was estimated at a maximum of 44 pairs. The number of breeding pairs has declined during the 1980s and the population has been restricted to about 10 localities; 55% of the total population occurred at two sites. At two of the surveyed localities, hatching success varied considerably among years, reflecting variation in nest predation rate. An experiment with dummy nests suggested that vegetation height, and thus protective cover, does not influence the probability of predation. On average, 0.8 and 1.0 fledglings per pair were produced at the two localities. Estimates of maintenance of population size in one study area indicated that this subpopulation was not self-supporting, apparently due to low hatching success. No clear relationship was found between moderately decreased grazing intensity and the decline of the population during the last decade. In addition to habitat alterations, other factors seem to affect the population trend of the Dunlin on the Swedish west coast. The small population is vulnerable to unpredictable events, such as temporarily increased nest predation.
Autumn migrating Bluethroats Luscinia s. svecica orient in an eastsoutheasterly direction at Gävle, East Sweden
Authors: Ellegren Hans , Wallin Kjell
Published: March 2023

The orientation of Bluethroats captured during autumn migration at a stopover site in eastern Sweden was investigated by cage experiments during the twilight period after sunset. The mean direction of 63 juvenile birds tested under clear skies was 117° (ESE). This direction is consistent with data from ringing recoveries within as well as outside Scandinavia. We suggest that an earlier assumption that Scandinavian Bluethroats migrate towards both southwest and southeast should be reconsidered.
Effekten av dåligt väder på gråsiskans Carduelis flammea häckning ett björkfröfattigt år i södra Lappland
Authors: Nyström Bodil , Nyström Hans
Published: March 2023

The number of breeding Common Redpolls in montane birch forests is shown to be subject to great fluctuations. Peak years have coincided with a superabundant seed crop of the montane birch. The connection between the breeding of the Redpolls and the birch seed crop has been studied since 1979 in the Ammarnäs area in Swedish Lapland. In 1988 there was a very low abundance of birch seeds, yet the density of the Redpolls during the breeding season was quite high. Here we present some observations on the breeding success of Redpolls in this year. The study is based on observations at 21 nests of Common and Arctic Redpolls. Only 3 of 12 pairs that started to breed just before or during a six days period with cold and rainy weather bred successfully. The other pairs postponed egglaying (2) or deserted their clutches (7). All pairs that had completed egglaying more than two days before or started the egglaying after the cold period were successful. In years with a good supply of birch seeds no such effects of bad weather have been recorded during the early period of the breeding. Our observations show how vulnerable the Redpolls are to bad weather when the seed crop is poor. The adult Redpolls probably switched to an insect diet, which was hard to maintain when the weather became cold and rainy.
Återfynd av kungsfåglar Regulus regulus funna i Sverige: tidsmässigt uppträdande samt köns- och åldersfördelning
Authors: Grenmyr Urban
Published: March 2023

In Sweden, 377 recoveries of Goldcrests Regulus regulus have been reported up to and including 1997. Of these, 274 (73%) were ringed outside of Sweden, mainly in neighbouring countries: Norway (45), Finland (70), Russia and the Baltic States (77), Poland (22) and Denmark (43). Three hundred recoveries were made during the autumn migration, 62 during spring migration and four during winter. Goldcrests ringed to the east of Sweden (e.g. in Finland) make up a relatively large proportion of the autumn recoveries, while comparatively few Goldcrests of eastern origin have been found in subsequent migratory seasons compared to birds of western origin (Norway). This indicates that Goldcrests of eastern origin adopt a more easterly route of migration in subsequent seasons. A large part of the recoveries consists of birds, which have been caught or otherwise found in connection with ringing activities. A majority of the Swedish bird observatories are situated along the Baltic Sea, on islands or close to the coast. The sex distribution during autumn migration among individuals handled at ringing sites shows a surplus of males (63.1%) among short-term recoveries. Among birds ringed during previous seasons (adult birds) the sex ratio is still, but slightly less, male biased (55.8%). At ringing, most Goldcrests (both newly ringed and recaptured) are aged based on the shape of rectrices. When recaptured, 26 of the adults were correctly aged as adults. However, 12 were wrongly assigned as juveniles and the remaining 14 were not aged. The fact that about one third of the aged, adult Goldcrests were recorded as juveniles (1Y) when controlled is assumed to reflect the difficulty to positively age Goldcrests using morphological criteria.
Breeding waders in Slovenia
Authors: Vogrin Milan
Published: March 2023

