Population dynamics of Hoopoes Upupa epops and Wrynecks Jynx torquilla in the Valais: Annual report 2022

Since 2002, the populations of hoopoe and wryneck breeding in the more than 600 nest boxes installed in the Rhone Valley between Martigny and Sierre have been monitored. In 2022, fieldwork continued according to the protocol of previous years. The survey consists of the control of all nest boxes every 2^nd week, the check of occupied nest boxes every 5th day to gather information about the broods, the capture or resighting of adult breeding birds and the ringing of all nestlings.

In 2022, 100 hoopoe broods were registered, of which 78 were successful, i.e., at least one chick fledged. From these 78 broods, 394 chicks fledged (mean: 5.1 chicks / successful brood). The overall number of broods and the number of successful broods was very similar to the numbers registered in the two previous years. A total of 114 different breeding adult hoopoes were identified, of which 55 were already marked with an alphanumeric colour ring. The already marked individuals were all identified on photos taken by a camera trap installed at the nest box entrance.

For the wrynecks, 24 broods were registered, of which 20 were successful, i.e., at least one chick fledged. From these 20 broods, 125 chicks fledged (mean: 6.25 chicks / successful brood). Similar to the previous year the number of broods was very low.