Acrocephalus 2$ (121): 87 — 90, 2004 New data on breeding of Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus in caves in Bosnia and Herzegovina Novi podatki o gnezdenju planinske kavke Pyrrhocorax graculus v jamah Bosne in Hercegovine Jasminko Mulaomerovi}1 & Dra`en Kotro{an2 1 Ornithological association “Na{e ptice”, Semira Fra{te 6, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, e-mail: naseptice@hotmail.com, jasminko.mulaomerovic@telecom.ba 2 National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zmaja od Bosne 3, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, e-mail: kotrosan@bih.net.ba Kongres ornitologov Slovenije ob 25. obletnici DOPPS Slovene Ornithologists’ Congress at the 25th anniversary of DOPPS (BirdLife Slovenia) 1. Introduction The Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus is a widespread breeding species in the southern Palearctic (Sackl 1997). It commonly nests in caves (Cramp & Perrins 1994). In Bosnia and Herzegovina it has been recorded as nesting in all seasons (Reiser 1939, Obratil 1967, Matvejev & Vasi} 1973, Mulaomerovi} et al. 2002). However, apart from general facts concerning the habitat and time of nesting, very little is known about the breeding habits of the Alpine Chough in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are numerous caves and crevices with names suggesting a connection with the species (e.g. Vranja~a, Vranovica, ^avljak, Vrana pe}ina cave, ^av~ija jama hole, ^avkarica, Golovranjka, Vranovina, Gavranja~a, Vranova jama hole, Vranska jama hole, ^av~e jama hole, Vranovica, ^av~arica, ^avka, etc. [respectively from vrana = crow, or ~avka = jackdaw]). There is no evidence so far, however, linking the nesting of the Alpine Chough with these sites (Mulaomerovi} et al. 2002). Much work has been devoted over the past few years to observing the nesting habits of this species in holes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result, this species was confirmed breeding in holes on Mt. Vranica in 2000 and 2001 (Mulaomerovi} et al. 2002). This paper sets out our findings to date on the nesting habits of the Alpine Chough in holes on Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica. 2. Study area and methods During the period 2002–2004 we conducted speleological studies on Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica (Figure 1). We checked the holes as to whether they Figure 1: Position of the Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica in Bosnia and Herzegovina Slika 1: Geografska lega Vranice in Viso~ice v Bosni in Hercegovini were occupied by Alpine Choughs. We also gathered information from the inhabitants of alpine summer settlements who spend the whole of the summer months on Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica. We have received confirmation from several local people living in the summer cattle-rearing mountain villages that certain crevices are occupied by the Alpine Chough. Mt. Vranica belongs to the ore-bearing central Bosnian mountain range, and is wellknown for its many ore-bearing sites, which have been exploited since prehistoric times. It is covered with forest vegetation up to approximately 1600 m a.s.l., where forest is replaced with alpine pastures covered in some Sy J. Mulaomerovi} & Kotro{an: New data on breeding of Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus in caves in Bosnia and Herzegovina places with extensive stands of Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. There are isolated Mountain Pines Pinus mugo along the mountain ridge above the tree line at altitudes of 1900 to 2000 m a.s.l. Mount Viso~ica lies within the Mediterranean region although, at its extreme limit, it is separated from Bosnia by the river Rakitnica. The highest peak of the mountain is 1988 m a.s.l. Apart from a few stunted individual plants of the Beech Fagus sylvatica on the lower southern slopes, the mountain is completely bare, consisting of the rocky terrain and alpine pastures typical of Herzegovina. The holes are located at an elevation of 800 to 1900 m