EN
In winter 2004/2005 some exceptionally large (on the Central European scale) concentrations of Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), up to 1600 individuals, were recorded in Lower Silesia (south-western Poland). The Snow Bunting flock size was positively correlated with the mean daily air temperature (P = 0.002). The average flock size during snowless days was 11 times higher than in the snowy period (P = 0.0017). One of the factors encouraging the more abundant wintering of Snow Bunting in Central Europe may be the milder climatic conditions, especially higher temperature and lack of snow cover. During the last four decades the rise of mean temperatures and shrinking of the snow cover period in winter months (December-February) have been observed in Lower Silesia.