FORMATION THE BIRD COMMUNITIES OF A RECENTLY FOUNDED SYSTEM OF FISHPONDS AT CICOV (SOUTH-WEST SLOVAKIA)

The development of the bird communities on an extensive fish-pond syst em (total area 70 ha) near the village of Cicov (Danube region) was st udied from the beginning of its operation in 1989, up to the year 1993 . The quantitative observations were carried out in the years 1989-199 1. Only three species (Charadrius dubius, Actitis hypoleucos and Acroc ephalus arundinaceus) among 75 registered species nested there in the years 1989-1991. After the reed cover expanded in the years 1992-1993 the species Ixobrychus minutus, Podiceps cristatus, Cygnus olor, Acroc ephalus schoenobaenus and Fulica atra also begun to nest there. In com parison with other fish-ponds in the Zitny Ostrov island the absolute and relative number of the nidificants is very low here.