The nesting sites of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia in Kosovo in 2014

1st International White Stork Conference4th-6th September 2014, Zielona Góra, Poland

Abstracts

Edited by Leszek JERZAK & Piotr TRYJANOWSKI

Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Poland

Zielona Góra, 2014

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Conference OrganisersFaculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, PolandPolish Zoological Society, Ornithology DivisionPTPP “proNatura”Liga Ochrony PrzyrodyENERGA

Scientific CommitteeProf. Dr. Jose Ignacio Aquirre de Miguel (Spain)Dr. Vitaly Grishchenko (Ukraine)Dr. habil. Zbigniew Jakubiec (Poland)Prof. Zhou Lizhi (China)Dr. Ortac Onmus (Turkey)Dr. Judy Shamoun-Baranes (The Netherlands)Dr. Jill Shepard (Australia)Prof. Dr. Piotr Tryjanowski (Poland)Prof. Dr. Dieter Wallschlaeger (Germany)Prof. Dr. Martin Wikielski (Germany)

Organising CommitteeProf. Dr. Leszek Jerzak (Poland)Dr. Marcin BocheńskiDr. habil. Joerg BoehnerOlaf CiebieraJustyna ChachulskaKarolina ChosińskaDamian MarkulakMarcin TobółkaGerard Wey

Under the auspices of the Rector of the University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Tadeusz KuczyńskiThe Voiewode of Lubuskie Province, Mr. Jerzy Ostrouchthe Marshall of Lubuskie Province, Ms. Elżbieta Polak and the Mayor of Zielona Góra, Mr. Janusz Kubicki

Sponsored byENERGAChespa Sp. z o.o., Krapkowice, PolandBocianybolec.plLiga Ochrony Przyrody, Zielona Góra, PolandFaculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, PolandThe Mayor of Zielona Góra

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REDAKCJAJoerg Boehner

REDAKCJA tEChniCznAJolanta Karska

PROJEKT OKŁADKIEwa Popiłka

© Copyright by Uniwersytet ZielonogórskiZielona Góra 2014

OFICYNA WYDAWNICZA UNIWERSYTETU ZIELONOGÓRSKIEGO

65-246 Zielona Góra, ul. Podgórna 50, tel./faks (68) 328 78 64 www.ow.uz.zgora.pl, e-mail: [email protected]

RADA WYDAWNICZAAndrzej Pieczyński (przewodniczący),

Beata Gabryś, Anna Walicka, Rafał Ciesielski, Zdzisław Wołk, Krzysztof Witkowski, Bohdan Halczak, Van Cao Long, Michał Drab,

Marian Adamski, Marian Nowak, Ryszard Błażyński (sekretarz)

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AbSTRACTSSorted alphabetically by the presenting author

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Alexandr AbULADZE, A. KANDAUROV, G. EDISHERASHVILI, I. NATRADZE, A. bUKHNIKASHVILI

Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia e-mail: [email protected]

RESULTS OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA CENSUS IN GEORGIA IN 2013-2014

The White Stork (WS) in Georgia is considered a rare migratory breeder, with limited breeding range, the number of which is declining and rare as a passager. The WS is a typical habitat specialist, nesting exclusively in man-made habitats. During the breeding season the species occurs in or near rural settlements, commonly in villages and on farms but rarely in small towns, surrounded by cultivated fields, meadows, pastures, valleys, lakes and wetlands. At this time of year it occurs in the southern parts of Georgia at the Lesser Caucasus. The breeding distribution range includes Javakheti Upland, Akhalqalaqi Lowland, Tzalka depression, macro-slopes of the Abul-Samsari and Javakhethi ridges, and occasionally Gomarethi Lowland. 127 and 129 nests were found in 2013 and 2014, respectively, of which 99 or 77.95% (in 2013) and 104 or 80.62% (in 2014) were occupied. All known nests were located at heights between 1,250 to 2,140 m above sea level. Nests were built mostly on various pylons of electric power lines and on buildings. Out of 110 nests occupied in 2014, 91 or 82.7 % were located on pylons, most often on wooden poles (n=82), very rarely on concrete pillars (n = 7) and occasionally on high-voltage metal pylons (n=2). 14 (12.7%) nests were located on buildings, four (3.6%) in high old trees and one on a high steel pipe of large diameter. The low number of WS nesting on trees, in contrast to other regions, is caused by heavy afforestation of the area, with natural tree vegetation practically absent at Javakheti Upland. About 1/6 of all known nests were located on artificial man-made platforms, while other nests were constructed by birds. The average height of the nesting ( ground to base of nest) was 7.4 m, ranging from 3.6 to 22.8 m. A cadastre of all known WS nests with address, GPS data, height above ground, size etc. was created.

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José I. AGUIRRE de Miguel

Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de MadridE-28040 Madrid, Spain

email: [email protected]

LANDFILLS IN SPAIN AS A KEY ELEMENT ON WESTERN EUROPEAN STORK CICONIA CICONIA

MIGRATION ROUTES

The Iberian Peninsula has represented a key stopover site for most Western European stork populations on their way to Africa. Over the Straits of Gibraltar more than 100,000 individuals cross yearly to Africa, with the African Sahel as their final destination area. In the last decades stopovers in Spain have increased mainly due to the presence of landfills along the storks’ routes. The number of European individuals overwintering in such areas has increased steadily.

Landfills represent a reliable, constant and predictable source of food. Despite several health risks and physiological adaptations, the dynamics and phenology of arrival of individuals is not clearly understood.

Quarterly visits to the main landfills in central Spain were performed during four years in order to determine: i) Arrival phenology of birds from different European origins, ii) age segregation in phenology, and iii) differential migration strategies for birds from the same geographical origin but using landfills as stopovers or final desti-nation of their wintering trips.

The results show that there is a clear phenology pattern for most European origins with early arrivals of birds from central Europe (France, Belgium and Netherlands) and later arrivals of German birds. Young storks arrive earlier than older ones although this pattern is not clear due to the lack of information about the age of many European storks. We found a clear differential migration strategy for birds from the same origin that use landfills. Individuals that used landfills as stopover sites arrived earlier than those that used them as final destination.

The increasing importance of landfills as stopovers or final wintering destination areas makes it very important to design a complete monitoring scheme to improve their conditions (specific supplementary feeding areas within the landfill limits) and to clearly stablish origins, age and destination of birds feeding or wintering there.

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Tetyana A. ATEMASOVA

V.N. Karazin Kharkov National University, Kharkov, Ukraine e-mail: [email protected]

WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA AT THE NORTH-EASTERN UKRAINE: TRENDS IN POPULATION DYNAMICS

AT THE EDGE OF RANGE

Kharkov ornithologists have investigated the distribution, numbers and breeding biol-ogy of the White Stork population at the edge of the species range since the 1970s.

During the time of investigation the border of the range shifted to the east, and in 1998 stork nests were registered on the right bank of the Oskol River, floodplains of Seversky Donets, Aidar and Derkul rivers in Lugansk region (Vetrov, 1999; Atemasova, Atemasov, 2003). A rapid increase in the number of nests was observed in the Kharkov region from 1987 to 1996, a decline in 1997, 2005 and 2009.

For the ongoing monitoring four sample plots were selected, differing in the number of breeding pairs of storks in previous years.

The decline of stork nests number was registered in south-western (about 60%), in north-western (about 70%) and in the eastern part of the region (more 50%). At the same time, nesting success was 2,3-2,6 and 3,0-3,2 nestlings per successfully breeding pair.

Sample plots located in the center of the Kharkov region are characterized by a stable number of stork nests, even during the overall population decrease (in 1997, 2005 and 2009). In 2012 the nesting success was 2,4 and 3,4 nestlings per successfully breeding pair.

In recent years, the number of nests on rooftops has declined but increased on power lines. Numbers of nests on water towers decreased also, due to the dismantling of those towers not used anymore. The proportion of man-made nests has increased.

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Galina bARTKEVIČIENĖ, Daiva VAITKUVIENĖ, Mindaugas DAGYS

Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius LT-08412, Lithuania e-mail: [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]

DOES CLIMATE INFLUENCE FIRST ARRIVAL DATES OF WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA IN LITHUANIA?

The influence of climatic parameters on bird migration is widely recognised – birds have been found to adjust their migration phenology under the influence of weather conditions. This is of particular interest in relation to the global climate change. We investigated long-term (1961-2000) first arrival dates (FAD) of White Storks to their breeding grounds in Lithuania and their relationship with local and regional climatic parameters. The local weather parameters were far better predictors of spring arrival time than regional climatic phenomena – North Atlantic Oscillation or Indian Ocean Dipole. White Storks advanced their return to the breeding grounds by almost five days during the study period. We found that the arrival time was most strongly influ-enced by temperature conditions along the migration route in south-eastern Europe (Bulgaria–Romania area) as well as on breeding grounds – warmer temperatures in these areas resulted in earlier arrival of White Storks. Interestingly, the return of White Storks was closely associated with the thermal season of 3°C – the date when the mean daily air temperature permanently exceeded 3°C. However, in very warm years birds did not return to their breeding grounds as early as could have been expected from temperature alone – mean FAD in such years was almost a week later than the onset of the 3°C thermal season, suggesting that other factors limited further advancement of FADs. Having examined temperature and wind conditions in Europe in early and late years of bird arrival, we suggest that temperature rather than wind conditions during the final stages of spring migration may have a more pronounced effect on the arrival dates of White Storks to their breeding grounds.

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Esther bAZANT, Ute EGGERS & Dieter WALLSCHLÄGER

Universität Potsdam, AG Ökoethologie, Maulbeerallee 2a, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany

e-mail: [email protected]

A SECOND STUDY OF SEX RATIO IN WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA CLUTCHES: SIMILARITIES

AND DIFFERENCES bETWEEN POLAND AND GERMANY

In 1973, Trivers & Willard (Science 179: 90-92) published first hypotheses regarding the manipulation of sex ratio in vertebrate offspring. In 2011, Tryjanowski et al. (J. Ornithol. 152: 213-218) presented results from a multi-year analysis on White Storks in Western Poland, revealing a shift towards males in the primary sex ratio, with a ratio of 56:44 (342 nestlings from 124 clutches). The authors excluded a post-zygotic manipulation.

Between 2003 and 2010, we sampled 917 White Stork nestlings (871 from com-pletely determined clutches) in the federal state of Brandenburg. We could show a shift in sex ratio over the complete sample size – but contrary to the findings from Poland, we found a shift towards females, with a ratio of 54:46. However, one has to consider that we here registered the secondary sex ratio (at the moment of ringing and not at hatching). Thus, post-zygotic manipulation might have influenced this ratio, which is particularly likely when considering that infanticide, i.e. parents throwing their offspring out of the nest, was repeatedly observed in our study region. As we sampled ringed birds, ring recovery information from the Hiddensee ringing centre enable subsequent investigations regarding further sex-related aspects: First results indicated that determining the sex of a stork by visual inspection alone exhibited a relatively high error rate. Furthermore, so far we could not find significant differences between the sexes in first year’s mortality and the age of first breeding attempts. Differences between female and male storks, however, were found in settlement behaviour as well as in higher age classes’ mortality.

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Marcin bOCHEŃSKI

The White Stork Research Group

University of Zielona Góra, Faculty of Biological Sciences, prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland


TIME bUDGET AND SOME bEHAVIOURAL ASPECTS IN THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA bREEDING

COLONY IN WESTERN POLAND

Despite the rich history of research on the white stork, the behaviour of this species and its adaptive significance for individuals were not studied intensively so far. Investigations on time budget and behaviour were conducted in 2003-2006 in the White Stork breed-ing colony in the village of Kłopot (Western Poland). 30 breeding pairs were observed a total of 1,316 hours. Among the observed pairs was a relationship between repro-ductive success and time budget structure. The most important factor affecting the budget is a temporary condition/quality of individuals. Greetings ceremonies with bill clattering are part of the system for identifying individuals among pair. The results obtained in the colony in Kłopot do not confirm previous assumptions about a direct relationship between abundance/density of breeding pairs and intensity of aggressive interactions between them. Interactions between individuals nesting in colonies are of marginal importance for the course of reproduction. Non-breeding individuals are not indifferent to breeding pairs. These birds have a negative impact on the course of reproduction, and the interaction takes many forms. Breeding birds exhibit a differ-ent behaviour towards stranger storks than to individuals nesting in the colony. First of all, strangers are more often met with defensive behaviour (defensive clattering). The presence of non-breeding birds modifies the behaviour of the nesting individuals towards their mates and other individuals nesting in the colony. In the presence of non-breeding birds, nesting pairs modify their time budget and activity.