a.s.l. 3. Results and Discussion We have recorded the presence of the Alpine Chough in four holes on Mt. Vranica. The holes were in limestone formations and are found solely in this zone. The holes known as Pti~ije jame are at approximately 2000 m a.s.l., above Sarajevska vrata in the direction of Krstac (2069 m a.s.l.). There are two holes, one of which has three entrances, standing about 100 m apart. In each case the entrance holes are quite small. The hole with three entrance holes is in an open-cast mine, and the entrance to the other is surrounded by pines. We found the entrance holes by observing the birds swooping earthwards. Both holes are on a south-facing slope. In late July 2000, we saw birds only in the hole with three entrance holes (Table 1). We registered four birds. As we came closer to the hole, the birds stopped entering it. There were some quite well-grown fledglings about 2.5 to 3 m below the entrance, on a small natural ledge in the rock; they continued to perch there without flying away the whole time we were there. During subsequent speleological investigations in August 2000, once again four birds flew out of the hole, and one nest was observed on the wall of the hole, which was about 25 m deep (Habul 2000). The bottom of the hole and the rocks around the entrance holes were covered with dark-blue droppings. The colour is presumably caused by the birds’ feeding on bilberries (Cramp & Perrins 1994). Another site where the presence of the Alpine Chough was confirmed in 2001 is an unnamed hole alongside the mountain track leading to Nadkrstac below Krstac (Table 1). This hole is at an altitude Table 1: Breeding locations of Alpine Choughs Pyrrhocorax graculus in caves of Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica in Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded in years 2002 to 2004 Tabela 1: Gnezdi{~a planinske kavke Pyrrhocorax graculus odkrita med letoma 2002 in 2004 v jamah Vranice in Viso~ice v Bosni in Hercegovini Mountain/ Cave / jama UTM Altitude/ Evidence of Alpine Chough presence / dokaz za prisotnost gora nadm. vi{ina planinske kavke Birds / ptice Vocalisation/ Nest/ Eggshell/ ogla{anje gnezdo jaj~na lupine Vranica Pti~ije jame YJ27 2000 m + + Vranica hole near Krstac YJ27 2000 m + + - Vranica hole near Lo}ika YJ27 ? + - Vranica hole on Vodi~ke strane YJ27 ? + + - Viso~ica hole near Puzim cemetery BP72 1650 m + - Viso~ica ^avkarica (Hotanj spring) BP72 1600 m + + + Viso~ica ^avkarica (Dolovi) BP72 1410 m + - Viso~ica Siljeva~a hole BP73 1650 m + - 88 ACROCEPHALUS 25 (l2l): 87 - 9O, 2OO4 Figure 2: Nest of the Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus in the ^avkarica hole by the Hotanj spring on Mt. Viso~ica (photo: J. Mulaomerovi}) Slika 2: Gnezdo planinske kavke Pyrrhocorax graculus v jami ^avkarica pri Hotanjskem studencu na Viso~ici (foto: J. Mulaomerovi}) of approximately 2000 m a.s.l. The birds were not observed, but their calls could be heard. According to the locals, there is one other hole where the Alpine Chough had been found. This is on the western facing slopes of Lo}ika, not far from a small clearing between the pine trees (Table 1). We did not check this site. There is a hole on the Vodi~ side, on the western slopes of Rosinje, the furthermost summit of Vranica in the direction of Gornji Vakuf. The hole has yet to be studied speleologically because of its extremely awkward position, but when approaching the entrance to the wide karst valley speleologists saw 10 to 15 Alpine Choughs flying in and out of the hole (Table 1). An unnamed hole alongside the road between the Puzim cemetery and Poljice was checked. When passing by, two birds were observed flying out of the hole. The hole is surrounded by alpine pastures, at an altitude of approximately 1650 m a.s.l. A small stream disappears underground in the hole. The ^avkarica hole, a cave with a small hole-like entrance, is not far from the summer cottages at Hotanj spring, on a hill named after the cave, at an altitude of 1600 m a.s.l. The local people occupying the summer houses confirmed