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K. ŠTÁSTNÝ & V. BEJČEK, 2004 - Analysis of bird communities in the former Soviet military training areas of Ralsko
and Mladá (Czech Republic). In: Anselin, A. (ed.) Bird Numbers 1995, Proceedings of the International Conference and
13th Meeting of the European Bird Census Council, Pärnu, Estonia. Bird Census News 13 (2000):145-155
ANALYSIS OF BIRD COMMUNITIES
IN THE FORMER SOVIET MILITARY TRAINING AREAS
OF RALSKO AND MLADÁ (CZECH REPUBLIC)
K. Štástný & V. Bejček
ABSTRACT. The avifauna of the former military area of Ralsko was investigated using a point count method - censusing for 5 minutes at each point on
a grid with 300 m spacing. A total of 105 bird species was recorded, three of
which (Chaffinch, Sky Lark and Willow Warbler) showed dominance higher
than 5 %. The high number of species with a low substitution of dominant
species (only four) indicates the high value of the area. Particular habitats
were evaluated using the coefficient based on the percentage of squares
occupied by individual species in the Atlas of breeding birds of the Czech
Republic, 1985-'89. The highest values were recorded for initial stages of old
fields, tank training grounds and wetlands. The avifauna of the former
military area of Mladá was assessed using a line transect method (100 m
band in open countryside, 50 m in forest); 84 species were found. Various
types of old fields and ruderal plots in an abandoned town were the most
valuable habitats. The density of the Corn Bunting in old fields (42-114
ind./100 ha) was unusually high. The most ornithological valuable sites in
the former military areas, however, have an temporary, sucessional
character, and appropriate management practices should be applied to
preserve the state of habitats.
Forestry Faculty, Czech Agricultural University, Prague,
CZ - 28163 Kostelec nad Černými lesy, The Czech Republic
INTRODUCTION
In former Czechoslovakia, military training areas (MTA), or the border zones, were quite
inaccessible for the public. For biologists these vast areas were terrae incognitae atque prohibitae, i.e. unknown and prohibited lands. It was generally believed that the environment in the
MTA was extremely damaged or even permanently destroyed. In the course of time, however,
evidence showed that the nature in the MTA had not been damaged and was very valuable. Human activities in such areas are essentially ‘natural‘ in character (e.g. fire, impact of air masses
and non-periodical denudation of soil). Hence, there occured no fertilization, pesticides,
industry or industrial emissions, as well as no amelioration and tourism. On the contrary, there
was a stabilized regime with a quiet buffer zone without any human settlements - a system
stabilized by a specific military management, analogous to the way farmland is stabilized by
agricultural management (Větvička et al. 1992).
However, all this holds true for the training areas of the Czech army. When they were occupied by the Soviet army after 1968, radical changes took place. While intense military
training activities had previously been concentrated on the central parts of the areas, on about
15 % of the territory (Šaroch 1995), marked changes occurred after the arrival of the Soviet
army. Soldiers lived there permanently (for example, 20 thousand soldiers in the MTA of
Ralsko) and they introduced their way of life and attitude towards nature. Military units utilized
the whole of the MTA, even in the growing and breeding seasons. As a result, the natural
composition and structure of biotic communities was heavily damaged and the areas became
extremely polluted with oil products and littered with live ammunition of all kinds. For
example, in the Ralsko area, almost 1 000 shells per 150 km2 was found in the course of a
- 145 -
single year. Paradoxically, the two MTAs under study are at the same time, large-scale oases of
natural habitats and extensive waste dumps.
METHODS
Study Areas
The former MTA of Ralsko lies in northern Bohemia. It was established in 1950. This is
the youngest and the largest MTA (area 254 km2) not only in the Czech Republic but in the
whole of Central Europe. It lies at 260-700 m above sea level. Of its territory, 180 km2 (73 %) is
covered with woodland, of which the most valuable are several types of beech woods, relict and
peatland pine forests, waterlogged and peatland spruce forests, besides secondary pine and
spruce monocultures and a number of successional stages of woodland. Built-up areas amount
to a mere 1 %, which corresponds to the density of 3 inhabitants per km2 in the middle of an
otherwise densely populated landscape. There are few meadows and wetlands, and few water
bodies (<1 % of the area). On the other hand, there occur many different types of vegetation in
deforested training areas (21 % of the territory, Fig. 1).