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Marcin bOCHEŃSKI1, Krzysztof GAJDA2, Leszek JERZAK1, Edyta RÓŻ2


1University of Zielona Góra, Faculty of Biological Sciences, prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland

e-mail: [email protected] 2Museum of White Stork (Liga Ochrony Przyrody)

Kłopot 24, 69-108 Cybinka, Poland

THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA COLONY IN KŁOPOT (W POLAND) – OVER 45 YEARS OF STUDIES

Kłopot it is small village in the Middle Odra River Valley, next to the Polish-German border. It`s White Stork breeding colony is the largest in Western Poland. Currently, there are almost 40 nests and nesting platforms, more than half of which are occupied by White Stork pairs each year. It is not known when the colony started to increase. The only available information from the past is that after World War II only one or two nests existed. Detailed studies on the breeding biology were started by Dr. Józef Radkiewicz from the Pedagogical University in Zielona Góra in 1968, when 21 pairs were breeding. He continued his studies up to the 1990s. Thereafter the colony was monitored by Dr. Leszek Jerzak, a co-worker of Dr. Radkiewicz. New kinds of studies started in the beginning of XXI century.

In 2003, the Liga Ochrony Przrody (NGO) opened the White Stork Museum in the old school building of Kłopot which developed into the center for all stork studies in the Lubuskie Province.

Also in 2003, Dr. Marcin Bocheński started detailed studies on White Stork behav-iour and time budget during the breeding season. One year later, Dr. Mariusz Kasprzak and Dr. Piotr Kamiński initiated some investigations on physiology and biochemistry of White Stork chicks which still continue. So far, the research conducted in Kłopot resulted in dozens of scientific papers, including articles, book chapters as well as a PhD dissertation. The Kłopot colony is well known amongst White Stork enthusiasts from all over Europe.

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M. Cruz CAMACHO, Jose Manuel HERNÁNDEZ, Marta bARRAL, Cristina RUIZ, Ursula HÖFLE

SaBio working group National Institute on game research Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos

IREC (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), Spain e-mail: [email protected]

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PATHOGEN CARRIAGE OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA FLEDGLINGS

IN THE FIELD AND AFTER ADMISSION TO REHAbILITATION CENTERS

Recent studies by our group have shown that the habitat used by adult storks to forage and the habitat of the colony have an influence on body condition and at least bacterial pathogen carriage in white stork nestlings.

Ring recoveries and satellite transmitter data of juvenile Spanish white storks have shown that regardless of the colony of origin, most juvenile white storks will use land-fill sites as food source. Thus we hypothesize that this exposure changes the physical condition and pathogen carriage in these juvenile white storks and that samples taken from injured juvenile storks upon admission to rehabilitation centers will reflect the exposure to these food items.

We tested prevalence of avian influenza virus (AIV), West Nile virus (WNV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Salmonella and Escherichia coli carrying antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and for antibodies against AIV, WNV and NDV in 90 (9 adults and 81 nestlings) free-living individuals from four different colonies with a gradient of exposure to human residues from none to 100%, and in 30 juvenile storks admitted to two different rehabilitation centres in the study area.

By PCR we did not detect WNV, AIV or ND in any of the storks. Antibodies against AIV were only detected in one individual admitted to a rehabilitation centre, while antibodies against WNV were only present in adult white storks that undertook a full wintering migration as shown by satellite transmitter data in the following winter. Prevalence of Salmonella and NDV antibodies and phenotypic pattern of antimicrobial resistance of commensal E .coli in rehabilitation centre admitted individuals was sig-nificantly more similar to the prevalence in free-living individuals exposed to human residues. Thus information from juvenile white storks admitted to rehabilitation centres reflects the condition of juvenile white storks that use landfill sites as food source.

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Mindaugas DAGYS1, Daiva VAITKUVIENĖ2, Viktor SKORNIAKOV3

1 Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius LT-08412, Lithuania e-mail: [email protected]

2 Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius LT-08412, Lithuania 3 Vilnius University, Naugarduko g. 24, Vilnius LT-03225, Lithuania

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIbUTION OF bREEDING WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA

IN LITHUANIA

Lithuania holds one of the highest breeding densities of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in the species’ range. Furthermore, the Lithuanian breeding population has doubled during the last two decades, as revealed by a country-wide nest inventory, implemented in 2009-2010. Data of this inventory, which included more than 20,000 registered White Stork nests, were analyzed in order to identify the main factors affecting the distribu-tion of White Stork nests across the country. A grid with cells measuring 2×2 km was used for the analysis. Out of the total of 15,866 grid cells analyzed, 8,788 (55.4%) contained White Stork nests. A number of GIS-derived variables, computed for each grid cell, were tested as potential predictors of White Stork distribution: areas of dif-ferent land-cover classes (derived from CORINE Land Cover database), diversity of land cover, density of roads and of hydrological network, NDVI. The analysis revealed that landscape structure and particularly features of agricultural landscape, related to farming intensity and diversity, were the best predictors of White Stork occurrence across the country. White Storks clearly favored less intensive farming and more diverse landscape. Results of this study provide insight into optimal structure of agricultural landscape for White Storks in Lithuania and may be useful in predicting the impact of farming-related changes on White Stork population in the future.

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Miroslav FULÍN1, Ján GÚGH2

1Eastern Slovakian Museum in Košice, Kośice, Slovakia e-mail: [email protected]

2Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia, Mlynské nivy 41, 821 09 Bratislava, Slovakia


THE POPULATION STATUS AND THE NESTING SITUATION OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA

IN SLOVAKIA

We have been mapping the nesting of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia L.) throughout Slovakia every year since 1994. For the mapping we cooperate with local and regional voluntary reporters. Since 2003 we have been using the internet atlas of the nests at the web page of the Slovak Ornithological Society / BirdLife Slovakia, where more than 300 contributors annually provide the information on the arrival of the storks and the nesting results.

Fig. 1. Number of nests and the number of fledglings from 1994 to 2013

Since 2005 annually 1,100 to 1,350 nests have been occupied. According to the climatic conditions at the time of nesting in a given year, 630-930 breeding pairs suc-cessfully reared young. The number of fledglings also depended on the climatic and

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nourishment conditions in a given year. A maximum number of 2,986 nestlings fledged in 2008 and a minimum of 1,296 was in 2010.

Besides the breeding pairs, we annually registered the presence of 350 to 550 sub-adult individuals during breeding time in Slovakia.

Fig. 2. Average number of fledglings from 1994 to 2013

Over the last decade there has been a significant change in the location of nests. In cooperation with energy producing companies the nests were relocated annually from electric pylons onto separate columns with platforms. Since 1994 the number of nests on electricity pylons has decreased from 30% to 16% of the total number of the nests. On the contrary, the number of the nests on separate columns with platforms has increased from 34% to 71%.

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Nathalie GILbERT1, J. P. SILVA3, C. PACHECO, R. CORREIA1, I. CATRY3, P. ATKINSON2, J. GILL1 & A. FRANCO1

1University of East Anglia, UK: 2British Trust for Ornithology

3Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves, Portugal, e-mail [email protected]

ARE WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA ADDICTED TO ‘JUNK FOOD’? SEASONAL LANDFILL USE

bY THE WHITE STORK IN IbERIA AND POSSIbLE IMPACTS OF IMMINENT LANDFILL CLOSURES

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) was a wholly migratory species in Europe. Since the 1980s, guaranteed and year-round food at landfill sites has enabled the establishment of resident populations in Iberia. Currently there are more than 10,000 wintering individuals in Portugal alone. 90% of all wintering storks concentrate on landfills and preferentially nest close by. Landfills also influence migratory decisions and has facili-tated colonization of new areas. However, due to EU directives, open-air landfills are being replaced by facilities inaccessible to birds, likely causing important consequences for White Stork winter habitat selection, breeding and migratory decisions.

Our project uses newly developed, high precision GPS/GSM data loggers and colony-scale productivity data to i) understand the link between winter (November-March) and breeding (March-June) habitat selection to estimate reliance on landfill versus non-landfill habitats, ii) to assess the consequences for productivity, and iii) to speculate on the possible impacts of landfill closure for the distribution of the resident Iberian White Stork population distribution as well as future migratory strategies. A total of 47 resident adult storks were caught on landfill sites in Portugal in winter 2012 and 2013 and fitted with GPS/GSM loggers programmed to transmit 5 high-precision (3 m) GPS locations per day, which were used to record habitat selection and migratory behavior.

The high precision and frequency of GPS fixes has allowed an unprecedented ob-servation of White Stork behaviour and habitat selection. Results from 30 storks has highlighted heavy dependency on landfills during winter and, in the case of 90% of

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individuals, throughout the latter part of breeding. Storks near landfills have smaller foraging areas in non-landfill habitats in both seasons. Colonies close to a landfill experience, on average, 30% fewer nest failures and raise 0.5-1.0 more chicks per successful nest than colonies further away. Storks generally arrive at a landfill after mid-morning and visit landfills with a below average frequency on Sundays when no rubbish is delivered.

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Çağrı GÖCEK1, Can C. bILGIN2

WWF- Turkey, İstanbul, Turkey 2 Middle East Technical University, Department of Biology, Ankara,

Turkey Corresponding Author: Çağrı Göcek e-mail: [email protected]

bREEDING SUCCESS AND NESTLING SURVIVAL OF WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA

IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA – TURKEY

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia, Linnaeus, 1758) is a summer visitor and passage migrant in Turkey. Although widespread in summer near wetlands of Turkey, except for the eastern parts of the Black Sea Region, no investigation which involves regular monitoring of a colony throughout four consecutive years has been published. In this study, breeding success and survival of nestlings in a population in Kızılcahamam-Ankara-Turkey were investigated. Regular field observations throughout six-month long breeding seasons between 2003 and 2006 were carried out. The breeding success was analysed in relation to seasonal climatic differences and to nest locations.

Clutch size and the number of hatchlings and fledgling fluctuated between the years 2003 to 2006 for breeding pairs while fledging success (average fledgling per successful nests with egg laid) were 2.6 in 2003, 3.8 in 2004, 1.9 in 2005 and 3.1 in 2006. These values correspond well to those recorded in northern Europe. The relationship between date of start of incubation and both clutch size and brood size differed between 2004 and 2005. Such a relationship may be significant in unusually cold breeding seasons.

In conclusion, the Kızılcahamam White Stork population is not limited by food or nest site availability, and has a reproductive output above the European average, although affected by annual climatic stochasticity. Although long term studies have been conducted on White Stork populations for decades, the Turkish population has potential to add new insights into the Western Palearctic population as a result of bio-climatic variables.

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Jan GÚGH, Ferenc PAPP1

Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia, Mlynské nivy 41, 821 09 Bratislava, Slovakia

e-mail: [email protected] 1 Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society

MME/BirdLife Hungary, Költő u. 21, 1536 Budapest, Pf. 283, Hungary e-mail: [email protected]

WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA TELEMETRY IN SLOVAK-HUNGARIAN bORDER AREA

From 2012 to 2014, we tagged 24 White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) to track migration routes, survival of juveniles, threatening factors and land use. An important aspect of telemetry tracking is also the popularization of stork protection due the attractive topic of the flyways in media. We focused mainly on the tracking of young birds, and only partly on adults. Some young birds were marked as nestlings, some of which were brought to rehabilitation stations without injury after fledging and landing unsuc-cessfully on the ground where they were subsequently captured. The present abstract considers the results of migration studies on young birds from August 2012 to June 2014. This investigation continues and during the 2014 breeding season more White Storks will be marked. We use GSM/GPS loggers with a weight of 29 grams for track-ing. In total, 24 storks were marked, 16 in Hungary and 8 in Slovakia.