The paper presents the past and current status of breeding waders in Slovenia. In the 19th century, nine waders were breeding in Slovenia, whereas about 30 years ago about seven species were breeding. Today, thirteen species breed. However, only eight species are regular breeders. The most common species is Lapwing Vanellus vanellus with up to 2,000 pairs, followed by Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (up to 700 pairs) and Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (up to 400 pairs). For these species breeding densities in various habitats are also presented. Most Lapwings in Slovenia breed on intensively cultivated fields (e.g. maize, sugar beet, potatoes). Only some pairs still nest on meadows, where a decline has been noticed. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines breeds exclusively on the coast, where the population increases.
Neck collar retention in a Greylag Goose Anser anser population
Authors: Persson Hakon
Published: March 2023

A total of 179 recaptures, obtained one to eleven years after collar placement, was used to estimate neck collar retention rates in a marked breeding population of Greylag Goose Anser anser in Scania, southernmost Sweden. Owing to a very high year-round re-sighting frequency, all calculations were made on the total time neck collars had been exposed to potential losses. The overall annual neck collar retention rate was 97.1±0.7%. The annual loss rate was four times higher in males than in females (5.5±1.5% vs 1.4±0.5%), twice as high among birds collared as goslings than among those collared as breeders, both in males (8.4±4.0% vs 4.6±1.6%) and in females (1.7±0.9% vs 0.7±0.7%) and markedly higher among individuals wintering in southwestern Spain than among those spending the winter elsewhere, both in males (9.1±3.1% vs 2.5±1.4%) and in females (2.3±1.1% vs 0.6±0.6%). Shooting was the main cause of neck collar loss, but most collars did not actually fall off until during the following breeding season. Suggestions are presented of how these results ought to influence the analysis of survival rates based on re-sightings of neck-collared individuals from this population.
Changes in field choice among staging and wintering geese in southwestern Scania, south Sweden
Authors: Nilsson Leif , Persson Hakon
Published: March 2023

Field choice of staging and wintering geese were regularly noted during the International Goose Counts in south-west Scania, South Sweden, since the start in 1977/78. Marked changes in the selection of field types was noted during the autumn counts. When the counts started sugar beet fields were important for Anser fabalis during late autumn, whereas Anser albifrons, Branta canadensis and the few staging Branta leucopsis mainly used autumn-sown cereals and grassland, and the few observed Anser anser fed on stubbles. During the study period all species changed to feed on sugar beet remains during autumn, and this was the preferred food for all species in recent years; B. canadensis and A. anser changed around 1988–1990, whereas the two smaller species A. albifrons and B. leucopsis changed later. In winter, most remaining geese used winter-cereals, grassland and in later years winter rape.
Nest site selection and hatching success of Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius at the coast of Gulf of Riga, eastern Baltic Sea
Authors: Opermanis Otars
Published: March 2023

Nest site selection and hatching success of the Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius was studied on two sections of sand beaches in the Gulf of Riga (West coast and East coast), Latvia, in 1995—1996. The distance from each nest to the sea and to the forest, as well as nest success, was recorded. The measured distances differed significantly between each other only on the East coast in 1996, when the distance to the sea was larger. Survival rates were not lower for nests located closer to the sea or to the forest than in central parts of the beach. Hence, no edge effects on nest success were apparent. Still, Little Ringed Plovers seemed to avoid both edges to an equal degree, apart from at the East coast where they faced more strong onshore winds. The wind may force plovers to place nests on the lee-side of foredunes, closer to the forest, and thus break up the balanced position of nests in relation to habitat edges.
The adrenocortical responses to stress in breeding male Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs and Bramblings F. montifringilia in Sweden
Authors: Silverin Bengt , Wingfield John
Published: March 2023

