Breeding bird communities in a morain landscape (Affi, North-Western Venetia): a preliminary survey.

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted on a moraine hilly landscape (Affi, Verona). We found 43 species of birds overall (40 breeding, two migrants, one exotic species). Mosaics showed the largest absolute number of species (n = 25), the higher mean species richness and the highest diversity index. The croplands and wood fragments, on the contrary, pointed out the lowest absolute number of species, the vineyards showed the mean species richness. These bird communities are typical of conditions with high heterogeneity (mosaic environment) to medium-high level of anthropization, with a species composition characterized by the dominance of common and widespread taxa. We observed individuals of Ptyonoprogne rupestris in atypical environments (anthropized river plain). A stronger research effort is necessary in order to complete the knowledge of breeding bird communities in these particular environments.