Out of the 24 individuals seven (29%) have successfully overcome the first migration to Africa on pre-wintering sites. Another individual was captured during the warm winter of 2014 in January in Hungary, where it spent the winter successfully. During the first migration 16 individuals (67%) died before arriving at the African wintering sites: eleven in Europe (Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria; = 46% from all tracked storks) and five during migration through the Middle East (Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt; = 21%). Out of the seven storks which arrived at Africa, five (71%) survived the first winter. One individual died at the end of the wintering prob-ably due predation in Zimbabwe and another disappeared at the end of the wintering in Ethiopia (it is also possible that its transmitter broke down). From five individual

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surviving the first wintering, one died for unknown reasons after its arrival to Turkey and one disappeared after summering in Turkey (perhaps the transmitter failed).

Pre-wintering areas of the tracked storks that had migrated to Africa were located in Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia. Out of seven storks four made longer winter movements and spent the second phase of wintering in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. One Stork spent its first winter in South Turkey after crossing the Aegean Sea, which means 250 km non-stop flight. This individual spent its second winter as proper in Africa.

We also tried to identify the reason of the storks’ death, which was possible in 16 out of 20 cases. Out of these 16 cases 11 (69%) were caused directly or indirectly by human activity. The most common reason was a collision with electric wires – five storks (three collisions, two electric shocks: = 31%), shooting and poaching – three storks (19%), killed by a tractor on the fields – two storks (13%), and an unusal case of a drowned stork that was carried away by the effluent at a hydroelectric power plant at night. In five cases we recorded natural mortality, of which three storks were predated (White-tailed Eagle, Golden Jackal) and two individuals were in bad condition. In the next four cases it wasn´t possible to determinate the reason for the death, and in three cases it is also possible that the loggers broke down.

Despite the fact that most of the tracked White Storks came from rehabilitation stations (67%), the monitoring results of the juveniles and their survival correspond to other published data. Out of the 24 tracked young White Storks five lived for one year, representing 21% of the monitored group. The high mortality rate of young birds is caused by inexperience and human activity directly (shooting, poaching) and indirectly (especially power lines, collisions, etc.).

Telemetry tracking of the Storkswass realised in the frame of the project „Birds with-out borders” HUSK/1101/2.2.1/0336, which is supported by the European Union from European Regional Development Fund in Hungarian-Slovak Cross-border Cooperation Programme.

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Jose Manuel HERNÁNDEZ, Ursula HÖFLE

SaBio working group National Institute on game research Instituto de Investigaciónen Recursos Cinegéticos IREC

(UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), Spain e-mail: [email protected]

USE OF SOUTH-CENTRAL SPANISH LANDFILL SITES bY CENTRAL EUROPEAN WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA bASED UPON REGULAR RING LECTURES:

MIGRATION, WINTERING AND JUVENILE DISPERSAL

White Storks from western European populations have adapted to the use of landfill sites as food source. In the Southwest this has led to thriving populations and an apparent modification of migratory behaviour. Especially Spanish landfill sites have also become important stopover and even wintering sites for storks on the western European flyway. To study the use of landfill sites by central European storks we registered ringed storks at two landfill sites in south-central Spain (Ciudad Real) in ten day intervals during 24 consecutive months (2012-2014).

During this period 9,000 rings belonging to approximately 2,400 storks were read. Storks with rings from northern or central European countries were present at the landfill sites throughout the whole year but were especially numerous in winter. The rings identified were from Spanish, German (57%), French (21%), Swiss (12%) and some from Dutch, Swedish, Czech, Belgian but also Italian and Polish storks.

From our results we can determine three groups of storks concerning their migra-tory behaviour: Some local storks have become residents and do not undertake any migratory movements. The second and probably largest group has significantly reduced the distance and duration of migration, now wintering at Spanish landfill sites. Finally some storks still use the traditional migratory routes and are present at the Spanish landfills only during their southward or northward journey. Central European storks that have been observed at the landfill sites throughout the breeding period are probably juveniles, this, however, can only be confirmed when full data on the rings becomes available. Our preliminary data show thus evidence for a change in migratory behaviour in a large part of the Western stork populations. As the management of landfill sites in Spain will change progressively in the near future this is expected to again have a significant effect on migratory behaviour of these storks.

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Ursula HÖFLE, Yolanda RAMIRO-RUbIO, Jose Manuel HERNÁNDEZ, Sandra DIAZ, Ana Valeria GUTIERREZ-GUZMAN

SaBio working group National Institute on game research Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC

(UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), Spain e-mail: [email protected]

WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA AND RUbbISH DUMPS, THE GOOD THE bAD AND THE UGLY: FOOD,

POLLUTANTS, AND PATHOGENS

The White Stork in its western European population is a colonial species that has in-creased its population in Spain considerably due to the availability of rubbish dumps as a continuous reliable food source. We studied four colonies of white storks, situ-ated at (1) a functioning rubbish dump, (2) a closed rubbish dump, (3) a sheep farm, and (4) in a National Park. Faecal samples of 70 storks were collected at the nest, and body condition, blood samples and cloacal swabs were obtained from 103 nestlings at ringing. Nestlings from colonies at rubbish dumps had a significantly better body condition than nestlings from more natural colonies. In contrast methaemoglobulin concentration in the blood of nestlings from natural colonies was significantly lower in natural populations, indicating exposure to substances causing oxidative stress at rubbish dumps. Further analysis revealed an apparent upregulation of oxidative stress response mechanisms in White Stork nestlings exposed to human residues. Escherichia coli isolated from White Storks from rubbish dump colonies had a higher prevalence of virulence genes common to avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Resistance to the antimicrobials enrofloxacin, gentamicin and cefotaxim was significantly higher in the functioning rubbish dump (91.7, 81.3 and 87.1%, respectively) than in the other colonies, and 70% of the isolates showed resistance against all three antimicrobials, while multiresistance to antimicrobials was absent in E. coli isolates from storks from the National Park. The data show an apparent physiological adaptation of the White Storks to the exploitation of landfill sites for foraging. Also, the results highlight the risk of exposure of White Storks to bacterial strains carrying resistance genes, when exposed to human residues.

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Piotr INDYKIEWICZ


Department of Zoology, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Ks. A. Kordeckiego 20, 85-225 Bydgoszcz, Poland


THE INFLUENCE OF WHITE STORKS’ CICONIA CICONIA NESTS ON bREEDING SUCCESS

OF THE HOUSE SPARROW PASSER DOMESTICUS AND TREE SPARROW P. MONTANUS

The study was conducted in several villages in the northern part of Poland (within the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province). In three consecutive breeding seasons (2009-2011) House Sparrows Passer domesticus and Tree Sparrows’ P. montanus nests located in alcoves and niches of walls, under the roofs of residential buildings and farms, as well as within the nests of White Storks Ciconia ciconia were inspected.

In the analysis of the influence of the white storks’ nests on the breeding success of both species of sparrows the following factors characterising the storks’ nests was considered: size, duration of use by storks, and location (primarily the distance from the farm). Moreover, data were collected on sparrows’ nests: location and position (both in buildings and within storks’ nests), as well as the type and amount of nest material.

In addition, the birds’ egg laying periods were recorded. The breeding success of House and Tree Sparrows was measured by the number of nestlings (aged 12-15 days).

26

Hanna JACKOWIAK1, Z. KWIECIŃSKI3, K. SKIERESZ-SZEWCZYK1, E. PROZOROWSKA1, S. GODYNICKI1, P. ĆWIERTNIA3,

P. TRYJANOWSKI2


1Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences,Poznań, Poland

2Departement of Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Poznan University of Life Sciences,Poznań, Poland

3Zoological Garden, Browarna 25, 61–063 Poznań, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE STOMACH OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA

Most investigations about the avian stomach were conducted in farm birds, but there is a lack of respective descriptions for free living species. The avian stomach has two chambers, i.e. a glandular stomach, or proventriculus, and a muscular stomach, or gizzard.

We conducted anatomical and histological studies on ten stomachs of the White Stork. Samples of both stomach chambers were fixed in 10% neutral formalin and prepared routinely for macroscopical inspection and for light microscopy.

The glandular part of the stomach is ca. 6 cm long, and in its 1.0-1.2 cm thick wall the mucosa, submucosa and tunica muscularis can be distinguished. Superficial mucosal and gastric propor glands in the submucosa were observed. The tunica muscularis has an inner circular and an outer perpendicular muscle layer. The gizzard has a diameter of 7-8 cm and is round. The characteristic feature of this chamber is a thinner wall. The surface of the mucosa is covered by hard cuticle, produced by short tubuli of mucous glands. The stomach in White Stork resembles that of farm animals.

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Hanna JACKOWIAK1, Kinga SKIERESZ-SZEWCZYK1, Zbigniew KWIECIŃSKI2, Szymon GODYNICKI1,

Katarzyna JACKOWIAK1, Andrzej LESZCZYSZYN1


1Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland

2Zoological Garden Poznań, Browarna 25, 61-063 Poznań, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

LM AND SEM STUDIES ON THE REDUCTION OF THE TONGUE MICROSTRUCTURES IN THE WHITE

STORK CICONIA CICONIA

The structure of the tongue in the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) was inspected macro-scopically and by light and scanning electron microscopy. Our observations revealed a rare terminal reduction of the size of the tongue and microstructures of the mucosa in comparison with respective investigations published so far for birds. The short triangular tongue with a pointed tip is approximately 2.5 cm long and located in the caudal part of the oral cavity close to the laryngeal prominence. On the dorsal surface of the tongue no typical mucosa microstructures like lingual papillae, median groove or lingual prominence were found. The main structure of the tongue is formed by the rostral part of the hyoid apparatus, i.e. the entoglossal cartilage connected with the basihyiod. The very thin mucosa is composed of fibrous connective tissue covered with ortokeratinized epithelium. No lingual glands and muscles were found in the lamina propria of the mucosa. Even though the triangular shape of the tongue in the White Stork is typical for birds, this reduced organ is in fact a flat cartilagineous entoglossum of the hyoid apparatus.

The feeding behaviour of the White Stork undoubtedly affected food transportation in the oral cavity, called cranio-inertial transport, what resulted in structural reduction of the tongue.

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Zbigniew JAKUbIEC1, Uwe PETERSON2


1University of Zielona Góra, Faculty of Biological Sciences, prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1,65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland

e-mail: [email protected] 2e-mail: [email protected]

LONG-TERM STUDIES OF POPULATION DYNAMICS OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN THE REGION

OF ITS HIGHEST DENSITY

The status of the White Storks population in the Kętrzyn region was investigated since 1974 in five years intervals. This area has the highest density of this species of the entire eastern part of the population. From 1974 to 2004 the population has grown from 444 to 598 pairs (increase of about 35%). A last control in 2010 revealed a 25% decrease down to 449 pairs. The most noticeable decrease of almost 50 % was found for the stork colonies in the northern part of the region. This result was especially remarkable because of a breeding effect similar to 2004. Studies in 2014 revealed a further decline, estimated more than 15%. There is an increased pressure on the White Stork now by the White-tailed Eagle of which predation on adult storks as well as on nestlings has been recorded in seven localities.

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Mara JANAUS

Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Latvia e-mail: [email protected]

MONITORING OF bREEDING SUCCESS OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN LATVIA 1989-2013

The monitoring of breeding success of the White Stork in Latvia started in 1989 on six study plots with a total of 131 nests. In the last years there are about 20 study plots with 38 nests, on average. Data are sampled by volunteers, and study plots are distributed all over Latvia, with plot area varying from 70 to 190 km2. In total, data from about 441 study plots with 15,639 nests have been sampled during 25 years.

On average, 17% (range 7-28%) of all nests were unoccupied during the 25 years study period. Of all occupied nests an average of 89% (73-95%) was successful. The mean number of raised chicks in all occupied nests was 2.1 (1.5-2.4) and in successful nests 2.4 (2.0-2.7). The most successful years for the White Stork in Latvia were 1994, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2012 and the least successful 1992, 1993 and 1997.