There is growing evidence that birds, and possibly other vertebrates, modulate the adrenocortical response to acute stress as measured by increases in plasma levels of corticosterone following capture and handling. Field-endocrine investigations of these adrenocortical responses to capture stress have begun to indicate ecological bases for such endocrine phenomena. One hypothesis states that populations of birds breeding under extreme conditions such as in Arctic and subarctic habitats, where the breeding season also is short, should suppress the adrenocortical response to acute stress so as to allow onset of breeding under potentially severe conditions. To test this we measured increases in circulating levels of corticosterone following capture and handling in a population of male Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs breeding in southern Sweden. The dynamics of changes in corticosterone levels during this capture stress protocol were compared with those collected from male Brambling F. montifrigilla breeding in a subalpine habitat in northern Sweden where conditions are more severe and the breeding season short. Contrary to the predictions, male Bramblings showed a greater adrenocortical response to stress as indicated by the pattern of corticosterone levels in blood. Both male Bramblings and Chaffinches show marked individual variations in the pattern of corticosterone changes following capture. In Chaffinches the initial corticosterone were negatively correlated with body mass and body size expressed as ratio of body mass to wing length cubed. The percent increase in corticosterone and maximum levels were also correlated with fat score. Male Bramblings showed no relationship of corticosterone dynamics with body condition. Furthermore, there was no relationship to plumage variability (i.e. from black plumage on the head and upper thorax to grey, streaked, female-like males). Although several avian species have been shown to reduce their adrenocortical responsiveness to acute stress in severe environments, these data suggest that other factors may regulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis as well.
Effects of restoration and management regime on the avifaunal composition on Swedish wet meadows
Authors: Hellström Magnus , Berg Åke
Published: March 2023

The present study is an attempt to evaluate the effects of restorations and management regimes on the breeding bird fauna on wet meadows in southern Sweden. A significant population change following a restoration was noted for nine of the 34 studied species and, additionally, several species showed non-significant trends. Species positively affected by restorations generally show a declining national trend. Furthermore, a species was more likely to increase if a breeding population was present before the restoration was initiated. The effects of management regimes were somewhat ambiguous, probably due to the fact that the defined management regimes were based on relatively coarse classifications (grazing, mowing or mowing combined with grazing). A subsequent test showed that associations with area and type of surrounding habitat were of equal importance for the breeding bird fauna as the choice of management regime. Information was obtained for only 15 meadow areas, and in order to attain a larger database concerning the effects of wet meadow restorations and management regimes, a simple standard protocol is suggested.
Fuel deposition and speed of early autumn migration of juvenile Bluethroats Luscinia s. svecica leaving their natal area in Swedish Lapland
Authors: Lindström Åke , Lind Johan
Published: March 2023

The period between independence and the early phase of autumn migration is a difficult period for juvenile birds and a relatively poorly known part of the annual cycle. We present data on post-juvenile moult, fuel deposition and speed of early autumn migration of "red-spotted" Bluethroats Luscinia s. svecica, studied during 14 years (1984—1997) in Ammarnäs, Swedish Lapland. The juvenile Bluethroats leave their natal site from early August onwards, while still being in active post-juvenile moult. They do not put on any noticeable fuel stores, probably because foraging conditions are generally poor. This is reflected in a very slow initial speed of migration (11–21 km/d) between the natal area and stopover sites in eastern Sweden.
Höstbiologi och sångaktivitet hos svart rödstjärt Phoenicurus ochruros i sydvästra Sverige
Authors: Andersson Reino
Published: March 2023

