White ( ciconia) Joint Transnational Action Plan

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Joint Transnational Action Plan

Compiled by

Lovászi Péter MME/BirdLife , 1121 Budapest, Költő u. 21., Hungary http://www.mme.hu

With contributions from:

Nimfea – Environment and Nature Conservation Association (HU) http://www.nimfea.hu

Timis County Council (RO) http://www.cjtimis.ro

Strandja Nature Park Directorate (BG) http://www.strandja.bg

Joint Transnational Action Plan was completed in the frame of project 'Be Natur'. www.be-natur.it Leader partner: Nimfea – Environment and Nature Conservation Association Adress: 5421 Túrkeve, Erdőszél u. 1., Hungary

2 - 2012 - Túrkeve, Hungary

3 Preface

Facing the loss of biodiversity, both in terms of and of , with potential internationally important consequences is one of the most important and demanding challenges. It is essential to maintain and strengthen ecosystems, giving them the necessary space to react in a flexible way to climate changes and to the effects of human activities. The and Directives are part of a strong legal basis for the protection of the environment and provide the basic tools for preservation of the Natural Heritage of the European Union. South-East European countries have different levels of implementation for said Directives and have huge gaps in the management of “Natura 2000” sites. BE-NATUR aims at improving the management and organisation of those sites, with particular focus on wet areas (rivers, lakes, coastal areas), in view of actually implementing the EU legal framework in this regard.

4 Natura 2000

Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the European Union, set up to conserve biodiversity in the of the Member States, by protecting natural habitats and wild flora and fauna. The aim of the network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats across their entire natural range within the EU, defining a common framework for biodiversity conservation. The governments of the European Communities established Natura 2000 by the adoption of Directive 92/43/EEC called the Habitats Directive, which integrates the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC. The Habitat Directive establishes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), designated by Member States with a complex procedure, following the criteria set out in the annexes of the Directive. These annexes define types of habitats and species whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation and lists of and plant species in need of particularly strict protection. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for threatened and migratory species of birds are established by the Birds Directive in order to create favourable conditions for survival or reproduction of species. SPAs should be situated in birds’ natural areas of distribution and include wintering and nesting grounds or staging posts along migratory routes, with particular attention to wetlands. Special protection areas (SPAs) and special areas of conservation (SACs) form the Natura 2000 European network of protected ecological sites. This network is not a system of strictly protected nature reserves that exclude all human activities, but within these sites, actions that could significantly damage protected species or habitats must be avoided. Member States must guarantee the respect of appropriate conservation measures to maintain and restore habitats to a favourable . The Natura 2000 network consists of 26 thousand sites and now represents around 18 % of the EU’s terrestrial territory.

5 Affected species

European (Ciconia ciconia L., 1758)

Biological assessment/Specific characteristics

Taxonomy

Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconidae : Ciconia Species: Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution

Formerly considered to include Oriental White Stork (C. boyciana) but now accepted as separate species. 2 : - C. c. ciconia (Linnaeus 1758) – Breeds Europe, W Asia, NW and , winters Sub- Saharan Africa - C. c. asiatica (Severtsov, 1873) – , winters Iran to India Core population of C. c. ciconia breeds in Central- and East Europe. Lacks from the British Islands and north to 55° latitude. Smaller populations breed in NW and South Africa and Middle-East.

Measurement

100-102 cm, 2.3-4.4 kg, wingspan 155-165 cm. Males slightly larger. C. c. asiatica is somewhat larger than C. c. ciconia.

Description

Plumage mainly white, with black flight feathers and greater coverts. Long legs red. Long pointed black in first few months, later become red. Black orbital skin and dark iris separates most remarkably from the closest relatives, C. maguari and the above mentioned C. boyciana.

