Biology of alpine accentor IX. Overwiew of the breeding distribution of the Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) in the West Carpathians, 1980 – 2023.
Abstract
This study summarises the occurrence of Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) in the Western Carpathians during breeding seasons between 1980 and 2023. At the beginning of breeding season, there are about 390 adult individuals in the Belianske and Central Tatras, about 80 individuals in the Western Tatras, 60 individuals in the Low Tatras and about 15 individuals in the other mountain ranges of the Western Carpathians. Altogether, this constitutes approximately 550 breeding adults in the Polish/Slovakian Western Carpathians, forming polygynandrous families. This estimate of 550 individuals in the Western Carpathians is closer to the maximum than to the minimum interval. Important positive factors limiting the occurrence of this species in the breeding season include: the lowgrowing alpine meadow vegetation, the persistent snow fields in the high mountain valleys, and the relatively small number of predators in this environment. Synanthropisation is the most notable negative factor affecting this population over the last 100-200 years, which, especially nowadays, affects a relatively high percentage of breeding individuals. The reduction of nesting in the lower satellite mountains of the High and Low Tatras, such as Malá Fatra, Veľká Fatra, Babia hora and others, in comparison with earlier times, indicates a declining trend in the occurrence of these birds in Slovakia and Poland.
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