I studied autumn biology of Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros, i.e. territorial behaviour, song activity, flock structure, and social interactions. In spring, I located 105 previously colour-ringed territorial males and determined their breeding success. Of them, 34 (32%) were also seen the following autumn, and 15 (44%) of them returned next spring. Of 71 males present in spring that were not observed in autumn, 20% returned the following spring. The birds present in autumn produced 5.2 fledged young per breeding pair the next spring, compared to 3.7 for birds not present. A large proportion of the surplus of autumn individuals are probably yearlings that move from the place of birth before body moult. In autumn, aggressive behaviour occurs to a low extent among adult males when in flocks (e.g. at timber stores with high insect abundance). That individuals move between such food rich sites indicates high flexibility in autumn home ranges. The main purpose of song in autumn seems to be to monopolise rich food sites, which will increase their survival chances and may improve reproductive success the following spring.
Weights of yolk body and hatchling in relation to the egg weight in the Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
Authors: Enemar Anders
Published: March 2023

The weights of fresh eggs, yolk bodies, and hatchlings were measured during the period 1998—2000 in a Treecreeper Certhia familiaris population in a deciduous forest in south-western Sweden. The weight of the hard-boiled yolk body was positively and significantly correlated with the fresh egg weight among and within clutches. The same significant inter- and intra-clutch relations were also found between eggs and young nestlings (average age 12 hours) or fresh hatchlings, both with regression coefficients of a magnitude surpassing those of other investigated passerine species. The proportion of yolk weight tended to decrease with increasing egg weight, whereas the proportional weight of the hatchlings increased, showing a significant linear regression upon egg weight. The pronounced weight increase of hatchlings from heavier eggs strongly suggests a possible adaptive significance of the likewise pronounced intra-clutch egg weight hierarchy in the Treecreeper population studied.
Biometrics of Turnstone Arenaria interpres migrating in autumn through the Gulf of Gdańsk region
Authors: Meissner Włodzimierz , Koziróg Leszek
Published: March 2023

In this study we analyse biometrical data of 69 adult and 389 juvenile Turnstones Arenaria interpres caught during autumn migration when passing through the Gulf of Gdańsk in the period 1983—1999. Adults had significantly longer wings than juveniles. Mean values of other measurements did not differ significantly between the age classes. Adults migrating early were larger than those passing the study area later. These earlier and larger migrants are regarded as females, which leave nesting areas before the somewhat smaller males. Data obtained from 67 juvenile Turnstones caught at least twice in the same season showed that juvenile Turnstones may have more than one migration strategy when departing from the Gulf of Gdańsk. Some of them behave as energy minimising migrants and migrate with low fat reserves in small steps. The others stay longer, build up large energy reserves (up to 50% of their initial body mass) and are probably able to reach West Africa in one flight.
Höstflyttning av ängshök Circus pygargus och brun kärrhök C. aeruginosus på Ölands södra udde
Authors: Bengtsson Daniel , Jonzén Niclas
Published: March 2023

We have analysed the autumn passage of Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus and Marsh Harrier C. aeruginosus at Ottenby (56°12'N, 16°24'E), Sweden, based on data collected by Ottenby Bird Observatory during 1972—1998. The observations were made by the ringing team and, hence, possibly less accurate than data from more detailed raptor counts previously carried out at Ottenby and Falsterbo (55°23'N, 12°50'E), Sweden. However, we found a coherent picture when comparing the time of passage found in this study with that of previous studies. For instance, the median date of Montagu’s Harrier (22 August) is identical to what was found in a detailed three-year study at Ottenby in 1977—1977. It is, however, a few days earlier than the median date further south at Falsterbo. The Marsh Harrier passage peaks in late August, similar to the situation at Falsterbo. The main difference between this study and the standardised counts at Falsterbo is the relatively low proportion of birds identified to age and/or sex. Hence, we could not reveal any statistical difference in seasonal timing between age and sex groups.
Selection of habitat and perches by the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor and the effects of snow layer and prey type
Authors: Karlsson Stefan
Published: March 2023

