Habitat Structure and Breeding Parameters of the White StorkCiconia ciconiain the Kolno Upland (NE Poland)

Abstract

Abstract. An investigation of the habitat structure in nesting territories and the breeding success of the White Stork population in an agriculture landscape of the Kolno Upland adjoining the Biebrza river valley was conducted in 1994–1997. From 85.7% (1997) to 96.8% (1994) of nests were occupied by pairs of storks. The percentage of nests without nestlings was exceptionally low (0%–5.7%). Broods with three nestlings made up the highest proportion, c. 41.7–44.6 % of all the nests occupied by pairs. The average number of nestlings in nests with fledged young was lowest in 1997 (2.53); in 1994–1996 it had been significantly higher (2.84–3.06). Pairs with nests sited up to 100 m from the nearest wet meadows in the river valley have a higher average breeding success in comparison with the pairs whose nests are sited farther away. The White Stork population tended to inhabit the area near the edge of the river valley. In the nesting territories (an area of 1 km radius around the nest site) cereal crops, meadow...