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Abstract
The paper presents data of the 1999–2005 monitoring of the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) density, its timing of breeding and breeding success at the Zvanets mire, which hosts about 35% of the European and 64% of the Belarusian population of the species. The density of the species at the mire is characterised by significant yearly fluctuations and is closely linked to the water level in the mire. Nesting conditions for the Aquatic Warbler at the mire were extremely unstable and changed not only in different years, but also within a breeding season. Females can vary the timing of breeding and nest placement quite freely depending on nesting conditions. The main factor influencing breeding success is predation. Breeding success and habitat productivity (the number of fledglings, which have successfully left the unit of habitat) decrease in years when environmental conditions are unusual. In such years birds build their nests in an extraordinary way, making them more accessible to predators. Thus, the Aquatic Warbler is well adapted to unstable nesting conditions on fens. However, in some years the density and breeding success of the species decline to their minimal values.