Volume: 5, 2026
5th International PhD Students’ Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A028
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.A028
Published online: 22 April 2026
Predation of corvids and foxes on artificial nests of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in urban and agricultural environments
Piotr Nawłatyna* and Piotr Czyżowski
Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: piotr.nawlatyna@up.edu.pl
The common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), like other small game species, is exposed to the negative effects of environmental changes, such as reduced vegetation cover, increased predator abundance and decreased availability of suitable nesting sites. All those factors may negatively affect reproductive success and population size. This study evaluated the predation pressure exerted by corvids (Corvidae) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on artificial nests of the common pheasant in urban and agricultural landscapes.
Field experiments were conducted in 2024 – 2025 using 60 artificial nests placed in typical pheasant breeding habitats, such as allotment gardens, field margins, fallow lands, and mid-field woodlots. The obtained results indicate that predation rates were slightly higher in urban than in agricultural areas. Proximity to buildings emerged as the key environmental factor driving nest destruction, highlighting the strong influence of anthropogenic features on predator activity. In urban areas, the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) was the dominant predator, responsible for 72% of nest losses, whereas in agricultural landscapes most predation events (66%) were caused by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The contrasting predator assemblages between habitats indicate that landscape structure and the degree of human influence strongly shape predation pressure and ultimately influence the reproductive success of pheasants.
Keywords: artificial nest; common pheasant; corvids; nest predation; red fox
How to cite
Nawłatyna P., Czyżowski P., 2026. Predation of corvids and foxes on artificial nests of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in urban and agricultural environments. In: 5th International PhD Students’ Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.A028