Browsing by Author "Kopij, Grzegorz"

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    Avian assemblages of urbanized habitats in north-central Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2014) Kopij, Grzegorz
    Studies were conducted by means of the line transect method in 4 towns (Ondangwa, Ongwediva, Oshakati, Outapi) and 12 larger villages in Ovamboland, north-central Namibia. In overall, 59 residential bird species were recorded. In particular across settlement, the number varied from 6 to 34 (x = 20:2;sd = 9:99). The Simpson’s Diversity Index varied from D = 0:61 to D = 0:93. Overall, dominants comprised 68.1% of all pairs recorded (N = 2105), with Passer domesticus accounted for 32.2% (eudominant). Other dominant species included: Uraeginthus angolensis, Cypsiurus parvus, Corvus albus, Streptopelia senegalensis and Urocolius indicus. Subdominants (5 species) comprised 14.2%. Bird assemblage in Ruacana proved to be fairly distant from that in other Ovambo settlements. Latitudinal trends have been shown for the proportion between Pycnonotis tricolor and P. nigricans and Passer diffusus and P. domesticus species. Passer domesticus almost totally replaced Passer diffusus, while Streptopelia senegalensis almost totally replaced Streptopelia capicola in the urbanized habitats of the northStudies were conducted by means of the line transect method in 4 towns (Ondangwa, Ongwediva, Oshakati, Outapi) and 12 larger villages in Ovamboland, north-central Namibia. In overall, 59 residential bird species were recorded. In particular across settlement, the number varied from 6 to 34 (x = 20:2;sd = 9:99). The Simpson’s Diversity Index varied from D = 0:61 to D = 0:93. Overall, dominants comprised 68.1% of all pairs recorded (N = 2105), with Passer domesticus accounted for 32.2% (eudominant). Other dominant species included: Uraeginthus angolensis, Cypsiurus parvus, Corvus albus, Streptopelia senegalensis and Urocolius indicus. Subdominants (5 species) comprised 14.2%. Bird assemblage in Ruacana proved to be fairly distant from that in other Ovambo settlements. Latitudinal trends have been shown for the proportion between Pycnonotis tricolor and P. nigricans and Passer diffusus and P. domesticus species. Passer domesticus almost totally replaced Passer diffusus, while Streptopelia senegalensis almost totally replaced Streptopelia capicola in the urbanized habitats of the north-central Namibia.
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    Avian diversity and assemblages around Ruacana Waterfall, north-western Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Kopij, Grzegorz
    In 2011-2012, the line transect method was employed to study avian assemblages in the Koakoland (Mopane) Savanna around the Ruacana waterfall in the Kunene Region, north-western Namibia. In total 64 resident species were recorded, a number which was high in comparison with other bushy habitats. Simpson’s Diversity Index was also high (S = 0.96). Group of dominant species (32.4%) comprised Streptopelia capicola, Tockus erythrorhynchus, Plocepasser mahali, Pycnonotis nigricans and Lanioturdus torquatus. The following species recorded as resident around Ruacana Waterfall were endemic to Namibia: Poicephalus rueppellii, Phoeniculus damarensis, Lanioturdus torquatus, Tockus damarensis and Parus carpi. Although the difference between the riparian and dry variety of the Mopane Savanna was insignificant in terms of biodiversity (S = 0.97 and S = 0.92 respectively), the number of species in dry bush was much lower than in the riparian bush ( 2-test = 4.76; p < 0.05). Also the S¨orensen similarity coefficient was unexpectedly low between the two habitat varieties (I = 0.48).
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    Birds of Katima Mulilo town, Zambezi region, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2016) Kopij, Grzegorz
    Large river valleys are usually characterized by high level of biodiversity, avian diversity. In Namibia, two towns are located in such valleys: Rundu on Okavango and Katima Malilo on Zambezi. To date, no quantitative studies on any components of biodiversity have been conducted in those towns. In January-May 2013, a total of 36 days were spent on quantitative studies of birds in Katima Mulilo town. The line transect and territory mapping methods were used in this study. A total of 122 resident (breeding), 9 visitors and 9 Palearctic migrants were recorded. The group of dominant species was composed of the following four species: Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-eyed Bulbul, Laughing Dove, and Blue Waxbill. They comprised together 42.5% of all birds. The group of subdominant species included: Rock Dove, Pied Crow, Cape Turtle-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Southern Masked Weaver, Burchell’s Starling and Mourning Dove. Together they comprised 18.7%. The remaining 112 species comprised 38.8%. The most numerous feeding guilds were granivores (51.3%), frugivores and insectivores (each with c. 20%). Most birds (61.3%) nested in trees and shrubs. Katima Mulilo is probably the only town in whole southern Africa, where all four Streptopelia-doves are common species: Laughing, Cape Turtle, Red-eyed, and Mourning Dove. The only sparrow, which occurs in Katima Mulilo, is the Grey-headed Sparrow. Of special interest is the occurrence of dozen or so species which do not occur in other towns in Namibia, such as African Fish Eagle, Broad-billed Roller, Schalow’s Lorie, Trumpeter Hornbill, among others.