that they had often seen Alpine Choughs. There were no birds in the hole when we visited it, but we observed a nest on a stone ledge at a height of about 2.5 m (Figure 2). There was also one broken egg on the ground, about 2 m from the nest (Figure 3). The second ^avkarica hole is on the summit of a lower hill (1410 m a.s.l.), directly above the meadow below the summer houses of Dolovi. The depth of the hole was estimated at 10 to 12 m. We did not see birds, but the local people told us that Alpine Choughs are present there. A Siljeva~a hole occupied by a fair number of birds, also known only from local accounts, is located at an altitude of about 1650 m a.s.l. in the Volodera~a (1728 m a.s.l.) region. Further systematic ornithological surveys would provide a better view of the species’ nesting habits, not only on Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica, but also on other Bosnian mountains, e.g. Bjela{nica, ^vrsnica, Vran, etc. Figure 3: Egg of the Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus in the ^avkarica hole by the Hotanj spring on Mt. Viso~ica (photo: J. Mulaomerovi}) Slika 3: Jajce planinske kavke Pyrrhocorax graculus v jami ^avkarica pri Hotanjskem studencu na Viso~ici (foto: J. Mulaomerovi}) Summary Observations between 2000 and 2004 confirmed that the Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus nests on Mt. Vranica (four caves) and Mt. Viso~ica (four caves). The birds constructed their nests on natural ledges on vertical walls in the holes. The populations observed on Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica corroborate the known facts (manner of nesting, type of habitat, exposure of the nests, altitude etc.) concerning the breeding habits of this species. Further systematic ornithological are needed to get a better view of the species’ nesting habits, not only on Mts. Vranica and Viso~ica, but also on other mountains in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 89 J. Mulaomerovi} & Kotro{an: New data on breeding of Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus in caves in Bosnia and Herzegovina Povzetek Med raziskavami, opravljenimi med letoma 2000 in 2004, je bila potrjena gnezditev planinske kavke Pyrrhocorax graculus v {tirih jamah na Vranici in v {tirih jamah na Viso~ici. Ptice so si gnezda zgradile na naravnih skalnih policah v jamskih navpi~nih stenah. Populacije, ugotovljene na Vranici in Viso~ici, potrjujejo `e znana dejstva (na~in gnezdenja, tip habitata, izpostavljenost gnezd, nadmorska vi{ina itd.), kar zadeva gnezditvene navade te vrste. Sicer pa bi bile za bolj{i vpogled v gnezditvene navade vrste potrebne nadaljnje sistemati~ne ornitolo{ke raziskave, ne le na Vranici in Viso~ici, marve~ tudi na drugih gorah Bosne in Hercegovine. References Cramp, S. & Perrins, C. (1994): Handbook of the Birds of Europe the Middle East and Nort Africa, Vol. VIII – Crows to Finches. – Oxford University Press, Oxford. Habul, A. (2000): Speleological camp “Vranica 2000” – Report. Records of S. D. “Speleo dodo”, Sarajevo. Matvejev, S.D. & Vasić, VF. (1973): Catalogus faune Jugoslavie IV/3, Aves. – Slovenian Academy of Science and the Art, Ljubljana. MuLAOMEROVIC, J., KoTROSAN, D. & BajRAKTAREVIC, A. (2002): Dodatak poznavanju gnje`|enja `utokljune galice, Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linnaeus, 1758), na podru~ju planine Vranice. – Na{ kr{ 22 (35): 65–73. Obratil, S. (1967): Pregled istra`ivanja ornitofaune Bosne i Hercegovine (I. dio). – Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja Bosne i Hercegovine u Sarajevu (PN) NS 5: 191–268. Reiser, O. (1939): Materialien zu einer Ornis Balcanica I., Bosnien und Herzegovina nebst teilen von Serbien und Dalmatien. – Zemaljski muzej Bosne i Hercegovine, Wien. Sackl, P. (1997): Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus. pp. 675 In: Hagemeijer, W.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (eds.): The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds. – T & AD Poyser, London. Arrived / Prispelo: 1.10.2004 Accepted / Sprejeto: 26.1.2005 90