6 Food and feeding

Opportunist. Eats almost every prey that can be taken and swallowed. Prey on large , earthworms, small mammals (voles /Microtus/, moles /Talpa/, hamsters /Cricetus/, even young hares or cats). In European folklore best known as eater of amphibians (Rana, Bufo), but also hunts on reptiles (, snakes), fishes, rarely takes eggs and chicks of ground- nesting birds also. Feeding behaviour is also opportunistic but usually stalking by walking about slowly measured steps, when prey is located (always visually), neck often cocked in preparation then bill is jabbed out and prey is grasped. Not rarely “encounts” with running, sometimes flashing its wings open. In Africa large numbers concentrate at grass fires or swarms of locusts (mainly Locusta sp.).

Habitat requirements

Open country, as far as possible wet grasslands. Wetlands not necessarily, but more aquatic in the nesting area compared with the wintering sites. Also occurs on extensive agricultural fields but needs natural or semi-natural feeding grounds. Sometimes waste areas with rubbish dumps. Nests on scattered trees or on different human-made constructions inside of localities, around farms. Mainly lowland species (mostly below 700 m asl but up to 3500 m in Caucasus). Avoids areas with wet climate and tall, dense vegetation (closed forests, reeds etc.) is also not preferred, neither as nesting habitat, nor in wintering time.

Productivity and life-history

Breeding

Breeding starts in March-April. Solitary or loosely colonial. Nests originally were located on trees or cliffs, but nowadays more frequently on human build-ups like buildings (roof or chimney), electric pylons, special structures erected for them, etc. In 1994 in SE-Europe 50-70% of nest were built on 0,4 kV electric pylons and locally these rate reached 95-97%. Since then – mainly on lowlands – new nest were built almost exclusively on electric pylons and average rate can reach 80-90 % on a national level. Nests are used for several years or even decades. Large nest may be 2-5 m deep, diameter 1,2-2 m. Nest lined with turf, dung or dry grass (rarely paper, plastic bags, cloth etc.) but mainly made of branches. Needs stable basement to hold nests usually reaching several hundreds of kilograms. Breeds once a year. Average breeding success is about 2-2,5 youngs/pair, but can reach 3 youngs (2011, Hungary) or can be under 1 fledging/pair (1990’s in the ). Average 4 eggs (1-7), incubation 28-34 days. Fledging 58-64 days but young birds stay for the night in the nest for several extra weeks. Sexual maturity at 3-5 years. Bigamy rarely occurs. Females start to incubate eggs during egg laying so there are differences of age and body mass between chicks. Smallest young often oppressed by older ones (physically or not leaving enough food for them) and during bad weather or food conditions usually dies. Chronism (parents eat or drop small or ill chick) also known amongst .

7 Survival

Life-span up to 33-35 years but majority perish within one year from birth.

Movements

Migratory (S African population is exception). Dependent on soaring thus thermals, and avoiding large bodies of water and extensive forests. European birds have two well defined routes passing round the . Populations west of (Weser river, NW ) select the western route leaving Europe at the but in the last period many storks overwinter in . Autumn migration starts in August. Not all birds travel to S-Africa, lot of them seem to stop migration when finding suitable feeding ground in Africa. Probably White stork specimen don’t use the same wintering area year by year. Central European populations use the Eastern route via the and the , then follow the valley of the river which is much less harsh then the W for the Western population. Eastern birds tend to stop in Sudan and Chad then head south again in November.

The most important stopover sites are: (1) the regions before and after the Bosporus crossing in , (2) the Northern shore of the Gulf of Iskenderun, (3) East of Damascus in Syria, (4) the Bet She’an Valley in Israel, (5) the regions before and after the crossing of the Gulf of Suez in Northern Egypt (6–8) Western Sudan and Chad, (9,10) regions in Eastern Sudan, (11) East of Tabora, (12) at the border between Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (13) the Okawango Delta in Botswana , (14,15) cultivated fields in South Africa. Birds from Scandinavia can travel up to 20,000 km to S Africa.

There are reported European ringed birds in NW India and Arabian Peninsula but these specimen probably lost their normal way (not changed their SE direction to S after leaving Bosporus).

Western migrants used to have similar pattern but this is seriously disrupted in W Africa to the wintering places in Mid-Africa. Reaching Africa storks fly straight across Sahara without stopping. On this route, more and more birds are tending to stay in Spain and Morocco over the winter (ca. 3000 in the 1980s, 8000 in the 1990s). Rare near Atlantic coast of NW Africa.