Field observations on Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor were performed in four study areas in SW Finland (60°N, 22°E). The relation between habitat use, perch selection, prey type and the presence of a snow layer was evaluated. The mean yearly (± SE) territory size was 144 ha ± 14.3. The habitat selection depended on if snow cover was present, reflecting the favouring of vegetation-scarce arable fields when hunting invertebrates and vegetation-rich habitats when mainly vertebrates were available. Consistent with theories on optimal perch height, the shrikes chose higher perches when mainly vertebrates were hunted and also increased the time/perch, probably reflecting that vertebrate prey occur less frequently than invertebrate prey. The selection of lower perches when hunting invertebrates was evident in mild winter periods but not in the autumn; the reasons for this is discussed. The appearance of snow increased the distance to mammalian prey but the average capture frequency of mammals remained unchanged. In accordance with optimal foraging theory the shrikes preferred to hunt invertebrates when these were available rather than to adopt a hunting strategy that would optimise the encounter rate with vertebrates. However, the average hunting rate of ground-living prey decreased as the snow depth increased whereas energetically costly types of hunting behaviour, like rate of movements, hovering and hunting of birds remained unchanged.
Ursprung, rörelser och ortstrohet för skrattmåsar Larus ridibundus märkta i Malmö
Authors: Bengtsson Kenneth , Blomquist Lennarth
Published: March 2023

We analysed the recoveries of Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus ringed in the town of Malmö, southern Sweden, in 1965—1999. A total of 21,399 fledged juveniles and adults were ringed in Pildammsparken, and 3,703 chicks in a breeding colony. We also included recoveries of birds ringed abroad. We excluded local recoveries within the province of Scania, the Danish islands, and northern Germany. The number of recovered birds used in the analysis was 812; some of them were recovered more than once. We found that birds hatched in the Malmö colony moved towards southwest with almost no long distance recoveries in any other direction. The main winter area is in northwest Europe – Holland, Belgium and Great Britain. Recoveries south of 45 °N are sparse and we found that Black-headed Gulls seem to winter more to the north today, compared with 30 years ago. Birds that visited Malmö in the non-breeding season came from breeding areas in Finland, the Baltic states, Russia, and northern and southeastern Sweden. Many of these birds also stayed in Malmö throughout the winter. We also found a high fidelity to the breeding as well as to the roosting and winter area.
Konsten att publicera sig vetenskapligt – del 1: att skriva uppsatsen
Authors: Brodin Anders
Published: March 2023

I here describe the way a bird study should be presented in Ornis Svecica and encourage amateur ornithologists to submit their work for official publication. I explain why the formal scientific format is necessary and why it may appear boring to read. I argue for a simple, straightforward style of writing (write as you talk) in active voice and discuss in some detail how the sections of a scientific paper should be written. I also describe the different sections that a scientific paper should contain. Finally, I show examples of a table and a figure.
Har grågås Anser anser börjat anlända tidigare till Uppland?
Authors: Söderholm Svante
Published: March 2023

The first arrival day of Greylag Geese Anser anser at two sites in Uppland, the province north of Stockholm, Sweden, during 1992—2002 was analysed. There was an almost significant change towards earlier arrival at both sites and for the combined observations (P=0.063). The influence of some factors that possibly could affect the date of arrival was studied, i.e. temperature on date of arrival, mean temperature in March, size of the Swedish population, and size of the local breeding population. Regression analysis showed that the size of the Swedish population had a significant influence on the first arrival date (P=0.050). As the regression of date of arrival on temperature was almost significant it is likely that temperature also influences date of arrival. Observations from one of the sites showed that the earlier arrival had not caused any change in the time of hatching. A significant relationship between number of days between the observation of first brood(s) and first arrival day was found (P<0.001).
Do numbers of Great Tits Parus major caught at ringing stations reflect the real intensity of passage?
Authors: Nowakowski Jarosław K
Published: March 2023

