Commonly found broods consist of six eggs, told PAP Joanna Sanocka from Drawa National Park.

Kingfisher monitoring in the national park has been conducted for three years by a team led by Roman Kucharski, who cooperates with the Ornithological Station PAS in Górki Wschodnie. Density of breeding pairs of kingfishers on Drawa is among the largest in Poland.

Drawa river valley in Western Pomerania offers the most favourable conditions for this species; kingfishers find here the optimal conditions for nesting, including the riverbank slopes and waters rich in food, mostly small fish. Clear water in the river makes the hunting easy.

Every year, 100 to 150 young birds are ringed in the area, which then migrate to Western Europe, to Germany, the Netherlands and even England.

Scientists estimate that every year, 12 to 15 pairs of kingfishers breed in the research area, but this number can vary considerably depending on the weather and availability of food. In one season, these birds can have up to three broods.

Polish kingfishers spend the winter warmer parts of Europe. Their presence has been recorded on the wintering grounds in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Record trip of a Polish kingfisher is 2100 km. It belongs to the bird that flew from the Brda to the Mediterranean coast in Spain. Record holder from the Drawa is the female kingfisher, which flew 971 km and reached England.

Kingfisher is one of the most colourful Polish bird. It belongs to the rare species, only in some place in Poland found in larger numbers. The Polish population is estimated at 2500-6000 breeding pairs . About 80 percent young die in the first year of life. These birds live for 4-5 years, and older birds are exceptions. ( PAP )

mmd/ agt/ mrt/

tr. RL