Most migration takes place in midday. As prefers good weather conditions less vulnerable to wind-farms, wires, high constructions during migration. Although in areas of departure or landing White Stork could be heavily affected by such risks. Young birds generally leave nesting areas earlier than their parents, but youngs and adults migrate together in large flocks. Southern orientation is probably genetically fixed but knowledge of migration route is likely acquired from older birds. In South-Africa there is small breeding population in Western Cape, European specimen winters in the Eeastern part of the country.

8 Population size and trend

Considered formerly as near-threatened, now least concern in the IUCN Red List (population size >> 10,000 mature individuals, and not decline > 10% in ten years but opposite: increasing). International censuses have been performed since 1934 (and repeated in 1958, 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004/2005). World population in mid 1980’s estimated at 130,000 breeding pairs, ten years later at 160,000 breeding pairs. In Europe, trends since 1982 have been stable, based on provisional data for 21 countries from the Pan-European Common Monitoring Scheme also. Largest population breeds in (ca. 40,000 pairs in 1994, ca. 50,000 in 2004), but the number of breeding pairs exceeds 10,000 pairs in , , , and also. Population of the showed strong increase from ca. 10,000 pairs in the early 1990s to the actual ca. 40,000 pairs. 2 Density of breeding pairs on 100 km exceeds 10 in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Belarus, and is between 5 to 10 in , , Spain, Hungary and Ukraine. Few 10 pairs are new colonizers in S Africa. The first census-year, 1934 was very good for storks. The crash from 1934 to 1984 is about 76 %, principally in W Europe. Formerly, populations could increase regularly if plagues of locusts around the wintering areas occured. W Africa is the part of the continent where eradication of locust swarms was more successful than in E Africa. Drought and overgrazing in Sahel are serious problems too. Heavy decline in W Europe, here regionally threatened (in Denmark 10,000 pairs in th the 19 century, but reduced to 3 pairs in 2004). The strongest population of W Europe is in Spain. By the millennium, world population increased to an estimated 180,000-220,000 pairs. Both the West- and East-European populations increased from 1990. This amount is still far from the numbers once typical in the 1930’s. It is interesting, that 3 connecting countries (with almost similar population-sizes of ca. 4.000-6.000 pairs) have 2 different tendencies: in Hungary stable population, in and -increasing population (about 15% increase in Bulgaria in 2004 compared to 1994).

Human influence

Most of European nations have a (possibly pagan-rooted) legend that storks bring babies (interesting that storks fledging is completed at midsummer and they return to their nests after nine months). In spite of this affinity to storks there are several human-generated problems, including: habitat alteration (loss of wetlands), excessive use of pesticides in Europe and in wintering places (even DDT), electrocution and collisions with power lines, hunting (during migration), loss of nest building sites. Hunting is especially important in W Africa (21 tethered decoys were surrounded by hundreds of snares in N Nigeria /Kano/ in 1985 and storks were sold on local markets). Shooting is even more serious problem than trapping. In Lebanon and Syria several thousands of birds are shot annually (these countries affect the Eastern population). In Sudan the species is legally protected but still poached. Due to its popularity (see above), reintroduction projects were carried out since 1948, but with mixed results, because the settled new “populations” do not migrate. This anomaly even can be a “pest” to enhance the spreading unsuitable Palearctic overwintering habit.

