Birds inhabiting organic and conventional farms in Central Poland

Abstract

A study conducted in Central Poland showed that organic farming is more bene- ficial to birds of the agricultural landscape when compared to conventional farming. The abundance of breeding pairs and species richness were higher on organic farms. Bird communities on organic farms were more diverse and balanced as far as the contribution of habitat specialists and generalists is concerned. The study also indicated that organic farms provided better conditions for representatives of nesting, foraging and habitat groups of birds as opposed to conventional farms. The observed differences were mainly due to the more heterogeneous landscape of organic farms. The number of breeding spe- cies was positively correlated with the relative density of edge zones of ecosystems. The following species: Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, Great Tit Parus major, Whitethroat Sylvia communis and Starling Sturnus vulgaris were among those which par- ticularly benefited from organic farming.