The capture dynamics for Great Tits Parus major ringed in the years 1979—1993 at six stations on the south-eastern Baltic coast between Estonia and Poland formed the basis of an analysis as to whether the captures at one station were sufficient to describe the large-scale migratory activity of birds in the region. The centrally located Neringa station served as the focal station and the five other stations as points of reference. It emerged that both seasonal and multi-year capture dynamics for Neringa were usually well correlated with results from the remaining five stations. However, the highest correlation (for multi-year dynamics r = 0.78; for seasonal dynamics r = 0.77) was found when the results from Neringa were compared with the intensity of Great Tit migration in the whole region (calculated as the mean for the remaining stations). The results show that, in the case of a migrant with a simple migratory system, such as that of the Great Tit, the number of birds caught at one specific ringing stations often is sufficient to map the migration intensity of a larger region, but also that many stations give a still better measure of the passage intensity. Equally, the Great Tit’s migration over large areas is shown to be surprisingly even.
Population dynamics of lemmings, Lemmus sibirica and Dicrostonyx torquatus, and Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus on the Taimyr peninsula, Siberia, 1960—2001
Authors: Kokorev Yakov I , Kuksov Vladimir A
Published: March 2023

Annual records on the abundance of lemmings (Lemmus sibirica and Dicrostonyx torquatus) and the frequency of dens occupied by reproducing arctic fox Alopex lagopus on the Taimyr peninsula, Siberia, are reported for the time period of 1960—2001. A strong correlation was demonstrated between lemming abundance and the frequency of dens occupied by breeding foxes. This finding is supplemented with certain observations of birds on the peninsula, and information on the reproduction biology of lemmings and arctic fox. Since the breeding success of several bird species nesting on the Siberian tundra are much affected by the population interactions of lemmings and arctic fox, base-line data on these mammals are needed for proper evaluation of avian records, including those from southern migration and wintering areas. The time series reported is the longest yet provided on lemming abundance and reproduction of Arctic Fox.
Breeding of the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus in Cladium mariscus vegetation
Authors: De Kroon G H J , Mommers M H J
Published: March 2023

We have studied breeding habitats of the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus in Cladium mariscus (Galingale) vegetation at Botshol (Abcoude, 51°52'N;5°04'E) in The Netherlands and on Öland in Sweden. Water Rails were localised by day by provoking vocal responses with a cassette recorder, using three typical call types that indicate breeding status of the rails. We found 21 territories and five nests in Cladium mariscus vegetation. In the territories and around the nests we measured the degree of plant cover, frequency of different plant species, height of vegetation, and water depth. No rails were heard in pure reed (Phragmites australis) vegetation. In all territories and around all nests Cladium mariscus was dominant. Cladium mariscus was also the most common nest material. The soil and the vegetation mat were inundated. The water depth was usually below 50 cm. This study seems to be the first one documenting Water Rails breeding in Cladium mariscus vegetation.
Spillepengs backsvalor Riparia riparia – studier vid en nyskapad skånsk koloni
Authors: Bengtsson Kenneth , Olsson Rolf
Published: March 2023

In 2001, we followed the burrow excavation phase, measured the length of the burrows, and analysed the nest content of invertebrates after breeding at a Sand Martin Riparia riparia colony near Malmö. After a spontaneous establishment of 50 pairs in 1999, the site was artificially improved, and about 250 pairs bred in 2000. Further improvement was made in 2001 to avoid predation which resulted in about 300 breeding pairs. The main excavation phase was between 7 May (a late spring) and early June. The mean burrow length was 79.9 ±20.3 cm (202 burrows judged to have been completed). The longest burrows were 137, 138, and 138 cm, which are among the longest ever recorded. The nest material contained an abundance of mites and fleas (probably Ceratophyllus styx), and also other invertebrates, among them Acheta deestica in different stages of development. After breeding was completed several burrows were occupied by Apodemus mice which built their own nests with Chenopodium leaves. The only predation we saw was two swallows taken by a Hobby Falco subbuteo.
Blowfly Trypocalliphora braueri (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae infestation in Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus breeding in a hybrid zone
Authors: Åkesson Susanne , Hedenström Anders , Bensch Staffan , Irwin Darren E
Published: March 2023