Notable changes were observed in nest location and nest base. At the beginning of the observations nests of the White Stork in Latvia were located on poles (about 30%), buildings (14%), water towers (9%) and trees (47%. Now the percentage of nests on poles (mainly electric ones) has increased to 72%, but on trees decreased to 11%. On buildings and water towers 11% and 5% of nests, respectively, are built today. The help of humans for constructing nests (i.e. providing an artificial base) has decreased to about 40% in 1989-1994, and only 20% in 2011-2013. During the first years of investigation most nests (about 40%) with human help were constructed on trees, while in the last years most nests without human help are placed on poles (65%). As nests on electric poles cause problems with electricity supply, part of them (about 700 annually, 95% after breeding season) used to be removed but were usually renewed by storks in the next season.

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Leszek JERZAK1, Martin WIKIELSKI2


1Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland

e-mail: [email protected] 2Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell,

Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Germany

MIDDLE ODER RIVER VALLEY WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA TRACKED bY A SATELLITE

In 2013 year we tagged 4 White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) to track migration routes, survival of juveniles, threatening factors and land use of the birds from West Poland. An important additional benefit of telemetry tracking is the publicity of stork protec-tion. Four fledgling white storks from the 3 nests located in Middle Oder River Valley (villages Krężoły (2 young), Włostów (1 young) and Wicina (1 young)) were equipped with GPS satellite transmitters (16th July 2013). Results to date of the four birds are as follows;1. Began migration on 13th August from Włostów, 18th August – Marmara Sea, 26th

August - Sinai, 7th Nov. – equator, 19th Nov. - South Africa, 28th Nov. – no further information since this date.

2. Began migration on 22nd Aug. from Wicina, 10th Sept. – Turkish border, 7th Nov. – Tukey, Kesan, rice fields – no information since this date. Probably dead – some feathers found at last location.

3. Began migration on 20th Aug. from Krężoły, 27th Aug. - Bosphorus, 3th Sep – Gulf of Suez, 7th Sept. – border of Chad, 27th March 2014 – began return migration, 9th April – Gulf of Suez, 11th May – near Damascus, 20th May – northern Turkey (Sogut) to date.

4. Began migration on 21st Aug. from Krężoły (the same nest as 3 above), 28th Aug. – Bosphorus, 3th Sept. – Sinai, 11th Nov. – Ethiopia, 9th Jan. 2014 – Zimbabwe, 7th April 2014 – began return migration, 28th April – Gulf of Suez, 30th May – Turkish border, central Turkey to date. Telemetry tracking of the Storks is supported by the Max Planck Institute for

Ornithology.

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Ireneusz KAŁUGA1, Zbigniew JAKUbIEC2


1Grupa EkoLogiczna, ul. B. Chrobrego 15/83, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

2Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland


PROTECTION OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA – WORKSHOP

The White Stork is exposed to a whole range of risks posed by man and his activities. These include m.in .: drainage, conversion of grassland to farmland, crops in monocul-tures and the associated intensification of agriculture, changing roof material, various types of power lines where storks are killed by electric shock, or hunting on migration. Across the country various activities related to the protection of storks are car-ried out. An element of protection of foraging areas is their redemption and ap-propriate management conducive to the storks. At the most valuable feeding grounds support hay making and grazing by helping farmers to increase stock density, the release of the quartered grazing or mowing the respective surfaces. In addition, to keep certain feeding areas open, woody vegetation is removed. To protect nests, trees with nests, which are in short supply for storks, are not be cut. Free-standing poles with nest platforms are erected next to buildings undergoing demolition, on which stork nests are located. Platforms are also installed on buildings. This work com-plements the treatments consisting of strings of constructing nests and ringing nestlings. In order to reduce the risk of an electric shock to storks, for many years plat-forms are constructed by power engineers on electric poles, where storks can then build their nests. Quite often in the vicinity of nests power lines are insu-lated, eliminating the risk o electric shock. Also transformer stations and accom-panying columns of disconnectors are upgraded. The latter solution is becom-ing the standard now and is introduced to the energy directories for the country. Storks are also protected on migration. In 2014, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon, the Polish Embassy in Bajrucie and several NGOs of the country succeeded in passing the decree establishing the Environmental Guard whose task is, among others, prosecution of persons hunting migratory birds.

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Piotr KAMIŃSKI, Leszek JERZAK, Mariusz KASPRZAK, Marcin bOCHEŃSKI


Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Poland, e-mail: [email protected]

ECO-PHYSIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNO-GENETIC DETERMINATIONS OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA

CONDITION – IS IT POSSIbLE TO PREVENT CHANGES OF POPULATION STATUS?

The aim of our studies is to determine the influence of environmental stressors on eco-physiological response of growing White Storks Ciconia ciconia (WS). We examine the impact of the toxic heavy metals Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Ni, trace elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Se, Al, and destabilization of the macroelements Ca, Mg, Fe, S, Na, K, P on the condition of WS. We determine eco-physiological responses of WS on oxidative stress induced by the impact of environmental pollution on the efficiency of enzymatic anti-oxidant mechanisms, total antioxidant capacity (non-enzymatic mechanisms), stress proteins, and lipoperoxidation. We also analyze the intensity of impact of environmental pollution upon the cytogenetic and molecular picture of WS (polymorphism of envi-ronmental genes GSTM1 and GSTT1). We answer whether concentration of chemical elements and sought cytogenetic biomarkers (chromosomal aberrations) depend on the polymorphism of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes and of GSTM1/GSTT1 system and we are also looking for the genetic basis of condition of immune processes.

Study areas: 1) The Odra meadows, S-W Poland, as an example of a weakly con-taminated environment (control);; 2) suburban areas 20 km away from Zielona Góra (100.000 inhabitants); 3) contaminated sites around a copper smelter near Głogów; 4) coastal areas (Baltic-marshes, N-Poland) as an example of a weakly polluted environment.

A total of 1,055 nestlings 5-64 days of age were investigated in the breeding seasons of 2004-2013. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein. Concentrations of Na, K, P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Se, Al, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Be, V, and Hg were determined

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by ICP-MS method. Antioxidant enzymes activity (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR), glutathione GSH content, stress proteins (CP, HPT, FRT), and lipoperoxidation (malondialdehyde MDA) were determined using Cayman Co. kits. Cytogenetic preparations were stained with routine Giemsa staining reagent (structural chromosome aberration assay) and GTG banding technique. We found interactions between the concentration of toxic metals Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cr, physiological elements Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Na, K, P, and the activity of SOD, CAT, CP, GR, GPx, and MDA content. Antioxidant enzymes activity and lipoperoxidation is determined by the interaction with the physiological elements Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Na, K, P. The toxic heavy metals Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cr. WS from different backgrounds differ in chemical elements level (except of Ca) and antioxidant enzymes activity. The level of physiological elements and toxic metals is higher in WS from polluted areas and suburbs, as compared to those from the control site. We found differences (α=0.05, p=0.0211) between the environment and normal allel of GSTT1 gene: WS from controls are much more likely of having proper (normal) allel of GSTT1 gene. We found a modifying effect of GSTT1 gene, as we could demonstrate elevated levels of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn in WS with a deletion in GSTT1 gene, compared to the wild form of GSTT1 gene. We also found a modifying impact of GSTM1/GSTT1 genes because we could show elevated levels of Na, K, Ca, and Mg in WS with a deletion in GSTM1/GSTT1 genes, compared to wild form.

Conclusions: 1) the environment plays an important role in shaping the management of chemical elements in the blood of WS and their physiological responses. Genetic polymorphism of GST enzymes may affect individual differences in the concentration of physiological elements; 2) an increasing ontogenetic risk of a decrease or loss of condition dependends on the environment and polymorphism of genes involved in the processes of their biotransformation; 3) genetic determinations and processes at the molecular level play an essential role in the formation of shaping eco-physiological responses determining the condition of WS according to environmental stress.

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Wojciech KANIA


Ornithological Station, Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Nadwiślańska 108, PL 80-680,

Gdańsk and White Stork Study Group, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA RINGING IN POLAND. INFLUENCE OF THE RINGING ROUTINE ON THE RINGING

RESULTS. AND PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE

55,000 White Storks were ringed in Poland between 1931 (the year of establishment of the Polish Ringing Scheme) and 2013 (99% – nestlings) by more than 800 ringers. The annual total number of ringed storks varied a lot, from less than 100 in some years to about 2,500 in 1937-1938, immediately before World War II and again in 2011-2012. Also the numbers of White Stork ringers differed in particular years, with 200 or more in 1937-1938, about ten in the 1960s and 40-50 in recent years. In many years most storks were ringed by as few as 1one to three persons, and since 1999 mainly by nine ringers or teams of two to three persons. Altogether reports on 3,000 ring recoveries or sightings of 2,000 individuals were received, from less than five to 50 (nearly all indi-viduals found dead) in 1933-1994 to 250-400 (mainly re-sighted) in the last three years. The dependence of the ringing results on space and time variation of the ringers’ ac-tivity and on the re-encounter probability – dependent in turn on the ring design and the spatial and temporal distribution of finders/observers – will be demonstrated. The results of an analysis of the White Stork ringing in Poland will be mentioned as well. The presentation will include a proposal of ringers monitoring the Polish White Stork ecology, a programme of mass and long-term ringing in the sample areas, combined with investigations of population density, breeding success and phenology.

35

Grzegorz KOPIJ

Department of Wildlife Management, University of Namibia, Namibia


IS THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA URbANIZATION IN THE CITY OF WROCŁAW

SUCCESSFUL?

During 1994-2009, the number White Stork pairs breeding in the city of Wrocław (293 km2) underwent marked fluctuations, from five pairs in 1999 to 19 2004. Most nests were clumped in two sites in the Odra valley. Two nests were located only about 1 km from the city hall. The fluctuations in numbers may be linked to the availability of main feeding grounds and prevailing weather conditions. In years when grass was mowed in the Odra valley, the White Stork number was higher than in years when the grass was left unattended. Contrary to expectation, the mean number of fledglings per successful pair was highest in the year when the White Stork reached the highest population density. In two counties adjacent to Wroclaw, the number of breeding pairs in 1994/95 was similar to that in the city (15 vs. 13 pairs). However, in 2004 the number of breeding pairs in the city almost doubled that in the neighboring counties (10 vs. 19 pairs). After a sharp decline between 2004 and 2008, populations in both areas com-pared reached a similar level again in 2009 (5 vs. 4 pairs), but much lower than that in 1994-1995. Wrocław is probably the only city (>100 000 people) in Poland, where the White Stork has developed a sizable, although still unstable, breeding population.

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Qenan MAXHUNI1, Ahmet KARATAŞ1, Rrahman FERIZI2, Zeqir HASHANI3

1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science-Art, Niğde University, Niğde, Turkey

2Paramedical Department, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, Kosovo

3Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania


THE NESTING SITES OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN KOSOVO IN 2014

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large migratory bird that recovered from near extinction during the last century in most parts of Europe. During 2014, intensive studies were conducted for the first time to obtain data about the status of the nesting population of the White Stork in the Republic of Kosovo. 20 active nests were regis-tered in total. Most nests were built on rooftops, residential buildings` roofs etc. A low mortality rate among young birds was found. The White Storks prefered the large River valleys such as the Sitnica, Morava e Binces and Drini i Bardhe Rivers. The results are valuable information for the ongoing extensive research and data collection during the White Stork monitoring in Kosova since 2006.

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Jacek J. NOWAKOWSKI1, Krzysztof LEWANDOWSKI1, beata DULISZ1, Ewa KOZŁOWSKA

1Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 3,

10-727 Olsztyn, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

DIET OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN THE bREEDING PERIOD IN NAREW RIVER VALLEY

(NE POLAND)

The diet of White Storks was studied by pellet analysis in the breeding colony in Pętowo (European Stork Village – EURONATUR), located in the flooded Narew river valley (Podlaskie province, NE Poland), within the Natura 2000 area PLH200024. White Storks hunt for preys in meadows, areas of low vegetation, and shallow water in the flooded area of the river valley and in fields.

A total of 200 pellets were collected in July and August 2000, at intervals of three to five days.. The diet was dominated by invertebrates (insects: 99.9%). Shellfish accounted for 0.05% and vertebrates for 0.09%.

