Population dynamics of Hoopoes Upupa epops and Wrynecks Jynx torquilla in the Valais: Annual report 2023

The fieldwork for the hoopoe and wryneck population ecology project continued, following the protocol of previous years, to monitor the population of the two species breeding in the more than 600 nest boxes installed in the Rhone Valley between Martigny and Sierre.

In 2023, 129 hoopoe broods were recorded, of which 88 were successful. From these 88 broods, 475 chicks fledged (average: 5.4 chicks / successful brood). After a temporary low in 2018 and 2019, the number of successful broods has increased steadily (except in 2022). 147 different breeding adults were identified, of which 87 had already been ringed with an alphanumeric colour ring and could therefore be identified on photos taken by a camera trap installed at the nest box entrance. A hoopoe that was ringed as a nestling near Frankfurt in 2022 successfully bred in our study area.

30 wryneck broods were recorded, of which 13 were successful. From these 13 broods, 87 chicks fledged (average: 6.7 chicks / successful brood). 2023 was the year with the lowest number of successful broods in our nest boxes since 2002. 27 different breeding adults were identified. Prior to the breeding season, 28 wrynecks were captured with playback equipment, of which 7 were already marked. 2 of these subsequently bred in our nest boxes.