9 Threats & pressures

Current factors affecting the habitat and population such as recreational pressure, infrastructural development, pollution, alien species, environmental changes and others follow the “List of threats and pressures” developed by the EEA (European Environment Agency) at: http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Natura_2000/reference_portal

Critical a factor causing or likely to cause very rapid declines (>30% over 10 years); High a factor causing or likely to cause rapid declines (20-30% over 10 years); Medium a factor causing or likely to cause relatively slow, but significant, declines (10- 20% over 10 years); Low a factor causing or likely to cause fluctuations; Local a factor causing or likely to cause negligible declines; Unknown a factor that is likely to affect the species but is not known to what extent. (from AEWA International Single Species Action Plans)

Decline of the population was mainly due to loss of traditional nest sites, destruction and th deterioration of feeding habitats and increasing mortality of birds during the 20 century. Although White stork is an opportunist species and can feed on several types of prey, needs a certain size of food (from a few cm up to 10-20 cm) and a relatively short vegetation to be able to see and catch the prey. Action radius of birds can be several km from their nests, but they need a mosaic-like landscape to have suitable feeding sites during the whole breeding season. Intensification of agriculture and enlargement of agricultural blocks decrease this variability. As ca. two third of World population breeds in EU, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) seriously affect population of the species. Agri-environmental schemes also can have negative impacts on the breeding success: applying monotonous practice on large scale decrease diversity of habitats and available prey for birds also.

A02.03 'modification of cultivation practices, grassland removal for arable land – critical

Under the Natura 2000 network and national protection systems most of large scale natural grasslands are legally protected. But white storks’ breeding sites are connected to human settlements and because of it small meadows important for local stork populations are not protected by the law. Ploughing down grasslands still threatens feeding habitats of white storks mainly in E Europe. Many grasslands suitable for feeding of White Storks were lost because of overbuilding, construction of photovoltaic parks and queries.

A02.01, A03.01 Intensification of agriculture – high

10 Intensification of agriculture, especially intensive grassland management (fertilisation, irrigation, mowing several times a year) and use of pesticides and rodenticides leads to decrease of range and quantity of food for storks. This problem is typical for W Europe and can gain in E Europe also. Traditional livestock-farming practices and creating herb-rich meadows for stock grazing and hay production also thought to be beneficial (Goriup and Schulz 1990). A model used to study the impact of different land use patterns on the species found that sequential (asynchronous) mowing of grasslands may increase the food supply for nestlings, thereby increasing reproductive success (as sequential mowing generates a small number of high- quality foraging patches throughout the breeding season) (Johst et al. 2001).

A03.03, A04.03 Lack of grazing – high

In lack of grazing grassland vegetation becomes tall and dense where storks cannot walk and catch prey. Lack of grazing also can cause spread of bushy vegetation or invasive plant species (such as Asclepias, Solidago or Amorpha sp.) also can exclude storks from former feeding sites. Intensively grazed (> 1 cow per hectare) unfertilised grassland was found to attract a higher abundance of this species in Hungary than grasslands grazed with less (Baldi et al. 2005).

A07 use of biocides, hormones and chemicals – high

Use of chemicals leads to loss of prey quantity. Indirect poisoning of chickens also reported from several countries. Locust control programmes also reduced food supplies across Africa on wintering grounds decreasing winter survival rate of migrating birds. Direct poisoning of White Storks due to placing of toxic baits for mice and voles occurred in 1988-1989 in Bulgaria.

A09 Irrigation – high

Intensive irrigation of grasslands gain plant biomass productivity of meadows but decrease fauna. Vegetation grow taller and mowing is more frequent causing feeding site periodically unfavourable for birds.

D01 Roads, paths and railroads – low

As White storks live close to human settlements several specimen are hit by vehicles. Mainly young birds endangered.

11 D02.01.01 Suspended electricity and phone lines – high (locally)

Collision with electric power-lines and electrocution are the most important mortality factors for storks in the European countries. In open countryside electric pylons are favourite roosting sites for storks. In human settlements around breeding sites electric network also extended. Standing isolators raise wires upwards horizontal elements of pylons suitable for birds to sit on. Storks accidentally can touch an electrical "ground" while in contact with the high-voltage wire, completing an electrical circuit. In Hungary 94% of mortality of adult and newly fledged young birds was caused by poles of electric power-lines. During their first flight from the nest inexperienced young birds often got electrocution close to their nest. Casualty of parents also may cause death of younger age of few weeks because one of the parents permanently stays with chicks in the nest during this period. A report by the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) advises management strategies in relation to electricity pylons (e.g. burying or marking aerial cables and preventing disturbance to nests during maintenance) to reduce the threats of electrocution and collision (Goriup and Schulz 1990).