We examined the occurrence of blowfly larvae Trypocalliphorabraueri in Swedish willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus nestlings at three nearby breeding sites in Central Sweden. The occurrence of parasites was examined in nestlings by visual inspection during ringing. Larvae were encapsulated in the wings, head, neck, or the sides of the body of the nestlings and caused large swellings. Some of the larvae had already left the site of burrowing by an opening in the skin that was visible as a dark crater surrounded by dry skin. Tissue near the encapsulated larvae was swollen and showed clear symptoms of inflammation, in some cases causing deformation of wings. We observed parasites at two of the three sites in 5 out of a total of 36 nests (14%) in two years, corresponding to 20 (9.6%) out of 208 nestlings inspected. In nests with parasites 74.1% of the chicks were infested, each containing one to five parasites. No nestlings were found dead in the nests at the date of inspection.
Timing and seasonal changes in Eider Somateria mollissima spring migration in the northern Öresund, south Sweden, 1975–2001
Authors: Peterz Mats
Published: March 2023

This paper describes the spring migration of Eiders Somateria mollissima through the Öresund, south Sweden, during the years 1975 to 2001. The birds are leaving their wintering grounds in the Kattegat to breed in the Baltic. The passage takes place in the second half of March and the first half of April with the major migration period between 22 March and 13 April (median date 4 April). Over the study years, there is a significant trend that the migration takes place earlier in the season. This is both in terms of median date and onset of the migration period. The change in the timing of the migration appears to be related to milder winter weather and earlier springs during the end of the 20th century. It is shown that the spring passage of Eiders for individual years is significantly correlated with the ice indices for Swedish seas the preceding winter.
Variation in bill colour among Greylag Geese Anser anser breeding in south-west Scania
Authors: Kampe-Persson Hakon
Published: March 2023

The anser subspecies of the Greylag Goose Anser anser was earlier distributed over most of Europe, between the ranges of sylvestris in the west and rubirostris in the east. Its bill colour was orange. I examined the bill colour of 97 trapped breeding adults from the province of Scania in 1995—1998. I used a six-grade scale from orange (I) to pink (VI). Most birds were intermediate (III), a few had pink bills (V–VI), but none had an orange one (I). Two explanations are examined: fauna falsification by introduction of rubirostris birds, which is known to have taken place several times, and inclusion of rubirostris genes into the small 20th century population of anser birds by rubirostris individuals that have reached the anser range naturally; a few such winter visitors are known. I conclude that the most likely explanation is the deliberate introduction of rubirostris but the other alternative cannot yet be ruled out.
Mås- och kråkfågelförekomsten på en soptipp
Authors: Karlsson Thomas
Published: March 2023

The present study presents results from counts of gulls and corvids once a week on a refuse dump just outside the city of Skövde in southwestern Sweden during 1992—1999. The most common gull was Herring Gull Larus argentatus, which visited the dump during the whole year. The most common corvid was Jackdaw Corvus monedula with a peak in late June and July. All species except Jackdaw and Raven Corvus corax were found in small numbers during August. High numbers of gulls and corvids were seen on the refuse dump during the winter months. After that the community stopped dumping food rests on the refuse dump in January 1999, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow Corvus cornix, and Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus decreased during the spring and summer 1999, however not significantly. In the same time the number of Magpies Pica pica, Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus and Ravens increased.
The spring migration of two Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica populations in Sweden
Authors: Green Martin , Blomqvist Sven , Lindström Åke
Published: March 2023

The regional distribution and timing of spring passage of the Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica in Sweden is reported (160,300 observed birds in 1976—1995). Birds were observed in most provinces, with the highest concentrations in southernmost Sweden. Timing of passage was bimodal, with distinct peaks in the middle and end of May, suggesting that two separate populations are passing. The peak in mid-May probably refers to the European population wintering in north-western Europe and bound for breeding areas in Scandinavia, Finland and westernmost Russia. The later peak most likely represents the Afro-Siberian population, on passage from West Africa to northern Siberia. The European birds were recorded over most of Sweden, whereas the Afro-Siberian birds were concentrated to the southern part. More European than Afro-Siberian birds were seen, even though the European population is considerably smaller. Presumably, a higher proportion of European than of Afro-Siberian birds stops in southern Sweden. The time pattern of Bar-tailed Godwit migration is compared with the passage of other arctic migrants previously reported.