Figure 1 : Composition of particular environmental elements in "Ralsko"
Figure 2 : Composition of particular environmental elements in "Mladá"
- 146 -
The former MTA of Mladá, which was established in 1903 and covers 58 km2, lies in
central Bohemia about 200 m above the level. The territory is diverse, woodland occupies
45 %, wasteland, former training zones and steppe to forest-steppe habitats 26 %, and
abandoned cities, villages and other built-up areas 11 % of total area (Fig. 2).
Field methods
In the former MTA of Ralsko, data was collected in May 1993 and 1994 using the
modified point count method (Svensson 1977), in which the birds were registered for 5 minutes
at each point on a grid with 300 m spacing. The present overview summarises the results
obtained from 630 points, corresponding to an area of about 57 km2. About 70 % of the study
area is covered with woodland, mostly spruce and mixed forests, roughly 26 % comprises open
landscape habitats.
In the former MTA of Mladá, fieldwork was carried out in May 1994, using the line
transect method, the width of the belt being 100 m in open landscape and 50 m in woodland. In
all, 52 line transects were made in 8 major habitat types (see Table 1) totalling 773 ha of area.
In both areas, the counts were performed between dawn and 9:30 hours CET. Singing males
were considered to represent a breeding pair.
In the former MTA of Ralsko each avian species was evaluated on the basis of coefficient
K calculated from the equation K = 1 - P / 100, where P is occupation of mapping quadrats (in
percentage) in Czech Republic by the respective species in 1985-89 (Štástný et al. 1996). The
values of this coefficient vary between 0 and 1. They approach 0 in case of the most abundant
species (e.g. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, Sky Lark Alauda arvensis) and 1 in case of the rarest
species (e.g. Common Crane Grus grus, and White-tailed Eagle Haliaeëtus albicilla). The sum
of such ‘species values‘ obtained from each point provided a ‘point value‘ of the occurence of
birds, and served to map the most valuable parts from the perspective of ornithology and nature
conservation. ‘Dominance‘ was measured as species‘ denisty/sum of all species‘ density and
expressed as a percentage.
RESULTS
In the former MTA of Ralsko a total of 105 bird species was recorded, three of which - the
Chaffinch, Sky Lark and Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus – revealed dominance higher
than 5 %. The large number of species showing low dominance indicates high species diversity
of the bird communities as well as the importance of the area in the ornithological or landscape
ecological aspect.
The sum of the values of coefficient K was the highest in early successional stages of
wastelands, tank training zones and target and drop zones (very valuable parts of the area
concerning the species composition) as well as in various types of wetland. Of the total 630
points censused, 92 accounted for the sum of the values of coefficient K between 1.00 and 1.99;
15 points accounted for as much as 2.00 to 4.21. Of these 107 points (one sixth of the study
area), many represent habitats of temporary character (wastelands, tank training zones), in
which changes due to continuing succession should occur as expected. These changes will lead
to gradual disappearance of rare species like the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, Stonechat
Saxicola torquata, and Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra from these areas. Another important
landscape element is the mosaic of clearings and conifer plantations within larger forest
complexes (typical species are the Wood Lark Lullula arborea, Redstart Phoenicurus
phoenicurus) and beech woods (Stock Dove Columba oenas, Black Woodpecker Dryocopus
martius, and flycatchers Ficedula spp.). From the ornithological point of view, wetlands are the
most valuable parts of the study area. They are inhabited by such species as the Wood
Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Common Crane, and White-tailed Eagle. Figure 3 shows the
- 147 -
Figure 3 : Quantity of the most valuable species in the former MTA Ralsko were evaluated from
the percentage occupation of mapping quadrats in the Czech Republic 1985-'89
abundance of the 10 most ‘valuable‘ bird species in the study area on account of their rarity in
the Czech Republic in 1985-89.
