Habitat preferences of birds of prey vs age structure of forest - Lasy Parczewskie case study

The study was conducted in Lasy Parczewskie forest complex in eastern Poland in two periods: 1991−1993 and 2002−2004. We analysed the location of 384 nests belonging to 6 species of diurnal birds of prey that are common in Poland: Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), White−tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Buzzard (Buteo buteo), and Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina). We found that all species preferred particular age classes of tree stands (Fig. 2). Sparrowhawk chose tree−stands at age of between 30 and 50 years, Honey Buzzard – older than 50 years, Buzzard and Lesser Spotted Eagle – older than 70 years, Goshawk – older than 80 years, and White−tailed Eagle – older than 90 years. Beside the fact that the Parczew Forests are cultivated and harvested in a common manner, they play an important role for all the species concerned