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    Changes in numbers of Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni and Amur Falcons F. amurensis at a winter roost in Lesotho
    (African Bird Club, 2012) Kopij, Grzegorz
    Over the last 20 years drastic changes have been recorded in the composition of a flock of Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni and Amur Falcons F. amurensis at a roost on the campus of the National University of Lesotho at Roma. Numbers of the latter have increased, while those of the former species have dramatically decreased. Changes in the number of Amur Falcons recorded in February – March suggest that their southward migration continues until early February and soon thereafter a departure north starts, with most birds vacating the roost in the first half of March. The earliest arrival of Lesser Kestrel was 26 October, the latest departure 9 April. The earliest arrival date of Amur Falcon was 19 December, the latest departure date 7 April. Early-morning departure from the roost lasted for up to 40 minutes, but most birds left during the first 5–10 minutes
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    Diet of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in Israel
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2012) Kopij, Grzegorz; Liven-Schulman, I.
    The food of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) was studied by means of pellet contents analysis. A total of 645 entire pellets was collected, 550 pellets from the urban area of Jerusalem, 71 pellets from a rural area (a farmland) in Alona Region, 12 pellets from a natural area in the Judean Desert and 12 pellets from a quarry near Rosh Hain. Grasshoppers (Orthoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and sun spiders (Solifugae) constituted the bulk of the diet. Numerically, grasshoppers and beetles were almost equally important (38.5% and 42.2% respectively), while sun spiders were much less numerous (11.7%). However, in terms of biomass, grasshoppers (54.7%) were far more important than beetles (18.8%) and sun spiders (20.6%). Four beetle families, viz. Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae, comprised together 76.8% of all beetle prey items and 81.6% of beetle biomass. Among grasshoppers, the most important family (64.6% by numbers of prey items, 70.4% by grasshopper biomass) was the locusts (Acrididae). Significant month-to-month variations in the proportion of the main prey groups have been recorded. From February to April the Lesser Kestrel fed mainly on beetles, while from May to July it fed mainly on grasshoppers and sun spiders. Beetles and sun spiders comprised a much lower proportion of prey in 1998 (low rainfall) than in 1999 (high rainfall), while the proportion of grasshoppers and other invertebrates (altogether) was higher in 1998 than in 1999
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    A large proportion of Micromys minutus in winter diet of the Long-eared Owl Asio otus
    (Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2012) Kopij, Grzegorz; Moska, Magdalena; Nikiel, Remigiusz; Kozyra, Katarzyna
    A large proportion of Micromys minutus in winter diet of the Long-eared Owl Asio otus is discussed
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    Seasonal changes in avian assemblages in kaokoland (mopane) savanna in the ogongo game reserve, north-central Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2013) Kopij, Grzegorz
    Studies were conducted at UNAM Game Reserve (c. 1000 ha) in the BIOTA Observatory ’Ogongo’, which is located c. 50 km NW of Oshakati, north-central Namibia (17 700S, 15 310E). The natural vegetation of this area is the Koakoland (Mopane) Savanna. In 2011-2012, the line transect method has been employed to assess the species composition, dominance structure, and relative abundance of all bird species, and their seasonal changes in the late rainy season (March), middle of dry season (July), and beginning of rainy season (November). In total, 66 resident (46 in late rainy season, only 35 in the middle of dry season and 39 at the beginning of rainy season) and 19 non-resident species were recorded. Only two resident species have been classified as dominants in all three seasons: Plocepasser mahali and Uraeginthus angolensis; five species were dominants in two, and four species in one season. The avian assemblage undergoes significant seasonal changes, mostly related to the water regime in oshanas. Although the number and proportion of dominant species changed only slightly from season to season (6-7 species; 58.8-62.4% of contribution), highly significant seasonal differences in abundance were recorded for 18 resident species. Clear seasonal changes were also found in the proportions of main feeding guilds, i.e. granivores and insectivores. In comparison with other habitats in Namibia, Ogongo Game Reserve has a rich and diverse avifauna. For many bird species the reserve constitutes a safe breeding habitat, and a rich feeding area. It is fully justified to retain its status as nature sanctuary in Cuvelai Drainage ecosystem.