In the former MTA of Mladá, wastelands are also among the most valuable ornithological
areas. The bird community inhabiting this ecosystem includes species which are considered rare
within the Czech Republic and some of them are declining. This is particularly true for the Corn
Bunting, which breeds at high densities, unequalled elsewhere in the Czech Republic – 42114 ind./100 ha, in various types of wasteland and steppe to forest-steppe areas, averaging 65.8
ind./100 ha and 17.8 % of dominance. High density values have also been attained in
aerodrome grasslands and in an abandoned military town with ruderal areas: 23.1 and 35.4
ind./100 ha respectively (Tables 1-2). At the same time, within the whole Czech Republic the
abundance of this species was only 700-1 400 pairs in 1985-89 (Štástný et Bejček 1993), with
21 % of all mapping quadrats being occupied by this species. Wastelands and similar areas are
inhabited by other rare bird species, such as the Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria (max. 4.6
ind./100 ha) and the Stonechat (max. 4.2 ind./100 ha). High population densities of the
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra (max. 36.8 ind./100 ha and dominance 9.9 %) and the Red-backed
Figure 4 : Density of dominant and influent bird species in the old fields
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Shrike (max. 33.0 ind./100 ha) are also of interest. There are some other rare species in ruderal
areas of the abandoned town, especially the Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris (6.3 ind./100 ha),
the Crested Lark Galerida cristata (15.2 ind./100 ha), the Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (2.5
ind./100 ha) and the Wood Lark Lullula arborea (15.2 ind./100 ha), Figures 4-7.
Figure 5 : Density of dominant and influent species in the meadow near former airport
Figure 6 : Density of dominant and influent bird species in abandoned
Soviet military city with open areas
In the former MTA of Mladá, the richest bird communities are found in the abondoned
town with its concrete and ruderal areas (habitat C in Table 1) – 47 species, and wastelands
with growing-up tank training zones (habitat A in Table 1) – 43 species. Concerning the
number of bird species, these habitats outweighed even habitats covered with a mosaic of mixed
mature forest and clearings with Scots pine plantations of various ages (habitat F in Table 1) –
37 species.
- 149 -
Figure 7 : Density of dominant and influent bird species in abandoned
Soviet housing development
A specific bird community inhabits the abondoned military town with its extensive concrete and ruderal areas and scattered verdure. It includes synanthropic species like the House
Martin Delichon urbica (141.8 ind./100 ha), Starling Sturnus vulgaris, nesting most frequently
in street lamp domes (126.6 ind./100 ha), Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros (50.6
ind./100 ha); species inhabiting open habitats – the Skylark (54.5 ind./100 ha), Crested Lark
(15.2 ind./100 ha), Tawny Pipit (6.3 ind./100 ha); species typical of scattered vegetation - the
Whitethroat Sylvia communis (58.2 ind./100 ha), Red-backed Shrike (27.9 ind./100 ha), Linnet
Carduelis cannabina (17.7 ind./100 ha); and strictly woodland species - Wood Lark (15.2
ind./100 ha); Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (12.7 ind./100 ha) and Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus (3.8 ind./100 ha), see habitat C in Table 1.
A similar situation is found in the housing development of the same abandoned densely
built-up town. At such a site several synanthropic species attain higher densities (e.g. Starling,
300 ind./100 ha; Swift Apus apus, 283 ind./100 ha; House Martin, 200 ind./100 ha; Black
Redstart, 108 ind./100 ha) compared with the above described part of the town. Species inhabiting open areas are absent and, on the other hand, species associated with accompanying
vegetation are more abundant (Great Tit Parus major, 370 ind./100 ha; Chiffchaff Phylloscopus
collybita, 167 ind./100 ha; Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, 50 ind./100 ha); even woodland
species are more abundant here (Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, 75 ind./ 100 ha; Blackcap, 50
ind./100 ha; Crow Corvus corone, 42 ind./100 ha). It is also worthwhile to note the high density
of the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (117 ind./100 ha), which can find suitable nesting sites in the
town and sufficient food supply in the surrounding wasteland (habitat D in Table 1).
