Survey of breeding Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) in the Czech Republic in 2008: Results and effectiveness of volunteer work
Abstract
The paper analyses and summarizes the results of a national survey of the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in the Czech Republic conducted during the breeding season 2008. Thirty seven observers collected the data within 300 field visits on 151 breeding grounds particularly in southern and eastern Bohemia.
A detailed questionnaire was readily filled in by the observers but most of them did not perform all four visits required for each site's survey during the season, as the work effort declined in the period of the third and fourth visits. We suggest simplifying of the questionnaire as well as reduction of the number of visits in future surveys.
Arable land (particularly ploughed fields, winter wheat and spring cereal) dominated as nesting habitat of Northern Lapwings at 78% of localities while meadows and pastures were occupied less frequently. Breeding grounds were usually inhabited by one to four pairs while larger colonies, present mostly in ploughed fields, occurred rarely.
Presence of marsh patches and/or meadows on the breeding grounds was positively correlated with lapwing abundance. In addition, the results indicate higher hatching success in ploughed fields and at sites with a presence of marsh patches.
Agricultural activities were evaluated as the main threatening factor for breeding Northern Lapwings. Regularly occupied breeding grounds were considered as particularly important for lapwing population; these sites are easily detectable early in the breeding season which enables introduction of suitable long-term conservation actions, for example the discussed agri-environmental schemes for Northern Lapwings on arable land.