Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/yvjrdcv71y
The comparison of the ornithofauna of bara Dvorina and Gajna- the Sava River floodplains in eastern Croatia
Tomislav Mandir
orcid.org/0000-0002-4395-1565
; Beravci 196B, Beravci, Gundinci 35222, Croatia
Domagoj Tomičić
orcid.org/0009-0003-0636-3697
; Kupina 45, Kupina, Velika Kopanica 35221, Croatia
Abstract
The ornithofauna research of Bara Dvorina and Gajna pasture, both
open floodplains of the Sava River protected by the Croatian law, and a
part of Natura 2000 ecological network, was conducted monthly in 2021,
with 12 field visits at each site, which included breeding, migration, and
wintering seasons. A total of 138 bird species from 16 orders and 41
families were recorded: 120 at Bara Dvorina and 117 at Gajna pasture.
The orders Passeriformes (66), Charadriiformes (16), Anseriformes (12),
and Piciformes (7), as well as the families Anatidae (12), Scolopacidae
(10), Muscicapidae (9), and Fringilidae (8) accounted for the majority of
the recorded species. For each area, we furthermore calculated bird frequency
based on observations, and categorized them based on habitat
type, diet, population statuses, and the Red List categories. The main
contributors to the differences in ornithofauna between Bara Dvorina
and Gajna pasture are the level and the amount of water in depressions,
the size and management of pastures and grasslands, and the number
of mosaic plots. Bara Dvorina, which is larger in size and richer in water,
has a more mosaic and diverse habitat, so that the area hosts more
breeding, but also wintering and migratory birds, with greater frequency
of observation. On the other hand, the Gajna pasture has more typical grassland species due to its better land management. Furthermore, more uncommon and rare species were recorded at Gajna; this
indicates that this area is used as a stopover and feeding place for many
birds. 22 species at Bara Dvorina, and 25 at Gajna pasture are on the
Red List of Birds of Croatia, indicating that both areas are important for
birds. In the future, more detailed and species-specific studies should be
conducted. With proper land management, control of invasive species,
mowing, and flood regulation, the condition of both Bara Dvorina and
Gajna pasture could be improved.
Keywords
floodplains; Sava River; grasslands; pasture
Hrčak ID:
293582
URI
Publication date:
10.2.2023.
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