<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The breeding strategies of the White Stork changed drastically during the past decades: a decreasing number of individuals nest on traditional nest sites – trees, roofs, chimneys, whereas electricity poles are increasingly selected. Here we analysed long-term breeding data of White Storks breeding in six Hungarian counties to detect patterns in nest site preferences in Hungary. According to our results, the shift to preference for electricity poles was shown at the same rate in every county, independently from the proportion of original nest sites. After 2000, although electricity poles dominated everywhere, the proportion of nest on poles without platform increased, despite the abundance of available empty platforms. To explain this pattern, we propose that White Storks show a preference for viewpoints, thus choosing to breed as near as possible to optimal habitats, regardless of nest site types. Therefore, conservation measures concerning the nest sites of this species should include preliminary habitat analysis.</p></abstract>

The breeding strategies of the White Stork changed drastically during the past decades: a decreasing number of individuals nest on traditional nest sites – trees, roofs, chimneys, whereas electricity poles are increasingly selected. Here we analysed long-term breeding data of White Storks breeding in six Hungarian counties to detect patterns in nest site preferences in Hungary. According to our results, the shift to preference for electricity poles was shown at the same rate in every county, independently from the proportion of original nest sites. After 2000, although electricity poles dominated everywhere, the proportion of nest on poles without platform increased, despite the abundance of available empty platforms. To explain this pattern, we propose that White Storks show a preference for viewpoints, thus choosing to breed as near as possible to optimal habitats, regardless of nest site types. Therefore, conservation measures concerning the nest sites of this species should include preliminary habitat analysis.

Changes in the nest sites of White Stork <italic>(Ciconia ciconia)</italic> in Hungary

Department of Anatomy, Cell- and Developmental Biology

HNPI-DE Department of Conservation Zoology

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Changes in the nest sites of White Stork  in Hungary

The breeding strategies of the White Stork changed drastically during the past decades: a decreasing number of individuals nest on traditional nest sites –...

Changes in the nest sites of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Hungary

Published Online: Jul 25, 2018

Page range: 65 - 88

Received: Mar 19, 2018

Accepted: Jun 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2018-0005

Keywords
nest site selection, population dynamics, species conservation, rural area, habitat selection, Hungary

© 2018 Adrienn Gyalus et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Changes in the nest sites of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Hungary

Published Online: Jul 25, 2018

Page range: 65 - 88

Received: Mar 19, 2018

Accepted: Jun 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2018-0005

Keywordsnest site selection, population dynamics, species conservation, rural area, habitat selection, Hungary

© 2018 Adrienn Gyalus et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
nest site selection, population dynamics, species conservation, rural area, habitat selection, Hungary