- 150 -
DISCUSSION
Management
In both former MTAs, the most endangered areas include meadow stands, grasslands in
training areas and wetland communities. The occurence of rare bird species, particularly in
waste areas, tank training zones, target areas etc. is dependent on continuing plant succession.
Extremely invasive plant species, such as Lupinus polyphyllos, Urtica dioica, as well as such
shrubs and trees as Sarothamnus scoparius, Salix aurita, S. caprea, Betula pendula, Populus
tremula, endanger the natural maintenance of grass vegetation. These may spread over the
semi-natural vegetation and areas from which vegetation has been removed (Husákova
et al. 1992), gradually degrading habitats suitable, for example, for the Stonechat and Whinchat
- not to mention other rare and protected species of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. One
possible way to periodically remove vegetation from at least some part of the area woukd be to
establish stations in the MTA for rearing large grazing animals, which could relieve, at least to
some degree, the destructive impact of military vehicles and exploding shells. At least it is
necessary to prevent destruction of this specifically and structurally rich landscape of the former
MTAs using the present agricultural practice and housing development. For landscape ecology
and conservation purposes, the MTAs should be utilized as a whole. In a sense, these areas
could be viewed as large-scale outdoor experiments.
REFERENCES
Husáková J., Sádlo J., & Vĕtvička V. 1982: Terrae incognitaque prohibitae - Vojenské výcvikové
prostory a příroda. II.Rub - území extremnĕ zničená. [Military Exercize Terrirories and Nature Part II - the Seamy Side: Territories Extremely Destroyed] Ochrana přírody 47(3): 67- 71 (in
Czech with English summary).
Svensson S. 1977: Land use planning and bird census with particular reference to the application of the
point sampling method. Pol. ecol. Stud. 3,4: 99 - 117.
Šaroch V. 1995: Ochrana přírody v podmínkach vojenských výcvikových prostorů. [Nature conservation
in military areas] Ochrana přírody 50 (4): 97 - 98 (in Czech with English summary).
Štástný K. & Bejček V. 1993: Početnost hnízdních populaci ptáků v České republice. [Breeding bird
populations sizes in the Czech Republic] Sylvia 29: 72 – 82 (in Czech with English summary).
Štástný K., Bejček V., & Hudec K. 1996: Atlas hnízdního rozšírení ptáků v České republice 1985-89.
[The Atlas of breeding birds in the Czech Republic 1985-1989]. H+H, Praha. (in Czech with
English summary).
Vĕtvička V., Husáková J., & Sádlo J. 1982: Terrae incognitaque prohibitae - Vojenské vycvikové
prostory a příroda - I.Líc - území zvláštnim způsobem chránĕná. [Military Exercize Terrirories
and Nature - Part I - Obverse - Areas Protected in a Peculiar Way] Ochrana přírody 47(2): 35 –
40 (in Czech with English summary).
