Abstract:

There are only a few fragments of original hardwood forests in the Nyrsg, NE Hungary. They are either isolated (e.g. Nagycsere, Halp) or occur among other climazonal forests (e.g. Guthi forest, Fnyi forest). In the framework of a comprehensive research program since 1986, we have studied the population dynamics and hatching biology of a bird community breeding in nest boxes. In the course of 10 breeding seasons (1990-1999) 11 bird species and a protected small mammal, the Common Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) occupied the nestboxes to bring up their offsprings. The majority of the breeding pairs were Great Tits (Parus major). The other ones were the Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus), Marsh Tit (Parus palustris), Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), Nuthatch (Sitta europaea). Predation rate varied between 10-30%. The most common predator was the Common Dormouse that killed 15-70% of the perished broods. Doormice mostly attacked nests of flycatchers, Robins and Great Tits.