Vol. 3. Is. 2. 1994. P. 108-111.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND FEEDING OF THE SYRIAN WOODPECKER IN THE BUKOVINIAN PRE-CARPATHIANS AND PRUT-DNIESTER INTERFLUVE

 

A.N. Klitin, I.V. Skilsky, P.V. Bundzyak

 

Ïîøèðåííÿ òà æèâëåííÿ ñiðiéñüêîãî äÿòëà ó Áóêîâèíñüêîìó Ïåðåäêàðïàòòi òà Ïðóò-Äíiñòðîâñüêîìó ìåæèði÷÷i. - Î.Ì. Êëiòií, ².Â. Ñê³ëüñüêèé, Ï.Â. Áóíäçÿê. - Áåðêóò. 3 (2). 1994. - Íà îñíîâ³ ë³òåðàòóðíèõ äæåðåë ïðîàíàë³çîâàíî ïðîíèêíåííÿ ñ³ð³éñüêîãî äÿòëà ó äîñë³äæóâàíèé ðåã³îí. Âèä, îá³éøîâøè ç³ ñõîäó Êàðïàòè, ïðîíèê äî ð. Äí³ñòåð, à äî 1967 ð. ìåæà àðåàëó ïðîñóíóëàñü ùå äàë³ - äî ï³âí³÷íî¿ ÷àñòèíè Òåðíîï³ëüñüêî¿ îáëàñò³. Ó Ïðóò-Äí³ñòðîâñüêîìó ìåæèð³÷÷³ òà Ïðèêàðïàòò³ äî 1990-õ ðð. éîãî â³äì³÷àëè â 14 ïóíêòàõ. Íàéá³ëüøå ñïîñòåðåæåíü ïðèïàäຠíà òðàâåíü-ëèïåíü (79,2 %). Òèïîâèìè á³îòîïàìè º ôðóêòîâ³ ñàäè (40,0 % âèïàäê³â), ëèñòÿí³ òà ì³øàí³ ðîçð³äæåí³ ë³ñè (33,3 %), ïàðêè (20,0 %). Îäèí ðàç ïòàõà áà÷èëè ñåðåä äåðåâíèõ íàñàäæåíü íà áåðåç³ ð. Ìàëèé ѳðåò. Çà âåñü ÷àñ ñïîñòåðåæåíü ÷èñåëüí³ñòü âèäó çàëèøàëàñü äîñèòü íèçüêîþ. Íàéá³ëüø ð³äê³ñíèì â³í º â ðàéîí³ Áóêîâèíñüêèõ Êàðïàò, êóäè ïðîíèêຠï³ä ÷àñ êî÷³âåëü ïî ð³÷êîâèõ äîëèíàõ. Ìàòåð³àëè ïî æèâëåííþ ñ³ð³éñüêîãî äÿòëà, ç³áðàí³ ó 1959-1969 ðð., íàâåäåí³ ó òàáë. 2.

Key words: Chernivtsi region, Syrian Woodpecker, distribution, habitat, feeding.

 

The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) belongs to the considerably new breeding birds of the study area. The species had not been listed in avifaunistic works of Ukrainian, Polish and Czechoslovak ornithologists till the mid XXth century. First notices about its expansion northwards are dated by 1950-1960-s (Strautman, 1963). The mentioned author observed the birds in the Transcarpathian region, in vineyards and orchards of Vynogradiv in June 1948, at first for Ukraine. 3 years later F.I. Strautman happened to observe the Syrian Woodpecker northwards from the Carpathians - 3 immature birds were killed near Zalishchyky in the Ternopil region. Alongside 3 woodpeckers were found in the Zoology Department’s collection of Chernivtsi University. They were killed in February and June, 1948 in the orchards of Khotyn in  Chernivtsi region (Strautman, 1954, 1959, 1963; Strautman, Rudishyn, 1954). Thus, the Syrian Woodpecker turned the Carpathians round from the east and reached the Dniester river. The border of the species range till 1967 moved ever further, to the northern limits of the Ternopil region (Tatarinov, 1973). Within the Prut-Dniester interfluve the Syrian Woodpecker was found in the villages of Balamutivka and Onut (1959). Alongside the species’ range extended South-West, to the mountain landscape zone borders (Tretyakov et al., 1991; Godovanets et al., 1992). Until the 1990-s the species had been observed in many places of the studied area which are listed below.