- 151 -
Table 1:
Density of breeding bird species (individuals per 100 hectares) in different habitats of
the former Soviet military of Mladá. A – old fields, B – meadow near former airport, C
– abandoned Soviet military city with open areas, D – abandoned Soviet housing
development, E – wetlands near abandoned city, F – mosaic of mature forest (oak,
pine, spruce, G – mature oak forest, H – mature deciduous forest (birch, oak, false
acacia)
Species/habitat
Ana. Platyp
Ayt. fulig
Cir. aerug
Acc. genti
But. buteo
Fal. tinnu
Per. perdi
Pha. colch
Ful. atra
Cha. dubiu
Col. palum
Str. decao
Str. turtu
Cuc. canor
Apu. apus
Jyn. torqu
Pic. canus
Pic. virid
Dry. marti
Den. major
Gal. crist
Lul. arbor
Ala. arven
Rip. ripar
Hir. rusti
Del. urbic
Ant. campe
Ant. trivi
Ant. prate
Mot. flava
Mot. alba
Tro. trogl
Pru. modul
Eri, rubec
Lus. megar
Pho. ochru
Pho. phoen
Sax. rubet
Sax. torqu
Oen. oenan
Tur. merul
Tur. philo
Tur. visci
Loc. naevi
Acr. Schoe
Acr.palus
Acr. scrip
Hip. icter
Syl. nisor
A
0.4
B
0.7
3.8
1.8
4.6
0.4
2.6
7.7
3.8
C
D
E
14.0
14.0
F
G
H
4.0
5.0
4.4
3.8
11.4
7.7
117.0
14.0
17.0
8.7
100.0
2.5
3.8
19.0
2.5
6.3
34.2
0.4
1.6
1.1
4.2
17.0
17.0
17.0
75.0
283.0
29.0
14.0
429.0
9.0
8.7
8.7
9.0
18.0
4.4
8.0
0.4
1.1
165.0
4.9
1.1
4.8
0.4
16.7
0.7
0.5
0.9
203.8
19.2
2.5
15.2
15.2
54.4
8.0
17.7
141.8
6.3
30.4
8.0
200.0
13.9
42.0
0.4
36.8
4.2
0.4
0.2
0.2
5.1
2.5
2.5
31.7
5.1
32.0
95.7
133.0
55.0
8.7
34.8
43.5
4.0
8.0
58.0
64.0
8.7
4.0
21.7
10.0
4.0
4.0
26.1
29.0
43.0
67.0
33.0
2.5
50.6
4.0
48.0
17.4
50.0
108.0
29.0
29.0
86.0
150.0
4.4
29.0
29.0
257.0
286.0
2.5
4.6
- 152 -
8.7
27.0
9.0
Species/habitat
Syl. curru
Syl. commu
Syl. borin
Syl. atric
Phy. sibil
Phy. Colly
Phy. trochilu
Reg. regul
Mus. stria
Fic. alba
Par. palus
Par. crist
Par. ater
Par. caeru
Par. major
Sit. europ
Cer. famil
Rem. pendu
Ori. oriol
Lan. collu
Lan. excub
Gar. gland
Pic. pica
Cor. coron
Cor. corax
Stu. vulga
Pas. domes
Pas. monta
Fri. coele
Ser. serin
Car. chlor
Car. cardu
Car. spinu
Car. canna
Pyr. pyrrh
Coc. cocco
Emb. citri
Emb. schoe
Mil. calan
Total
A
0.7
11.9
0.9
B
7.7
C
10.1
58.2
2.5
12.7
D
50.0
50.0
33.0
50.0
E
171.0
10.1
167.0
143.0
F
8.7
17.4
69.6
139.1
252.2
269.6
8.7
8.7
G
8.0
29.0
8.0
23.0
25.0
8.0
4.0
H
18.0
46.0
64.0
9.0
109.0
182.0
9.0
27.0
14.0
5.1
22.8
8.7
17.4
34.8
8.7
8.7
60.0
140.0
12.0
31.0
109.0
109.0
33.0
33.0
24.8
23.0
23.0
8.0
43.5
42.0
317.0
9.0
14.0
12.3
1.6
0.4
0.2
27.9
1.3
7.7
3.8
42.0
29.0
300.0
67.0
42.0
250.0
17.0
57.0
3.3
126.6
8.9
29.1
39.2
17.7
7.6
6.3
2.5
17.7
5.3
3.8
25.3
2.9
0.4
0.5
0.5
65.8
372.2
23.1
284.5
35.4
958.0
114.0
5.0
8.0
8.7
17.4
120.0
23.0
12.0
360.0
77.0
8.7
26.1
108.7
10.0
27.0
23.0
36.0
8.7
1573.0
1189.0
1120.0
165.2
8.7
17.0
57.0
57.0
2735.0
- 153 -
2073.0
Table 2:
Dominance (in %) of breeding bird species in different habitats of the former Soviet
military of Mladá (see in Table 1).
