Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2001, Page 123

127
Breeding distribution and numbers
of wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) in the
Faroe Islands
s
Utbreiðsla og tal av Músabróður (Troglodytes troglodytes) í Føroyum
Sven-Axel Bengtson
Museum of Zoology, University of Lund, Helgonav. 3, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden. Phone: +46 46 222 8457; Fax:
+46 46 222 4541; e-mail: zoomus@zool.lu.se
Úrtak
Føroyski músabróðurin (Troglodytes t. borealis) er
støðufuglur og eitt egið underslag. Hann er vanligur um
allar Føroyar. Grundað á kanningar gjøgnum tey sein-
astu 20 árini verður mett, at stovnurin telur millum 650
og 800 pør, kanska fleiri. Umleið 28% eiga á bygdum
økjum og í bønum, 49 % í haganum (einameist niðri í
bakkanum), og 23% í bjørgunum. Bert heilt fá pør eru
halda til í plantasjum. A smáum oyggjum eru lutfalsliga
fleiri pør. Møguligar orsøkir til hetta (t.d. sjófuglur,
ketta, grótgarðar o.s.fr.) verða umrøddar. Broytingar í
stovninum millum ár kunnu vera 15-30%, men ikki
síggjast langtíðar broytingar í tølunum. Líkt er tó til, at
flyting hevur verið burtur frá bygdum og út í haga og
fuglabjørg.
Abstract
The sedentary, endemic subspecies, of wren (Troglo-
dytes t. borealis) is common and widespread all over the
Faroe Islands. The total breeding population was esti-
mated, on the basis of field-data collected during the
past 20 years, as being between about 600 and 850 pairs,
and probably more. About 28% are found at settlements
and on cultivated land surrounding them (infields), 49%
in the outfield areas (mostly near the shores), and 23%
on sea cliffs. Few pairs are to be found in plantations.
Small islands have relative many breeding pairs; possi-
ble reasons (e.g. presence of seabird colonies, cats, stone
walls etc.) are discussed. Annual fluctuations in the or-
der of 15-30% occur but no long-term significant
changes in numbers are discemible, though a possible
shift from breeding at settlements to outfield areas and
sea cliffs is suggested.
Introduction
The sedentary Faroese population of wren
(Troglodytes t. borealis), recognized as a
subspecies endemic to the islands, is wide-
ly distributed and common in the Faroe Is-
lands, as stated by early as well as recent
authors (e.g. Landt, 1800; Holm, 1848;
Miiller, 1862; Feilden, 1872; Salomonsen
1934; Williamson 1948; Joensen 1966;
Bengtson and Bloch, 1983). The same
sources also describe, in general terms,
habitats and habits of the wren in the is-
lands; e.g. that it is common in many of the
villages (especially outside of the breeding
season) and how it is often seen sneaking
into bams, drying-houses and other build-
ings in search for food and shelter (hence
its Faroese name músabródir i.e. ”the
brother of the mouse”). It is also to be
found on coastal and inland cliffs, among
rocks and in boulder-fields, in gullies and
ravines, and along small streams. Already
Landt (1800) exhibited ecological reason-
ing by claiming that the wren was more
abundant on the northem islands and in
Fróðskaparrit 49. bók 2001: 127-139