Literary data on the Syrian Woodpecker eco­logy in the study area are very scanty and restricted mostly to indications of dates and points of the species observations (Tretyakov et al., 1991; Godovanets et al., 1992). Having summarized these data, as well as unpublished materials we got a picture of the species distribution and ecology. As it is shown in  the Table 1, the Syrian Woodpecker has been observed mostly in May-June (79,2 %). More seldom the species finds were in the mid and end winter and, also, during the post-breeding period.

 

Table 1

 

The Syrian Woodpecker occurrence in

Chernivtsi region

Çóñòð³÷àëüí³ñòü ñ³ð³éñüêîãî äÿòëà ó ×åðí³âåöüê³é îáëàñò³

 

 Decades                     Months

 Äåêàäè                       Ì³ñÿö³

                  I        II       V      VI     VII    VIII

 I                1       1       1        -        5        -

 II               -        1       4       3        -        -

 III             1        -        -        4        2       1

 n               2       2       5       7        7       1

 %            8,3    8,3   20,8  29,2   29,2   4,2

 

 

Orchards, deciduous or mixed light forests and parks are the most typical biotopes for the Syrian Woodpecker (Klitin, 1959a, 1959b). It was observed there in 40.0, 33.3 and 20.0 % respectively (n = 15). Once, the bird was found in the forest-belt of the river Maliy Seret.

The Syrian Woodpecker number was rather low in the past (Klitin, 1957, 1959b), and so it remains now (our data). The species is especially rare in the Bukovinian Carpathians (Bundzyak, 1993), where it can be seen during migrations along the river valleys.

 

 

The Syrian Woodpecker distribution in Chernivrsi region in 1948-1992

Ïîøèðåííÿ ñiðiéñüêîãî äÿòëà ó ×åðíiâåöüêié îáëàñòi ó 1948-1992 ðð.

 

Observation sites:

Ìiñöÿ ñïîñòåðåæåíü:

(according to Strautman, 1954, 1959, 1963; Strautman, Rudishyn, 1954; Marisova, 1965; Tretyakov et al., 1991; Godovanets et al., 1992; Skilsky, 1992; our data):

1 - Chernivtsi;

Glyboksky district:      2 - v. Petrashivka;

Zastavnivsky d.:          3 - town of Zastavna;

                                    4 - v. Kostryzhivka;

                                    5 - v. Balamutivka;

                                    6 - v. Kadubivtsy;

                                    7 - v. Onut;

Kelmenetsky d.:           8 - v. Babyn;

                                    9 - v. Dnistrivka;

Kitsmansky d.:             10 - v. Zeleniv;

Novoselitsky d.:          11 - v. Dranytsa;

                                    12 - v. Berestya;

Storozhynetsky d.:       13 - v. Banyliv-Pidgirny;

                                    14 - v. Velykiy Kuchuriv;

Khotynsky d.:              15 - t. Khotyn;

                                    16 - v. Zelena Lipa.

 

For the first time the attention is paid to peculiarities of feeding specialization of the species, though this question is rather well studied in the neighbouring the Transcarpathian region (Talposh, 1975, 1993). Data on the species feeding were collected in 1959-1969 (Table 2). More then 29 species of plants and animals were identified in stomachs of birds killed in May-June.

 

Table 2

 

The Syrian Woodpecker feeding in Chernivtsi region (n = 26 stomachs)

Æèâëåííÿ ñiðiéñüêîãî äÿòëà ó ×åðíiâåöüêié îáëàñòi (n = 26 øëóíêiâ)

 

Food items                                             Month - number of stomachs                              Total         Occurence, %

Ñêëàä ¿æ³                                                ̳ñÿöü - ê³ëüê³ñòü øëóíê³â                                                                                                                                                                                    Âñüîãî         Çóñòð³÷àëüí³ñòü

                                                        V-4                     VI-11                   VII-11

Vegetative

BETULACEAE

Carpinus betulus                            -                        25/1*                      2/1                       27/2                       7,7

