BIJLSMA RG (1978) The occurrence ofthe Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris on the South-West Veluwe, The Netherlands. LIMOSA 51 (3): 107-121.

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Southwest Veluwe, situated in the centre of the Netherlands during the years 1973-77. The study area (200 km2) consists of 37% woodland, 9% heaths and inland dunes, 12% arable land and 29% pastures while the remaining part is urbanized (Fig. la, Table I). A relatively small part IS not accessible to the public; the greater part,however, is intensively used (forestry, recreation, military activities). A hundred years ago the situation was totally different, i.e. dominated by heaths and inland dunes, known to be the ideal habitat for Tawny Pipits. Most of these areas were transformed into woodland during the first half of the twentieth century. The change in the extension of the inland dune het Mosselse Zand near Otterlo, being the most important breeding place of Tawny Pipits in the study area, is given in Table 2 and is characteristic for the situation as a whole. Arrival began in the first part of April but the majority took up the breeding places atthe end of April and the beginning of May.Intensive displaying, singing and female-chasing was characteris tic in this period. The first Tawny Pipits arrived singly and tried to attract a female by means of singing and by chasing her. Female-chasing acquired another function later in the prenuptial phase of the breeding cycle, namely advertising the border of the territory to neighbouring pairs. For most Tawny Pipits pair-formation took place in the wintering grounds or during migration. Conspicious behaviour was only to be seen in a clustering of pairs during the prenuptial stage of the breeding cycle and not in solitary pairs which behaved very obscure. After breeding has begun conspicious behaviour ceased completely. The habitat with a clustering of pairs was the only one which was used every year (Fig. 2b, 2c), Table 3 gives the frequency in usage of different kinds of habitats. Inland dunes were most frequently occupied (65%), followed by clear-felled areas (17%), drowned woodland (13%) and sandy heaths (3%). The breeding pairs were dispersed in relation to (a) suitability of the habitat, and (b) territorial behaviour which is probably related to food supply. Years with abundant food supply permit more pairs to settle in the same area than in years with a less abundant supply. In the hot summer of 1976 territory size (Table 4) and inter-nest distances (Table 5) were smallest and the breeding place was used by five pairs, being the highest number of breeding pairs during the five years of study. Nest building was performed during the first half of May. Most nests were constructed in pioneervegetation or in somewhat more structured vegetation but rarely in very open places. Tawny Pipits preferred to nest in close association with Corynephorus canescens, Festuca ovina and Carex arenaria, i.e. the typical pioneervegetation on a Cladonia spec. or Polytrichum substrate. Fig. 3 gives the seasonal distribution of 17 clutches for the period 1975-77. The breeding season extended from May to July. Only 29% of the breeding pairs produced a second clutch. During the years 1975-77 five second clutches were noted. The mean distance between the nests of first and second layings was 50 m (extrimities 15 m and 75 m). Substantial evidence is given that the last laying-peak referred to second clutches and not to repeat-Iayings. Table 6 summarizes breeding success. Overall success was remarkably high, being 77% for first layings and 60% for second layings. Mean hatching success was 88%, mean nesting success 82%. This small loss of eggs and nestlings was due to predation. The high breeding success was the result of the very good hided nest and the fact that the young are covered with a thick, pale buff down which closely resembles Corynephorus canescens. When the young leaved the nest, they were hardly able to fly. As a result predation was very high immediately after fledging. In 1977 14 young fledged and within 20 days after fledging nine youngsters had disappeared, partly thanks to predation by Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus. Mammalian predators probably also took many young, especially just after fledging. Within two to four weeks the young were independent of their parents. Loose groups and solitary birds could be found in the vicinity of the breeding places until the beginning of September (9 September 1977 being the last date). In the discussion some comments are made on possible changes in the population of Tawny Pipits during the twentieth century. Information before the 1960s is extremely scarce but suggests a sparse and even spread Tawny Pipit population over much of the Veluwe-area. At the moment Tawny Pipits are concentrated at suitable breeding places such as protected inland dunes. Recently they show a tendency to colonize clear-felled areas. Until now (1970s) the Tawny Pipit population has not shown an adaptability to human activities as can be found in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. From this viewpoint, and with the rapid changing environment in mind, the future of the Tawny Pipit in the Netherlands is rather sombre.

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