A Preliminary Assessment of the Ornithological Importance of Karst Poljes at Bosansko Grahovo (Western Bosnia and Herzegovina)-Results of a Large-Scale Survey in Period 1974 to 2020

Abstract

This paper presents the results of long periods of research on the bird fauna of municipality of the Bosansko Grahovo, and thess systematic surveys of the ornithofauna of this area have been running continuously since 1974. This contribution contains a full list of the noted bird species. Birds were recorded at times of nesting, spring and autumn migrations as well as in winter. Twenty years ago, the avifauna of the municipaty of Bosansko Grahovo was poorly known. To date, or to this paper, about 50 bird species have been noted on the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo (Livanjsko polje not included). Birds were recorded at times of nesting, spring and autumn migrations as well as in winter. During large number of fild excursions, which were performed in all seasons, 165 bird species were registered in B. Grahovos area, and today it can safely be said that 105 bird species nest on this area (Livanjsko polje not included). Because of the diversity of its flora and fauna, the area of the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo harbors favorable bird habitats during the whole year.

The emigration of peoples from the area of Western Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Balkans civil conflict and implications for the Avifauna (Case study Pašića polje at Bosansko Grahovo)

“…), located in the central part of the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo (Western Bosnia and Herzegovina, Figure 1). Area of the municipality of B. Grahovo were analysed in detail by Marić (2022). The study sites were chosen non-random because of practical resasons and because they have been strongly influenced by anthropogenic factors (directly and indirectly) in the past.…”

“…and Stipa spp., and scattered Juniperus communis, Rosa spp., C. monogyna. The pastures were grazed by cattle, horses and sheep (for further details see Marić 2022).…”

“…), than and crops (Titricum, Hordeum) or potatoes, and a very rare low shrub (usualy lower than 2 m), Rosa spp., Crategus monogyna, wild Pirus sp. (for further details see Marić 2022).…”

“…There are a small number of species whose populations are stable in these significantly different conditions in the two periods, such as P. major, S. communis, P. collybita. However, several species that are mainly related to forest ecosystems such as S. atricapilla, P. major, E. rubecula, T. merula, F. coelebs, S. europea, D. major (Marić 2022) are significantly more numerous in the second period, i.e. in the period with a reduced number of inhabitants, and in some settlements without inhabitants.…”

“…These three localities are in the Pašića polje. The distribution and biodiversity of bird species at B. Grahovo area were recently described (Marić 2022) and represent the first comprehensive data after the data provided by Reiser (1939). This is the area (Pašića polje) where flocks of sheep, horses and cows were extensively and seasonally grazed by 4.000 animals, keeping the vegetation short and succession limited in the past.…”