nest site selection in swans ...

• Main Author: Zbigniew Kasprzykowski
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Mendeley 2023
• Subjects: Olor; Cygnus cygnus; Whooper Swan
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17632/jwv3prnfh4.1; https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/jwv3prnfh4/1

The warning climate is giving migratory birds new opportunities to extend their breeding ranges. These expansions may have a significant impact on other local bird communities. Here, we investigate the nest site selections of Mute Swan Cygnus olor and the expanding Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus. The study aims to assess the differences in habitat use by these two swan species in a lowland anthropogenic landscape. It examines the number of breeding pairs and the surface areas of nesting zones in different habitat types. The field procedures involved the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to survey and locate nests, with geotagged photographs taken to map nest locations. Our results show that Mute Swans primarily occupy habitats associated with river valleys, while Whooper Swans predominantly nest in pond complexes. Moreover, GLM models indicate that Mute Swans tend to choose open areas within a radius of 200 m around the nests, whereas Whooper Swans avoid built-up areas, often choosing forested sites within ...