FAGACEAE

Fagus sylvatica                               -                            -                         12/3                      12/3                      11,5

Quercus robur                              3/2                          -                            -                          3/2                        7,7

MORACEAE

Morus alba                                      -                          1/1                          -                          1/1                        3,8

ROSACEAE

Cerasus avium                                -                          7/2                        2/2                        9/4                       15,4

Animal

OLIGOCHAETA

LUMBRICIDAE

Lumbricus terrestris                      -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

INSECTA

DERMAPTERA

FORFICULIDAE

Forficula auricularia                     -                            -                          5/2                        5/2                        7,7

HOMOPTERA

OSTOMATIDAE

gen. sp.                                           2/1                          -                          3/1                        5/2                        7,7

COLEOPTERA

CARABIDAE

Pterostichus vulgaris                     -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

Carabus nemoralis                        -                            -                          2/1                        2/1                        3,8

HISTERIDAE

gen. sp.                                             -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

ELATERIDAE

Elater cinnabarius                       7/1                          -                            -                          7/1                        3,8

BUPRESTIDAE

Dicerca aenea                                 -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

CERAMBYCIDAE

Xylotrechus rusticus                      -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

CURCULIONIDAE

Rhynchites bacchus                        -                            -                          5/1                        5/1                        3,8

Curculio sp.                                     -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

Otiorrhynchus tristis                   1/1                          -                            -                          1/1                        3,8

Otiorrhynchus sp.                         2/1                          -                            -                          2/1                        3,8

SCOLYTIDAE

Scolytus ratzeburgi                        -                          1/1                          -                          1/1                        3,8

LUCANIDAE

Lucanus cervus                               -                            -                          2/2                        2/2                        7,7

Sinodendron sp.                             -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

SCARABAEIDAE

Amphimallon solstivialis               -                          1/1                          -                          1/1                        3,8

Onthophagus amyntas                   -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

Cetonia aurata                               -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

Melolontha melolontha               3/3                          -                          2/1                        5/5                       19,2

HYMENOPTERA

FORMICIDAE

Lasius niger                                    -                        257/9                    83/3                    840/12  

  - “ - (p)                                           -                          52/                          -                          52/                       46,2

L. flavus                                           -                         37/1                         -                         37/1                       3,8

Camponotus ligniperda                -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

SIRICIDAE

Sirex sp.                                           -                            -                          1/1                        1/1                        3,8

LEPIDOPTERA

COSSIDAE

Cossus cossus (l)                           9/2                          -                            -                          9/2                        7,7

Zeuzera pyrina (l)                         8/1                          -                            -                          8/1                        3,8

gen. sp. (l)                                     19/3                       4/3                      7/3**                     30/9                      34,6

gen. sp. (p)                                    10/1                         -                            -                         10/1                       3,8

AVES

gen. sp. (egg shell)                         -                            -                           /1                          /1                         3,8

Stones                                               -                          1/1                          -                          1/1                        3,8

 

Abrreviations (ñêîðî÷åííÿ):

l - larvas (ëè÷èíêè);

p - pupas (ëÿëå÷êè).

* - Specimen/stomachs (ê³ëüê³ñòü åêçåìïëÿð³â/ê³ëüê³ñòü øëóíê³â);

** - 4 wooly bear caterpillars in one stomach. (â îäíîìó øëóíêó çíàéäåí³ 4 âîëîõàò³ ãóñåíèö³).

 

Less readily the woodpeckers use vegetative food: 52 items (4,8 %) of 5 species from 4 families were discovered. The highest specific abundance was noticed for the Hornbeam, the Crab Cherry was the most common item.

Insects form a base of animal food (1032 items - 94,9 %, 24 species from 5 orders, 14 families). Most species belongs to the order Coleoptera - more then 16 species. Lasius niger prevails as for its number (892 imagos and pupas - 82,1 %) and frequency (in more than a half of all stomachs). Caterpillars of various butterflies also form an important part of the Syrian Woodpecker ration - in more than third of the stomachs. Other groups were represented more rarely, Lumbricus terrestris was among them. Also the birds’ egg-shells were found in a June probe.

