Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 31() 1988
The breeding biology of the Dunnock Prunella modularis modularis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Ojców National Park(South Poland)
Abstract:
In 1974-1986 the Dunnocks of ONP strted breeding towards the end of April or at the beginning of May. The average clutch — size was 5.14 eggs. The eggs were incubated by the female, the share of male in incubation being small. The incubation period was 12-13 days. The female cared for the chicks almost to the end of the nestling period. Both parents fed the chicks, providing food to 1, 2 or 3 chicks at one visit to the nest; the frequency of feeding increased with the age of the nestlings. The diet of young consisted of invertebrates, on the average 35 specimens making up a portion (the Diptera, Arachnidae, Homoptera and Collembola were the most frequent components). The nestling period lasted 11 days. The data concerning the increase in body-weight and the developmental state of young on successive days of life are presented. On the average 1.21 chicks fly from one nest built in the Ojców National Park.