Species/habitat
Ana. Platyp
Ayt. fulig
Cir. aerug
Acc. genti
But. buteo
Fal. tinnu
Per. perdi
Pha. colch
Ful. atra
Cha. dubiu
Col. palum
Str. decao
Str. turtu
Cuc. canor
Apu. apus
Jyn. torqu
Pic. canus
Pic. virid
Dry. marti
Den. major
Gal. crist
Lul. arbor
Ala. arven
Rip. ripar
Hir. rusti
Del. urbic
Ant. campe
Ant. trivi
Ant. prate
Mot. flava
Mot. alba
Tro. trogl
Pru. modul
Eri, rubec
Lus. megar
Pho. ochru
Pho. phoen
Sax. rubet
Sax. torqu
Oen. oenan
Tur. merul
Tur. philo
Tur. visci
Loc. naevi
Acr. Schoe
Acr.palus
Acr. scrip
Hip. icter
Syl. nisor
Syl. curru
Syl. commu
Syl. borin
A
0.1
B
0.2
1.4
0.5
1.2
0.1
0.7
2.7
1.4
C
D
E
0.7
0.7
F
G
H
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.4
1.2
2.7
4.3
0.7
0.6
0.5
4.8
0.3
0.4
2.0
0.3
0.7
3.6
0.1
0.4
0.3
1.1
0.6
0.6
0.6
2.7
10.5
1.4
0.7
20.7
0.9
0.5
0.5
0.9
1.7
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.3
44.4
1.3
0.3
1.3
0.1
4.5
0.2
0.1
0.2
71.6
6.7
0.3
4.1
3.0
6.1
11.2
5.1
0.5
2.3
2.8
0.3
0.7
4.9
6.0
4.0
1.8
0.5
0.3
5.5
1.4
0.8
0.3
0.3
0.3
1.6
1.6
5.7
0.3
1.9
14.9
0.7
3.2
0.3
7.3
1.5
1.5
0.1
1.7
9.9
1.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.3
0.3
3.3
0.5
1.4
2.1
2.4
1.2
0.3
5.3
1.1
1.4
1.4
4.1
1.2
1.4
1.4
12.4
13.8
2.6
0.9
0.5
0.3
1.2
0.2
3.2
0.2
2.7
1.1
6.1
0.3
1.8
1.8
1.2
- 154 -
0.5
1.1
4.5
0.7
1.7
4.3
Species/habitat
Syl. atric
Phy. sibil
Phy. Colly
Phy. trochilu
Reg. regul
Mus. stria
Fic. alba
Par. palus
Par. crist
Par. ater
Par. caeru
Par. major
Sit. europ
Cer. famil
Rem. pendu
Ori. oriol
Lan. collu
Lan. excub
Gar. gland
Pic. pica
Cor. coron
Cor. corax
Stu. vulga
Pas. domes
Pas. monta
Fri. coele
Ser. serin
Car. chlor
Car. cardu
Car. spinu
Car. canna
Pyr. pyrrh
Coc. cocco
Emb. citri
Emb. schoe
Mil. calan
Total
A
B
C
1.3
D
1.8
E
8.3
F
8.9
1.1
6.1
6.9
16.2
17.3
0.5
0.5
G
2.4
0.7
2.0
H
6.0
0.9
10.1
16.9
2.1
0.7
0.3
0.9
2.6
1.3
0.5
2.4
0.5
1.1
2.2
0.5
0.5
5.0
11.8
1.0
2.6
5.5
10.1
1.2
1.2
1.4
2.0
2.1
0.3
2.9
1.5
11.7
0.9
0.7
3.3
0.4
0.1
0.1
2.9
0.1
2.7
0.8
0.1
0.1
0.4
0.9
13.3
0.9
3.1
4.1
1.9
0.8
0.7
0.3
0.9
1.4
0.4
2.6
0.1
17.8
100.0
8.1
100.0
3.7
100.0
1.5
11.1
2.4
1.5
9.2
0.6
1.4
2.7
5.5
0.4
0.7
0.5
1.1
10.1
2.1
1.0
30.3
7.2
0.5
1.7
7.0
0.8
2.3
2.1
3.4
0.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
10.6
0.5
0.6
2.7
2.7
100.0
- 155 -
100.0