Earthworms were detected with the highest frequency in the diet– and observed in all pellets (100%). Their number, however, was not determined.

15,486 specimens of insects could be distinguished in the diet remains: beetles Coleoptera 8,565 (3,148 larvae, 1,868 Scarabeidae, 1,798 Carabidae, 1,091 Sylphidae, and others), 5,798 Orthoptera (5,695 Acrididae, 94 Tettigonidae, 9 Gryllotalpa gryl-lotalpa), 756 Dermaptera (all Forficulidae), 308 Diptera (pupae), 22 Heteroptera, two Lepidoptera larvae, one Hymenoptera (Formicidae), nine specimens of Molusca (Unio sp. – five ind., Anisus sp. – one ind., Anodonta sp. – one ind., Viviparus sp. – one ind., Helix pomatia – one ind.), and 13 specimens of vertebrates (six frogs Rana sp., four voles Microtus sp., three moles Talpa europaea)

The greatest share (40.9%) had invertebrates with a body size of 21-30 mm, but also quite abundant were invertebrates 11-20 mm (32.6%) and 41-50 mm (20.3%) large.

During the season, a significant increase in the share of Coleoptera larvae and Acrididae in the diet was observed. In the 3rd decade of July Staphylidae, Catharidae, Cetonia aurata, and Lepidoptera were also found in the diet, but no significant changes in other groups of animals could be detected.

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Ortaç ONMUŞ1, Ümit bOLAT2, Tuba USTA2, Mehmet SIKI1, Cihangir ALTUN2

1Ege University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology; Natural History Museum Research and Application Center, Turkey

2General Directorate of National Parks and Nature Conservation, the Ministry of Forestry and Waterworks. Turkey

e-mail: [email protected] & [email protected]

FILLING THE LARGEST GAP OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA POPULATION IN THE WESTERN PALEARCTIC REGION: THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST COMPLETE COUNTRYWIDE WHITE STORK CENSUS

IN TURKEY

There is little information about the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) population in Turkey, which is clearly indicated by the large estimation of breeding population size (15,000–35,000 pairs). In this study, we present the results of the first complete White Stork census in Turkey. The census was made by the collaboration of the General Directorate of National Parks – the Turkish Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and Ege University of Izmir. Also birdwatchers, hunters and other volunteers participated in the census. The count was done countrywide between 14 April and 15 June in 2011 to 2013. Active and inactive nests were counted, and nest locations and nest supporting structures (NSS) were identified. White Stork nests were found in 78 out of 81 prov-inces and in or nearby 2,481 out of 38,312 populated areas (cities, towns, villages, etc.). A total of 9,881 White Stork nests were found, of which 8,683 (87.9%) were occupied by a pair during the survey. About 50% of the whole breeding population was found in eleven provinces. The mean density of HPa nests per 100 km2 (StD) across the whole country was 1.2±2.0, with maxima of 14.0, 6.8 and 5.5 observed in the Samsun, Edirne and Iğdır Provinces, respectively. Among the nests discovered, 98.3% (n = 9,709) of NSS were identified. The most commonly found NSS were low-voltage electricity pylons (n =4 ,032, 41.5%), trees (n = 1,827, 18.8%), roofs (n=1,042, 10.7%), telephone pylons (n = 746, 7.7%), chimneys (n = 566, 5.8%), mosques (n = 452, 4.7%), and high-voltage

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electricity pylons (n = 340, 3.5%). Among the identified NSSs, 5.9% (n = 576) were on artificial nest platforms. The distribution of nests was affected by various environmental factors such as altitude, farming and existing wetland characters, indicated by uneven distributions. The results of this study will significantly contribute to the White Stork conservation efforts in the Western Palearctic.

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Grzegorz ORŁOWSKI1, Jerzy KARG2, Joanna CZARNECKA3, Leszek JERZAK2, Karol ZUb4, Marcin bOCHEŃSKI2


1Institute of Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bukowska 19, 60-809 Poznań, Poland

2Department of Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1,

65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland 3Ecology Department, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry,

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland

4Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

THE DIET AND PREY COMPOSITION AND ENDOZOOCHOROUS SEED DISPERSAL

IN WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA IN WESTERN POLAND: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND FURTHER

RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND NEEDS

Based on an analysis of White Stork Ciconia ciconia pellets (N = 165) collected in 2012 from 52 various nests located in 39 villages of Western Poland we identified 16,557 individual animal prey items, of which 16,305 (98.5%) were invertebrates and 252 (1.5%) vertebrates. The most numerous invertebrate prey were orthopterans (n = 12,247; 75.1% of all invertebrates), including grasshoppers Chorthippus sp. (n = 6,028 individu-als; 37.0% of all invertebrates), bush-crickets Metrioptera sp. (n = 5,360; 32.9%) and relatively large-bodied Tettigonia sp. (n = 760; 4.7%). Among vertebrates, slow-worms Anguis fragilis were most numerous (n = 91 individuals; 36.1% of all vertebrates), al-though further examination of remains of this and other reptile species recorded in the analysed pellets are needed. Other abundant vertebrate prey were small rodents, with Microtus sp. (with two other less numerous taxa of rodents a total n = 84 individuals; 33.0% of all vertebrates) and European mole (n = 39; 15.5% of all vertebrates) being most numerous. In two pellets we found only remains of plant material. Interestingly,

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from these pellets we recovered at least 4,300 seeds of various plants, in vast major-ity of dry-fruited species without any morphological adaptation to endozoochorous dispersal, such as several species of mono- and dicotyledones, including agricultural weeds (e.g. Setaria spp., Carex hirta, Ranunculus spp., Stellaria media, Chenopodium album and Polygonum sp.) which suggests a role of White Storks in long-distance dis-persal of various plants from it’s European breeding sites along the migratory route to distant wintering grounds.

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Javier Pineda-PAMPLIEGA1; José I. AGUIRRE1 & Ursula HÖFLE2

1Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

2SaBio Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC, (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM) Ronda de Toledo s/n, Ciudad Real 13005, Spain

e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

ADAPTATION TO ANTHROPIZED ENVIRONMENTS: THE CASE OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA

The Spanish populations of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) suffered a marked de-cline in Spain until de 1980s of the last century due to the alteration of their feeding areas. However, in the last decades those populations have recovered mainly due to new food resources: rubbish dumps. An unlimited supply of food all year round also means exposure to several human-generated pollutants. Individual storks feeding there must develop different mechanisms of adaptation to allow use of this resource without a detrimental health status.

We sampled chicks from four colonies along a feeding gradient, i.e. individuals being fed completely natural food to those exclusively with food items from rubbish dumps. Blood samples allowed the evaluation of nutritional and general health status and oxidant/antioxidant balance.

Regarding nutritional status, chicks fed with natural food showed lower concentra-tions of albumin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, indicative of lower ingestion rates. The AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase, as indicators of hepatic alterations, and creatinine and creatine kinase, as indicators of renal function, showed no differences between populations, indicating no differences regarding health status. Deregulation of oxidant / antioxidant balance is a main mechanism of damage of many pollutants. We found significant differences in the oxidative damage indicative parameters, with lower values of LDH, plasmatic MDA and ROMs in individuals which fed in rubbish dumps. These results agree with higher values of two non-enzymatic endogenous antioxidants, i.e. glutathione and uric acid, in these individuals.

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The use of rubbish dumps as areas to obtain food have allowed White Storks to increase their population numbers. They show a better nutritional status due to the high presence of food, without alteration of their health status or their oxidant / anti-oxidant balance.

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Piotr PROFUS


Institute of Nature Conservation PAS, Cracow, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

STUDIES ON THE bREEDING SUCCESS AND REPRODUCTION OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN CENTRAL EUROPE

A large amount of literature data indicate regional differences in the number of young raised and fledged by White Stork breeding pairs. The brood size, i.e. the number of fledglings raised is a measure of reproductive success of a pair. The comparison of results from different regions of Central Europe and from different periods indicates large differences in the reproduction index JZa. The value of this index is highly affected by exo- and endogenous factors, which are important during migration and stay on wintering grounds. In Poland, this value ranges from 0.31 to 3.60, depending on the year, region and other factors. At the north-western limit of the species’ range, near the city of Oldenburg, any pair raised, on average, between 0.67 and 2.84 fledglings (JZa) during 72 study seasons, and each pair with a successful brood (JZm) between 1.58 and 3.58 young. In Upper Silesia in 1993-2004, stork pairs with at least one reared young fledged on average 2.57 young (range 2.08-2.75).

Every year, a varying proportion of pairs living in nests does not fledge any young for various reasons. On average 28.5% pairs range 17-38%) in 15 study plots located in Central Europe and in Denmark did not rear any nestlings during the same years. In Upper Silesia, the percentage of pairs without young capable of flying ranged from 16.5 to 31.2% (on average 23.4%).

In accordance with the “condition hypothesis”, a female may start laying eggs after a proper weight gain. In the studied populations in Upper Silesia and in the region of Podtatrze (a “mountain” population at the foot of the Polish Tatras), females laid on average 4.23 and 4.48 eggs (range 2-6), respectively. The size of clutches and the number of reared young was negatively correlated with the date of nest occupation. The largest number of young was fledged by pairs laying five, six and four eggs. Stork pairs breeding early in the year raised and fledged young birds from 74% of all eggs

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laid, but pairs with a delayed start of breeding only from 48% of all eggs. It has been documented that the breeding success decreased with an increase in the size of clutches: the highest success was observed for two and three eggs (75% and 69%), and the lowest for clutches with 6 eggs (50%).

Any pair of White Storks breeding at the foot of the Polish Tatras (500-890 m a.s.l.) fledged, on average, 2.2 young (JZa). If only successful pairs are considered, the re-production index is higher and ranged from 2.7 fledglings per pair (JZm). This value ensures unassisted survival of the population in the region of Podhale, Orava and Spiš. The size of this population and all other stork populations is also affected by emigration and immigration of birds capable of reproduction.

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Judy SHAMOUN-bARANES, Willem bOUTEN, Emiel van LOON

Computational Geo-Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, POB 94248, 1090GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands


COPING WITH CHANGE: SCOPE FOR A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ACROSS MIGRATORY FLYWAYS

The White Stork is a migratory species whose populations have gone through tremen-dous changes over the last decades, from local extirpation, changes in diet and habitat use, and changes in migratory behaviour. Rapidly changing environmental conditions and human intervention are likely to be the main factors responsible for these changes in behaviour and life history traits. Compared to most avian species, many aspects of White Stork migration have been studied. As obligatory soaring birds they are vis-ible during migration, especially at geographic convergence zones, they have been tracked using ring recoveries, by radar, motorized gliders, satellite transmitters and GPS tracking. The influence of weather on migratory behaviour has been studied at multiple scales, especially along the eastern flyway. These studies focus on short term responses to weather conditions and will be reviewed in this talk. Yet in times of rapid environmental change, more information is needed on how individuals cope with envi-ronmental conditions throughout the annual routine, and what the consequences may be for different populations. We propose initiating new studies that integrate biologging to measure the movement and behavior of individual storks throughout their annual routine with existing demographic and breeding ecology studies from several different populations. Through collaborative research we will work towards understanding how behavioural responses to environmental conditions influences migratory behaviour and foraging behaviour throughout the annual routine and what the consequences are for survival and reproduction. We strongly believe that collaborating and integrating information during the breeding season, en-route and in the wintering areas across multiple populations will greatly benefit White Stork conservation in a world that is quickly changing.