All in all only vegetative food was identified in 7,7 % of cases, animal only - in 53,8 % and mixed is left for the remainder. 24 stomachs (92,3 %) include animal food, 12 (46,2 %) - foetuses and seeds.

Weights of stomachs (and their contents) were as follows: 4,0  (0,7), 5,0 (1,9), 5,5 (2,2) and 6,5 (1,5) g, 5,3 (1,6) g on the average. Stomachs without food weighted 3,1; 3,3; 3,3 and 5,0 g, 3,7 g on the average.

Thus, the Syrian Woodpecker can be conside­red a very useful bird which exterminates many pests of forest and orchards and hence deserves a full protection.

References

 

Bundzyak P.V. (1993): Aviafauna of the Bukovinian Carpathians (1988-92). - Int. Confer.: Fauna of the East Carpathians: recent state and conservation. Uzhgorod. 106-109 (in Ukrainian).

Godovanets B.I., Skilsky I.V., Klitin A.N., Bundzyak P.V., Vassin A.M., Glibka I.V., Fedorcha D.S., Gorban I.M., Gryntchishin T.U., Grishchenko V.N., Bashta T.V. (1992): The catalogue of ornithological observations in Chernivtsi region. Report 2. -Article is deposited in ONP NPEC “Veras-Eco” and Institute of Zoology Akad. of Sci. of Byelorus. 26.11.1992. N 175: 1-21 (in Russian).

Klitin A.N. (1957): Birds of the Soviet Bucovina and measures for their conservation.- Nature conservation in the western regions of the UkrSSR (Abstracts of meeting for the nature conservation and rational using of natural resources in the western regions of the UkrSSR. November 14-16, 1957/. Lviv. 2: 16-17 (in Russian).

Klitin A.N. (1959a): Birds of the Soviet Bukovina.- Wildlife of the Soviet Bukovina. Chernovtsy. 67-133 (in Russian).

Klitin A.N. (1959b): Eco-geographical characteristics of birds in the Forest-Steppe zone of the Chernovtsy region. - Fauna and wildlife of the Soviet Carpathians (Scientific reports of the Uzhgorod University). 40: 67-74 (in Russian).

Marissova I.V. (1965): About the Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopus syriacus Hemp. et Ehrent.) in the Ukraine.- Zool. zhurnal. 44 (11): 1735-1737 (in Russian).

Skilsky I.V. (1992): About the birds collection in Zoology and Physiology Department of the Chernivtsi State University. - Article is deposited in ONP NPEC “Veras-Eco” and Institute of Zoology Akad. of Sci. of Byelorus. 10.11.1992. N 159: 1-4 (in Russian).

Strautman F.I. (1954): Birds of the Soviet Carpathians. Kiev. 1-332. (in Russian).

Strautman F.I. (1959): Changes in the avifauna of the western regions of Ukraine in the XX century.- Scientific reports of the Ukr. Sci. Acad. Lviv branch Nature Museum. Kiev. 7: 42-48 (in Ukrainian).

Strautman F.I. (1963): To the Syrian Woodpecker distribution in the South-Western regions of Ukraine. - Lviv. 1: 199 (in Russian).

Talposh V.S. (1975): The Syrian Woodpecker in the West of the UkrSSR - High school reports. Biological Scienses. 8: 16-22 (in Russian).

Talposh V.S. (1993): About feeding of the genus Dendrocopus in Transcarpathian lowland. -Int. Confer.: Fauna of the East Carpathians: recent state and conservation. Uzhgorod. 138-140 (in Russian).

Tatarinov K.A. (1973): Vertebrate fauna of the western Ukra­ine (ecology, importance, protection). Lviv. 1-260 (in Ukrainian).

Tretyakov L.D., Andryushchenko T.G., Gavrylyuk N.M., Skilsky I.V. (1991): Birds of the Bukovina in Zoolical Museum of Chernivtsi State University (catalogue). Chernivtsi. 1-71 (in Ukrainian).

 

I.V. Skilsky,

Bukovinska-str. 9/4,

274001, Chernivtsi,

Ukraine.