Nest site selection of Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus breeding in natural habitats in eastern Poland

Abstract

Nest site selection of the ground-nesting Montagu's Harrier was studied in a natural habitat in eastern Poland, the Chefm Calcareous Marshes (850 ha). All nests in the study area were placed in the sedge community Cladìetum mariscì. The water at nest sites was deeper, and the vegetation was higher, denser and broader-leaved than found at random points. Distance to the nearest meadows did not differ between nest sites and random points; all nests were placed over water, though. These data suggest a preference for nesting in wet places with older and higher vegetations growing in high density.