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Joachim SIEKIERA, Artur SIEKIERA, Piotr PROFUS


Institute of Nature Conservation, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland;e-mail: [email protected], [email protected],

[email protected]

MIGRATION STRATEGIES AND WINTERING OF UPPER SILESIAN WHITE STORKS CICONIA CICONIA

TRACKED bY A SATELLITE

Nine White Stork fledglings from five nests located in Opole Silesia were equipped with GPS satellite transmitters (one in July 2012, and eight in 2013). Five young birds began to migrate to African wintering grounds between the 12th and the 27th August (median: 22.08; n=6). Three other young birds from a very delayed clutch (hatching date 5 July, first flight from nest 29 August to 3 September 2013) began their migration to a wintering site as late as the 19th September. One of the young from the delayed clutch died in Turkey and another one was killed in Sudan. The surviving young bird overwintered in the south of Hungary and at present (13 July 2014) lives near the Czech town of Bruntal, i.e. just 50 km from the its place of birth. As many as four out of six young from the other nests were killed by electrocution on unprotected electrical poles or collision with overhead power lines in Slovakia, Romania and Turkey (two individuals). The cause of death of one bird in Turkey remains unknown. The first of the marked storks (“Max”) was killed on the 19th January 2013 on the border between Sudan and Chad, while a transmitter failure or staying in remote places, too distant from a base transceiver station, is suspected in the case of another bird (“Dawid”), spotted for the last time (15 April 2014) in northern Sudan. This high juvenile mortality rate during migration (75%; excluding “Dawid”) and a huge increase in the area of maize and oilseed rape crops at the expense of the main feeding grounds – meadows and grazing lands – seems to be the main cause of the White Stork disappearance in Upper Silesia in the past ten years.

On clear days between the 10th and the 25th August in 2012 and 2013, migratory flocks of storks were spotted in Upper Silesia using a small plane “Cirrus”. Flocks were looked out for “from the air” in the afternoon when they were arriving to prey before

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night roosting. Flocks at the roosting sites were located by a ground team of natural-ists to search for birds with rings whose numbers were subsequently written down. It has been evidenced that the upper reaches of the Oder River valley are an important ecological corridor for i.a. storks migrating from eastern and northern Germany, Sweden and western Poland.

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Marek STAJSZCZYK


Biuro Urządzania Lasu i Geodezji Leśnej, oddział w Brzegu, Poland


CHANGES IN THE bREEDING AREA OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN EUROPE,

NORTH – EASTERN

The 20th century is characterized by a strong expansion of the White Stork in the Baltic States (especially in Estonia) and Russia. Over the past 110 years the eastern boundary of the area occupied by White Storks shifted approx. 1,100-1,300 km to the east. At the beginning of the 20th century extreme northeasterly breeding sites were located in Estonia and around the lake Peipsi south of St. Petersburg at the turn of the 20th and 21st century. Nesting is already reported for the Republic of Tatarstan and the circuit on the western foreland Kirov Ural Mountains. The northern limit of the White Stork breeding distribution reaches the southern taiga zone, and currently nesting in the area of Kostroma in the upper basin of the Dvina is known. The expansion of White Storks to the east is caused by a natural awareness increase of the inhabitants of Russia, parceling land of collective farms and state farms, climatic changes that are taking place in Eastern Europe and the high reproductive rate of the population of White Storks inhabiting the Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine.

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Emilio R. ROJAS1,2, Pierre-Yves HENRY3, Gérard WEY4, blandine DOLIGEZ5, Sylvie MASSEMIN1,2

1University of Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France e-mail: [email protected]

2Département d’Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), CNRS UMR7178, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France

3CNRS UMR7179/UMR720, Département Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité – Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle,

1 avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France 4Groupe Cigogne France, Aprecial, 21 rue Agen, 68000 Colmar, France

5UMR CNRS 5558 – LBBE, «Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive», UCB Lyon 1-Bât. Grégoire Mendel 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918,

69622 Villeurbanne, France

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISPERSAL PATTERN IN FRENCH POPULATIONS

OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA

Dispersal behaviour is a primordial determinant of the structure and spatial dynamics of populations. Two different types can be distinguished: the natal dispersal (ND) which is a permanent movement from birth site to the site of first breeding attempt, and the breeding dispersal (BD) which is the movement made by individuals who have already reproduced, between two successive breeding sites. The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), a large migratory European bird, helps us to determine the factors that have shown an effect on these ecological processes. Based on a 25 years ringing and resighting database, we have studied the pattern of BD and ND of this species all over the French territory according to climatic conditions, years and different populations. White Storks showed a high propensity to disperse as immatures (81.97%), but not exclusively, since they also showed a non-negligible BD (8.20%). The BD propensity was impacted by the age of the individuals (younger breeders disperse more often) and the climatic conditions (NAO index), whereas the ND propensity was influenced by climatic conditions, but also temporal (years) and geographical (population) situations. Using the NAO index, we can conclude for both ND and BD, that the better the climatic conditions are, the higher the proportion of dispersing individuals is. The ND distances were influenced

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by these last two factors. The orientations showed a non-random distribution for the ND for which each population on the French territory displayed a statistically different pattern. Moreover, the mean ND orientation follows significantly the orientation of mean migration direction. This highlighted the fact that individuals are biologically prone to follow it, even for dispersing processes.

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Irina SAMUSENKO

Scientific and practical center of NAS of Belarus for biological re-sources (Institute of Zoology), Belarus


MONITORING OF WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA POPULATION IN bELARUS

Dynamics of White Stork numbers and distribution in Belarus were analyzed on the base of questionnaire data from ten national censuses (1957-2004). A decline of numbers was observed from the end of 1950s until the mid 1980s, and an increase thereafter. A significant increase was noted in the Eastern and Northern regions of the country in 1967-2004, but negative trends were characteristic for the Western regions at the same time.

A full census of nests on sample plots (6.2% country area) was organized for the first time in 2004, additionally to the standard questioning. After correction of available data and extrapolation, the Belarusian population was estimated at ca. 21,500 breed-ing pairs, with a mean breeding density of 10.2 pairs/100 km2 (StD). That was almost twice as high as the estimation based of the previous censuses and was mainly due to a higher quality of last count. The highest numbers (HPa, StD) and highest breeding success (JZm, JZa) were found in areas along the Pripyat River.

Monitoring of numbers, distribution and breeding biology was conducted in 1991-2013 in the Pripyat River floodplain on the monitoring plot “Turov” with an area of 330 km2. Breeding pair numbers here almost doubled from 1991 (115 pairs) to 2013 (217 pairs), though 146 pairs were registered here in 1974. Spatial redistribution of breeding pairs occurred in floodplain area during the last decades because of loosing meadows due to afforestation and overgrowing with bushes. Now storks breed mainly in human settlements. The mean brood size (JZm) is positively and significantly correlated with hydrological conditions in the spring, i.e. duration of flooding and water level of the Pripyat River. JZm and JZa are higher in area along the riverbed (< 2 km). Compared with 1974, the proportion of nests on trees and buildings decreased significantly from 51.6% to 2.8% and from 41.9% to 13.8%, respectively. At the same time the proportion of nests on electric pylons increased steadily from 1.6% to 65.0%.

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Mehmet SIKI1, Ortaç ONMUŞ1, Orhan GÜL1, Ömer DÖNDÜREN1, bahattin SÜRÜCÜ2, Osman YELKEN3

1Ege University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology; Natural History Museum Research and Application Center,

Bornova, Izmir, Turkey 2Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD),

Kusadası, Aydın, Turkey 3Selçuk Municipality, Izmir, Turkey

e-mail:[email protected] & [email protected]

THE INITIAL RESULTS OF FIVE-YEAR-LONG WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA CONSERVATION

AND RINGING IN WESTERN TURKEY

We initiated a White Stork ringing project in 2010 in four different river basins (from south to north:Buyuk Menderes, Kucuk Menderes, Gediz, Susurluk River basins) in western Turkey. Aim: In this study, we aimed at (i) presenting the initial results of the five-year-long White Stork ringing scheme, (ii) mapping the post-fledgling, natal and breeding dispersal of White Storks born in Turkey, and (iii) giving some basic informa-tion about our knowledge on the threats and the population dynamics of White Storks in Turkey. Methods: A total of 638 White Stork Juveniles and eight adults were captured and ringed at nest in various locations in the mentioned river basins between 2010 and 2014 (81, 192, 210, 122, and 41 individuals in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively). All chicks were ringed only with a plastic ring. Biometric measurements were made and feather samples were collected for genetic analyses. Ground surveys were employed and resightings recorded. Results: A total of 33 resightings were done on 31 White Storks ringed (5.1% of all 646 birds ringed in Turkey) between 2010 and 2014. Out of 33 individuals, 14 (42.4%) were observed breeding, 14 (42.4%) were reported dead, two (6.1%) were observed during migration in Israel, two (6.1%) during foraging, and one (3.0%) subadult oversummering in Israel. The longest breeding dispersal of a White Stork ringed as a juvenile in the study area and found breeding in other regions was 530 km (the bird was ringed in Aydın Province-Turkey in 2011 and was reported breeding in Gonimo around the Lake Kerkini in Greece in 2013). The reason for deaths

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of White Storks were collision and electrocution, but observed only within the first two weeks of post-fledgling movements. Conclusions: Existing resightings confirm that the populations of White Storks breeding and born in different river basins are interconnected to each other and even disperse to a region outside the known dispersal range of the other Western Palearctic storks. Long-term ringing and resighting data in Turkey can deepen our knowledge about the population dynamics, post-fledging, natal and breeding dispersal and conservation of White Storks born in Turkey. Therefore, it is essential to increase the intensity of ringing and resighting efforts.

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Michał SKAKUJ

Polish Wildlife Strike Committee, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

AVIATION SAFETY AND THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN POLAND

The rapid development of aviation in recent decades makes the relationship aviation-wildlife really important. The relationship includes both birds species as well as pro-tected areas. It concerns a negative impact on birds as well as bird strike (BS) risks. With a few exceptions, the BS risk is much more important than bird mortality or disturbance. Knowledge of the aviation-wildlife interactions is of great importance for high BS risk species (large, heavy birds) with a special nature protection status and important breeding population in Poland, just like the White Stork. Fortunately, so far we have had fewer than ten not catastrophic BS with White Storks in Poland. However, the last two cases concerned large commercial aircrafts and caused a serious threat to human life and substantial damage. White Stork nest distribution affects the level of BS threat, especially in North and East Poland. The greatest risk applies to both civil and military aviation on and around aerodromes as well as MRT – low level Military Training Routs. However, due to the nature of flight operations (at low altitude, speed and flight profiles, aerodromes distribution), general aviation (GA) potentially may impact on some White Stork populations. The development of the GA aerodromes in recent years includes Northern Poland (Masurian District) and increasingly popular air shows. Therefore, there is a special need for proper knowledge and the BS risks aware-ness. This is very important in case of the White Stork population density, especially for low level flight in north-east Poland. Hence a proper modification of the low level flight rules would be reasonably based on the birds-aviation relationship analysis, especially over areas with a high density of White Stork nest sites. It is extremely important for both aviation safety and the protection of the White Stork and its breeding population, including the Natura 2000 network.

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Aleksandra STELIGA, Mariusz KASPRZAK, Marcin bOCHEŃSKI, Piotr KAMIŃSKI, Leszek JERZAK


Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Poland e-mail: [email protected]

DEVELOPMENT OF RED bLOOD CELL PARAMETERS IN WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA CHICKS, GROWING

IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

Blood samples were taken from 111 White Stork Ciconia ciconia chicks, reared in 36 nests in SW Poland in 2010. Nests were located in four different types of environment: a) a breeding colony in the middle Odra River valley, b) solitary nests in the middle Odra River valley, c) solitary nests around the city of Zielona Góra, and d) solitary nests near the cooper smelter of Głogów. Blood samples were taken from the chicks at 10-51 days of age, and standard methods in hematology were used for determining the level of RBC, Hct, Hgb, MCV, MCH and MCHC. The levels of RBC, Hct and Hgb were positively correlated with the beak length, corresponding to nestling age. The lowest RBC number was found in storks from solitary nests around the city of Zielona Góra, and the highest in storks from the middle Odra River valley, (both solitary and colonial nests). Reversely, the level of Hct was higher in storks around of city of Zielona Góra and cooper smelter of Głogów than in individuals from the middle Odra River valley. This could be an effect of dehydration of chicks growing up near the cities. The highest Hgb concentration was detected in storks from solitary nests in the middle Odra River valley and near Zielona Góra, the lowest in storks growing up in the colony and near the cooper smelter. Our results indicate few physiological mechanisms enabling proper body condition during development in different environmental conditions, e.g. a low RBC number was compensated by high Hgb concentration in the chicks’ blood.

