Habitatgebruik van Paapjes Saxicola rubetra in extensief en intensief beheerde cultuurgraslanden

Habitat use of breeding Whinchats was studied in an agricultural area where extensively and intensively cultivated grasslands co-occur (figure 1). Whinchats arrived in the second half of April and all had attracted a mate by early May (1991). Territories were small and confined to road sides and extensively used grasslands. Only a limited number of singing posts were used (table 1, figure 2). Feeding ranges were bigger, although Whinchats used a distinct patchy pattern of foraging sites, coinciding with clusters of Circium arvense, Rumex acetosa, Tanacetum vulgare and umbellifers (figure 3). The four territories showed no overlap in feeding ranges (figure 4). Identified food items (which do not necessarily depict the true food choice) during the nestling period were mainly Lepidoptera (especially moths and caterpillars) and Diptera (table 2). It is thought that cultivated grassland is unsuitable for Whinchats because of lack of sitting posts, lack of suitable breeding places, lack of cover and lack of suitable food. As a result, breeding of Whinchats in the province of Drenthe is nowadays almost completely confined to nature reserves.