Project Wryneck Jynx torquilla: Habitat selection and breeding success

The Wryneck seems to be declining in numbers. One reason that has been suggested is the that the area grazed by cattle has declined strongly. In 1995, we started this project by putting up nest boxes, specially designed to attract Wrynecks. The nest boxes were deep, 400 mm between the entrance hole (diameter 32 mm) and the bottom (100x120 mm). We also described the habitat within circular areas (radius 250 m) surrounding each nest box with a breeding pair. We plan to continue the project for five years. Here we present the results from the first two years. In 1995 we used 50 nest boxes. Four pairs bred in them, and we also found three other pairs breeding in starling nest boxes. The seven pairs laid an average of 9.7 eggs per clutch. Five pairs bred successfully and produced 6.4 fledglings on average, which is 4.6 fledglings per breeding attempt. In 1996 we had 78 nest boxes and nine breeding pairs. Eight of them were successful and produced a mean of 8.5 fledglings per brood, corresponding to 7.6 per breeding attempt. The habitats recorded around the nest boxes with breeding pairs is given in Figure 1. Grassland predominates, followed by coniferous forest and arable land, together 72 percent.