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Hans SKOV

DOF’s Storkgroup, Denmark e-mail: [email protected]

DENMARK – ONCE A CLASSIC STORK COUNTRY

Population trends - The White Stork is a rather new bird in Denmark. It probably ar-rived here as late as in the 15th century. It was already common in the 16th century when nests often are mentioned in the written sources. At about 1720 23 stork nests were counted in the town of Ribe. In 1811 the rectory in Virring in East-Jutland had no less than 64 occupied stork nests. Between 1800 and 1850 the stork population reached its maximum in Denmark with an estimated number of 8,000-10,000 pairs. At this time numerous White Stork colonies existed in villages, towns and even in forests. From the “Störungsjahr” (“disturbance year”) 1856 it was clear that the number of White Storks declined in most parts of the country. By 1890 the population was down to approx. 4,000 pairs, and in 1927 only 400-500 pairs were left. The first international stork census in 1934 revealed an increase to 859 pairs. The increase continued until 1940 when approx. 1,100-1,200 pairs nested in Denmark. Then a new rapid decline started, and in 1949 only approx. 300 pairs remained. In 1952 when the annually counts started 222 pairs were left, a number which declined further to 111 pairs in 1964. After 1965 the White Stork bred only in Jutland. In 1974 the number of pairs was down to 40, in 1984 to 19, and in 1994 to only six pairs. 2001 was the first year with no storks breeding success-fully in Denmark because only one pair without nestlings and four single individuals remained. In 2008 no storks of wild origin were occupying nests in Denmark, and, therefore, the wild population of White Storks in Denmark had gone extinct.

Reasons for the sad development - The most important reasons for the rapid decline are destruction of suitable habitats by the drainage of wetlands and the intensification of agriculture. This development began more than 200 years ago when an agricultural reform took place. At first storks profited from these changes, but from about 1850 the development got too far and the decline of the stork population became evident for everybody. The economic crisis in the 1930s turned time back and the stork population increased again. Starting with the German occupation in 1940 the agricultural sector

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was forced to produce as much as possible because of the market’s demand, and, there-fore, the last rapid decline accelerated. This development combined with an increasing use of pesticides, artificial fertilizer and large monocultures has made Denmark a very hostile country for the White Stork.

Epilog - Although the wild population of nesting storks was extinct in 2008, Denmark has not been without White Storks. Annually 200-400 individuals visit the country but because of unsuitable habitats do not settle to breed. In 2004 a pair from the stork project in Scania in Sweden settled west of Copenhagen on the island of Zealand. This pair has stayed there since (also during the winter) and fledged young successfully in most years. Since 2012 a new pair has also nested in Jutland close to the German border. Of this pair, the male in 2012 and 2013 originated from the stork project in Sweden. In 2014 this male was replaced by a wild German stork, so both mates are now of wild origin. Nevertheless, both pairs nesting in Denmark are at certain times totally dependent on artificial feeding to raise a brood successfully.

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Hans-Jürgen STORK, bahattin SÜRÜCÜ1

NABU Berlin: Lotosweg 58, D-13467 Berlin, Germany e-mail: [email protected]

1Ekosistemi Koruma ve Doğa Sevenler Derneği - Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD) Kusadasi, Turkey


POPULATION DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA L. IN THE LOWER VALLEY

OF MENDERES, TURKEY

Half a century ago more the 350 pairs of White Storks settled in the bird paradise of the Menderes valley. Urbanisation process, electrocution on unsecured electric posts and large-scale cultivation of cotton too resulted in a significant decline of breeding pairs, similar to other regions of Turkey, especially in the last decades. Monocultures, especially of cotton, replaced many small-scale farming areas and destroyed food areas by salinization, inundation, biocides and management of cotton cultivation. The struc-ture of many stork villages changed too. Regular recordings carried out in stork villages confirmed the negative development down to a third of the past stork population.

Recordings were made by Heckenroth et al. (1986-1995), Brinkmann et al. (1988), and Stork (1996-2014) in the plains of the river Menderes downstream Aydin. The new recordings of EKODOSD (2011-2014) are from the Söke county without the northern villages like Uzunkum and Caraagacli Ciftlikköy. A village eastern of Aydin, mainly with small-scale farming without cotton fields, may be a reference place.

Initiated precautionary measures at power poles, bird ringing and inventory sur-veys of the Turkish conservation organisation ECODOSD in cooperation with Aydem Elektrik Perakende Satış A.Ş. showed a first success. In 2014, 50% of the nests are built on power poles with new platforms. The population decrease seems to have stopped and the remaining population is almost stable.

Wetlands und feeding grounds near the old meandering loops need a new con-cept of nature protection for the Menderes plain, such as the UNESCO biosphere reservation.

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Kai-Michael THOMSEN

Michael-Otto-Institute within NABU, German e-mail: [email protected]

PRESENT STATUS OF THE WORLD POPULATION OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA

The White Stork is one of the best monitored bird species. Six international censuses since 1934 gave an overview about the population development on the international level. In 2014 the 7th International White Stork Census is organized and more than 30 countries participated.

The presentation gives an overview about the results of the 6th IWSC and the present population status of the White Stork in different countries and discusses the reasons for the developments. First results of the 7th International White Stork Census will be presented.

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Piotr TRYJANOWSKI


Institute of Zoology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland


SOMETHING IN THE WATER? WHY ARE THERE SUCH bIG DIFFERENCES bETWEEN POPULATIONS

OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN EASTERN AND WESTERN EUROPE?

Changes in farmland plant and animal communities are commonly used as an exam-ple of the strongly declining biodiversity in Europe. The populations of many species have been shown to suffer from intensification of management, reduction of landscape heterogeneity, habitat loss and fragmentation, and currently especially from climate change and invasion of alien species. These conditions particularly dominate farm-land in the economically well developed countries of Western Europe. Currently, the farmland environment in Central-Eastern Europe is generally more extensive than in Western Europe and a larger proportion of people still live in rural areas; thus generating different conditions for both organisms living in agricultural areas as well as human societies and economy. A nice example of these differences is exactly the hero of our conference, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia. To protect declining populations living in farmland, detailed knowledge on both this particular species as well as community level is necessary. However, due to scientific tradition and availability of funding, the major-ity of studies have been carried out in Western Europe. In consequence this provokes a question: are findings obtained under western conditions useful to identify the fate of storks in Central-Eastern Europe? In this talk I argue that not necessary. However, it is easy to say that we need more detailed studies, but our intention is also to show potential benefits (even economical) from developing of this kind of study.

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Daiva VAITKUVIENĖ, Mindaugas DAGYS

Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania


CHANGES IN WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA POPULATION IN LITHUANIA bETWEEN 1994-2010

The results of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) nest census in Lithuania in 2010 revealed that the population has doubled since the last census in 1994. The entire country was surveyed for White Stork nests by over 20 professional observers. Breeding performance was recorded in a sample of nests in July 2010. The collected data were transferred to and managed in a GIS environment. A total of 21,192 White Stork nests was recorded, of which 18,782 were occupied by breeding birds, compared to 9,400 occupied nests recorded in 1994. The density of occupied nests increased from 17 to 29 nests/100 km² of the total country area. Electricity line poles were the most common nest sites in 2010, with 49% of all nests located on them, compared to 13% in 1994. Electricity line poles became increasingly important nest sites for the expanding population. There was a sharp decrease in the proportion of nests built in trees, from 52% in 1994 to 21% in 2010.

Seven new White Stork colonies, each comprising 10–22 breeding pairs, were recorded during this nest census. In 1994, only one colony was known. Most of the colonies (six) were located in western Lithuania, with four of them within a distance of 25 km from each other. All White Stork colonies were established in trees. Four closely spaced colonies in western Lithuania were established in coniferous trees, namely pine, others in deciduous trees, I.e. poplar, oak and lime. Mean breeding success of White Storks was 2.7 young per successful pair, a value very similar to that recorded in 1994 with 2.6 young per successful pair. The population of White Storks in Lithuania has doubled between 1994 and 2010, possibly due to favourable changes in farming prac-tices, and at present is in a favourable conservation status.

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Gottfried WILHARM1,*, Evelyn SKIEbE1, Marie T. POPPEL1, Sarah LESER1, Christine HEIDER1, Magdalena HEINDORF1,

Mariusz KASPRZAK2, Piotr KAMIŃSKI, Marcin bOCHENSKI2, Marcin TObÓŁKA3, Paul G. HIGGINS4, Yvonne PFEIFER1,

Leszek JERZAK2


1 Robert Koch-Institute, Wernigerode Branch, Burgstr. 37, D-38855 Wernigerode, Germany

2Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana Street 1, 65-561 Zielona Góra, Poland

3Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland

4Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, D-50935 Cologne, Germany

*Address correspondence to: Gottfried Wilharm, Robert Koch-Institut, Bereich Wernigerode, Burgstr. 37, D-38855 Wernigerode, Germany


MICRObIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON WHITE STORK NESTLINGS REVEAL FREQUENT COLONIZATION

WITH THE OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGEN ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII AND WITH A NOVEL

CORYNEBACTERIUM SPECIES

Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging nosocomial pathogen with a notable potential to develop resistance to antibiotics. Unsatisfactorily, the reservoirs of this pathogen outside the hospital setting are poorly defined. Here, putting forth the hypothesis of avian reservoirs of A. baumannii, we have tested White Stork nestlings for the pres-ence of this opportunistic pathogen. Using selective and non-selective culture media we screened choana swab samples from nestling for the presence of A. baumannii. The samples were collected from three different regions in Poland and included repeated sampling of some of the nestlings. Overall, we isolated A. baumannii from 19% of the nestlings, the highest rate of colonization reported for any endotherm to date. Molecular

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typing and DNA sequencing methods revealed that none of the isolates was closely related to those lineages spread in hospitals worldwide. However, stork isolates were indistinguishable from clinical isolates regarding virulence, using the Galleria mel-lonella infection model. Interestingly, the genetic diversity of A. baumannii isolates was extremely high, pointing to a reservoir related to feeding rather than to parental transmission. As another major finding we identified a novel Corynebacterium species in more than 50% of the samples, indicating a commensal status of this species with a long-standing history of coevolution with the White Stork.

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Andrzej WUCZYŃSKI


Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Nature Conservation, Lower-Silesian Field Station, Podwale 75, 50-449 Wrocław, Poland


NO MALE – NO SUCCESS. AbNORMAL bREEDING bEHAVIOR OF THE WHITE STORK

CICONIA CICONIA IN AN AREA OF LOW POPULATION DENSITY

South-western Poland has the lowest breeding density of the White Stork, and adverse population parameters. A long-term study in a plot of 793 km2 revealed a density of 2.14 pars/100 km2 (2014), a low breeding success (JZa=1.60; JZm=2.37; 1989-2014), and decreasing trends in numbers and productivity. It is unknown whether these nega-tive tendencies may also have some behavioral consequences to breeding individuals. However, in one nest within the study plot several phenomena believed to be rare in the White Stork have regularly been observed. These behavioral abnormalities were: replacement of non-breeding individuals during spring migration, regular first arrivals of females before the males, associated with laying of (infertile?) eggs and early clutch reduction, cases of unsuccessful prolonged incubation in two consecutive years (2009, 2010), unsuccessful breeding attempt by a solitary female (2013), and appearance of the Black Stork in the nest (2013). As a result, the long-term productivity in the nest was lower than the productivity in the local population. It is an open question whether the concentration of abnormalities in one individual nest arose just from careful ob-servations of that nest or the observed phenomena can be attributed to the decreasing trends of the population.

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Rostyslav ZHURAVCHAK

Rivnenskyi Nature Reserve, Ukraine e-mail: [email protected]

CURRENT STATUS OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN THE RIVNE REGION, UKRAINE

The Rivne region is located in the north-western part of Ukraine and belongs to the regions with a high number and density of White Storks in the country, but quantitative details are still missing. In 2007 we began counting and monitoring nests, pairs and partly breeding success of the species within the Rivne region, mainly in the northern part (Berezne, Volodymyrets, Dubrovytsia, Zarichne, Kostopil, Rokytrne and Sarny regions). Up to 2013 we have information from 205 villages (53.6% of all settlements in the mentioned regions) with a total number of 1,063 White Storks nests. The aver-age density is 5.7 nests per settlement, but most villages have two to five nests and 10% of villages have even more than ten (the largest number known so far is found in the village of Berestia in the Dubrovytsia region: 20 nests, 18-19 of which are occupied by a breeding pair every year).

On average 81% of all known nests are occupied for breeding, so the number of White Storks for these areas is estimated at 1,700-1,900 breeding pairs. For the territory of the entire Rivne region (for the central and southern part of this area the ratio of nests per settlement is lower but the number and density of villages higher) the number of White Storks was previously estimated at 3,300-3,800 pairs.

Most nests are located on electricity pylons (63.5%), fewer in trees (16.9%), on roofs (11.1%) and water towers (7.9%). Less than 1% is located on atypical structures, of which interesting examples are nests on haystacks and monuments, in both cases at a height of 2.5 m. Despite of such nests allocation special nesting platforms on electric-ity pylons in Rivne region are almost absent, the regional electricity company is still discussing this issue.

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Reto ZINGG

Verein Rheintaler Storch, Geschäftsstelle, Dickenstrasse 25, Postfach 57, 9642 Ebnat-Kappel, Switzerland


THE RESETTLEMENT OF THE WHITE STORK CICONIA CICONIA IN THE ALPINE RHINE VALLEY

In 2014 the White Stork population in the alpine Rhine valley consists of 61 breeding pairs. Already in 1984 first breeding pairs were observed in the region Vorarlberg in Austria. In this area the population developed positively until today and counts actu-ally 27 breeding pairs.

In the Swiss region of the alpine Rhine valley where the species disappeared around 1930 the population increased since the 1990s and currently reached 28 breeding pairs.

Since the beginning of the 21st century a population of the White Stork is also present in the Principality of Liechtenstein. In 2014 six breeding pairs were counted. In this area, the species returned to breed again after being absent 100 years.

In addition to the development of the population in the alpine Rhine valley, the typical habitats, areas with improved environmental conditions, and the establishment of new food sources will be presented.

In 2013 the young White Stork “Rheini” has been GPS-tagged. The respective data combined with the data of the ring-number-monitoring allows us to present first results about the migration pattern of the White Stork population in the alpine Rhine valley.

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OTHER SPECIES OF STORKS

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A.V. MATYUHIN, E.A. bOYKO, V.A. LObKOV, Y.V. bAbICHEV, N. bLANKOVSKIY, L.M. bLANKOVSKAYA-TYAJKO, A. GUbA,

T.V. TALALAEVA, S.V. TALALAEV

Institute of Ecology and Evolution. AN Severtsova RAS Russia, 119071, Moscow, Leninsky prosp., 33

e-mail: [email protected] Odessa National University, Odessa, Ukraine

SOME DATA ON STORKS CICONIA CICONIA, C. NIGRA IN EASTERN EUROPE

Ukraine White Stork: In the area of the North-Western Black Sea the White Stork is a regular nesting species. Nests are usually built in settlements. Adult and young birds stay on the sidelines. In May and June 2011 in the district of Odessa region Rozdelnaya there was an accumulation of 20-30 birds. In September, pairs and single birds were flying together. In the p. Jassky, Belaievsky district of the Odessa region five to seven nests are found. At the Jassky fish ponds up to 50 birds accumulate in spring. Separate slots marked in a. Kulevchi, Odessa region. Black Stork: In the autumn period in different years single individuals were observed. On 13-14 September 2013 in the Ivanovo region Odessa region a flock of about 40 birds flying south was detected.

Dnestr Moldavian RepublicWhite Stork: In Moldova, particularly in Transnistria, the White Stork is a regular nest-ing species. In p. Nezavertaylovka, Slobodzeya district up to seven nests exist. On 11 July 2014 four nests with four, three and two times two nestlings, respectively. In June in the floodplain of the Turunchuk (a tributary of the Dniester River) an accumulation of up to 50 individuals. In p. Korotnay two nests.

Russia.Tverskaya region

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In 1991-1992, in the village of Krasnoe, Pertsovo a constant number of adult birds in spring and summer. In August-September up to 15-17 individuals followed a tractor on the fields.

Kalmykia. Priyutnensky district In spring and summer 2001-2003 one individual 15km on with Priyutnoye.

In June 2005 nine individuals of the White Stork were observed on a field during hay mowing.

In 2009-2012 a pair of storks spent the spring-summer season in the 5 km. Priyutnoye from a village.

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Piotr ZIELIŃSKI1, bartosz JANIC1, Michał STOPCZYŃSKI2, Maciej KAMIŃSKI1, Jerzy bAŃbURA3

1Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, University of Łódź, Poland

e-mail: [email protected] 2PTOP “Salamandra”, Poland

3Department of Experimental Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Łódź, Poland

LONG-TERM POPULATION GROWTH OF THE bLACK STORK CICONIA NIGRA IN CENTRAL POLAND

The population of the Black Stork in central Poland (Łódź voivodeship) increased from merely three breeding pairs in the 1940s to 76 in 2013. The greatest increase in the number of breeding pairs was recorded in the 1970s and 1980s. The density of the Black Stork recorded in 2013 was 0.42 pairs per 100 km2 of the total study area (18,219km2) and 1,98 pairs per 100 km2 of the forested area (3,831 km2). Although forests cover only 21% of central Poland (Łódź voivodeship), the population of the Black Stork in that area is still increasing. Data on nest location in subsequent decades (1970-1979; 1980-1989; 1990-1999; 2000-2009; 2010-2013) allowed us to compare changes in the average distance of the new nest to the nearest building, public road, forest edge and the nest of the nearest pair. The distance to the nearest building, public road and forest edge did not change significantly (ANOVA, P > 0.05) in subsequent decades, while the distance to the nearest neighbouring pair decreased significantly from 12.6 km in the 1970s to 5.7 km in 2010-2013 (ANOVA F(4,71)= 4.83; P = 0.003).

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ZHOU Lizhi, YANG Chen, XUE Weiwei

School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity and Wetland Ecology, Anhui University,

Hefei, 230601, China e-mail: [email protected]

THE NEWLY bREEDING ORIENTAL WHITE STORKS CICONIA BOYCIANA IN NON-bREEDING GROUNDS

OF CHINA

The Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of threatened species and was a widely distributed water bird native to several countries in East Asia in history. In the past three decades, due to habitat loss, fragmen-tation and human activities, the population appears to be declining with a shrinking species range. In the 1970s, the wild breeding populations disappeared in southern and northern Korea. In Japan, the last wild stork died in 1986. At the same period, the wild populations in India and Bengal were also extinct. The recent wild population has been estimated at about 3,000 individuals. The breeding range is considered to be limited to northern China and southeastern Russia, with main wintering areas in the wetland of the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain.

Recently, however, some individuals were observed breeding at their wintering area or at stay-over sites on their flyway, such as Wangjiang of Anhui Province, Gaoyou and Dafeng of Jiangsu Province, Poyang Lake and Jinxian of Jiangxi Province, Dongying of Shandong Province, forming a new small breeding colony in China attracting high public attention.

Anqing City is one of the non-typical breeding grounds in China. We studied the breeding biology of resident Oriental White Storks from 2004 to 2006 in Wangjiang County, Anqing City, Anhui Province. All occurrence sampling and instantaneous scan sampling were used to collect data on activity budgets of behaviour of the adult and young birds. The results showed that Oriental White Storks began breeding in the mid-dle of February and finished in the last days of August. The mean distance of two nests was 1,791.7 ± 1,499.8 m (n = 6). Average clutch size was 4.2 ± 0.4 (n = 6), nest building lasted 21.5 ± 9.4 days (n = 4), the incubation period 21.5 ± 9.40 days (n = 4), and the

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period of parental care 71.0 ± 16.1 days (Parents were feeding their young, on average, 5.1 ± 2.6 (n = 40) times a day. Of all the behaviours of the breeding individuals, activity budget for resting, feather preening, bill clattering and finding nest material showed no significant difference among different breeding periods; however, the other activity budgets differed significantly. Activity budgets of young storks differed significantly except for staying in the nest, resting and flying among different stages.

The Yellow River Delta is an important stopover site of the Oriental White Storks in China, and is another nonbreeding ground. In order to collect breeding data of C. boyciana for effective conservation of the population, we observed the breeding habits in the Yellow River Delta in 2009, where a total of 21 pairs were breeding at that time. Storks choose nest sites in early February and began to build nests in mid-late February. Nests were built on wire poles, artificial standing poles or pylons. In the Dawenliu nesting area, the average height of nests was 13.3 ± 2.1 m (n = 18) and the distance between nests 647.2 ± 1,086.5 m (n = 18). In the Huanghekou nest area, the respective values were 25.5 ± 8.0 m (n = 3) for nest height and 42,640.0 ± 62,838.8 m (n = 3) for the distance between nests. The earliest hatching date was February 25, but in disturbed breeding pairs hatching started as late as mid-May. The hatching period lasted 33.2 ± 1.4 days, and the period of parental care 63.3 ± 6.83 days (n = 12). Parents fed their nestlings at an average rate of 6.2 ± 2.2 times (n = 68). The earliest and latest fledging dates were May 28 and August 19, respectively. In only 17 of the 21 breeding pairs clutches hatched, producing a total number of 47 nestlings of which 37 survived until fledging. Strong wind was the major factor affecting breeding but disturbance by visitors and lack of suitable nest sites had an influence too. In order to increase the breeding rate of the stopover population, it is necessary to provide more standing poles and consolidate the poles’ bases.

We studied the selection of feeding sites of breeding Oriental White Storks from March to May 2009 in the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve. 34 and 40 quadrants were measured in the early and late breeding period, respectively. In all quadrants, 14 variables were analyzed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). The results indicated that the three highest score variables in the first axis were distance to nest, vegetation height, and vegetation coverage, and the three highest score variables in the second axis vegetation density, number of other water birds, and the open water area. Oriental White Storks foraged mainly in reeds and swamps of restoration areas (70.3%) in the early breeding period, and mainly in reeds and swamps in non-restoration areas (32.7%) and surface (30.0%) in the late breeding period. In both periods, vegetation density, distance to nest and distance to roads showed highly significant differences (P<0.01), and vegetation height, the distance to settlements and cleanliness significant differences (0.01<P<0.05). Also, feeding site selection differed between early and late breeding periods.

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Based on the analysis of the 463 bp mtDNA D-Loop region, we investigated the genetic structure and genetic diversity of 66 wild Oriental White Storks from the Chinese population. Samples were taken from Nenjiang, Honghe, Zhaodong, Jiagedaqi, Jixi, Momoge, Shengjin Lake, Poyang Lake, Jinzhai, Huaiyuan, Huoqiu, Shucheng, Lu’an, Yuexi, Quanjiao, Wangjiang, Gaoyou and Yellow River Delta. We classified the individuals from Nenjiang, Honghe, Zhaodong, Jiagedaqi, Jixi and Momoge as the northern breeding colony (NC, n = 12) and those from some southern breeding grounds, Wangjiang, Gaoyou and Yellow River Delta as the southern breeding colony (SC, n = 10). We analyzed the sequences of 66 storks obtained in this study and data of further 17 storks (the Japanese population; JP). Among the 463bp comparable se-quences, 42 nucleotide sites were variable, including 27 transitions, 11 transersions and 4 insertions /obsentations. 37 different haplotypes were detected in 83 samples. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed a significant population subdivision between two populations (FST =0. 31557 P<0.05). However, the phylogenetic network revealed that samples from different populations did not form separate clusters. The Chinese population has a relatively higher genetic diversity than the Japanese popula-tion, with a haplotype diversity (h) of 0.9529 ± 0.013 and a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.01255±0.00674. The high haplotype and low nucleotide diversity of the Chinese population indicated that possibly in the past a small effective population was increas-ing rapidly. The neighbor-joining tree (NJ) analysis indicated that the SC colony might be comprised of descendants of the historical southern breeding population and that individuals of the northern breeding colony were wintering in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain. This newly arisen southern breeding colony provides an implication for oriental white stork’s conservation.

The nesting sites of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia in Kosovo in 2014

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