E01 Human areas, urbanisation – high

Enlarging built-up areas deteriorate breeding areas by loss of feeding sites. In addition, distance between traditional nests and feeding sites becomes larger so birds need more energy and time to feed chicks in the nest. New style suburban areas usually have no big trees, wide chimneys and similar nesting sites suitable for storks making birds impossible to breed.

F03.01 Hunting – low

Hunting of white storks occurs in the Middle-East and Africa and occasionally also in E Europe. As white stork is not a delicious food for humans hunting of the species is not widespread.

G05 Other human intrusions and disturbances – low

Stork nests are usually destroyed or permanently removed during renovation of old buildings or removed from chimneys because of local requirements for protection from fires. High percentage of nests are located on electric pylons where heavy nest can cause technical problems (split of cables, short-circuits etc.). Electric companies mount artificial nest holder basements for storks but for a long perspective it ‘trains’ birds to build their nest almost exclusively on electric networks. In the Carpathian Basin 80-90 % of nests are located on pylons or poles for storks making the species conservation dependent.

12 G05.04 Vandalism – low

Breeding storks take nest material during the whole breeding season to eliminate defecation of chicks. Big amount of these branches, tufts and faeces itself fall under the nest disturbing people. Because of it lot of stork nests are pulled down or birds are chased away during breeding season.

G05.11 Death or injury by collision – medium

Storks migrate midday using arising hot air thermals. Due to it not endangered by collision to buildings, skyscrapers etc. In windy or foggy weather large birds can fly to high voltage electric wires because of slower manoeuvring abilities.

H01 Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish) – medium

Pollution of surface waters decrease prey quantity. In the EU waste water management is highly developed so western stork population is not endangered.

J02.04.02 Flooding modifications, lack of flooding – high

The species is connected to wetlands mainly on breeding grounds but also on migration and wintering. Lack of periodical flooding causes decrease of prey quantity and diversity, decreasing breeding success and survival rate. A report by the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) suggests that habitat management for the species should include the periodic flooding of meadows, the creation of a mosaic of native grasslands and meadows, and the retention or creation of ditches, ponds and lakes (Goriup and Schulz 1990).

J02.05.02 modifying structures of inland water courses – critical J02.05.03 modification of standing water bodies – critical

Creation of artificial water-courses and banks diminish suitable feeding sites for storks and also affect (decrease) reproduction possibilities of prey animals (e.g. ).

J02.06 Water abstractions from surface waters – high J02.07 Water abstractions from groundwater – high

Reduction of ground water level induces drying of wet feeding lands of storks, decreasing food availability.

13 J03.02.01 Reduction in migration/ migration barriers – medium

Wind power plants on migration routes can cause disturbance or fatal accidents for migrating birds. Storks migrate during midday at good (sunny, clear) weather conditions so are not seriously endangered by wind power stations but series of wind power towers on ridges can influence soaring activities needing extra energy of birds.

K01.03 Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes), drying out – local

Generate drying of wet feeding lands of storks, decreasing food availability.

L07 Geological events, natural catastrophes – storm, cyclone – local

Unfavourable weather conditions (lack of thermals, northern winds) during spring migration can cause numerous death of birds (it happened in 1997, transitionally reducing breeding population by 10-20 % locally in E Europe). Two-three week old storks are sensitive to cold, rainy weather. At this age parents can not cover all chicks completely but having no developed body temperature regulation. Few days of unfavourable weather can devastate even half of chicks.

M01.02 Droughts and less precipitations – local

Generate fail of wetlands decreasing prey quantity and diversity, lowering breeding success and survival rate.

Others

Accidents caused by strings – local Straw bale ligament strings, fishing lines left on grasslands or banks of ponds etc. can wound on legs of birds and storks can hang on trees, electric pylons etc. causing their death. Parents also can take string, fishing lines to nests as lining material causing accidents of chicks.

Damages caused by litter taken by parent storks to nests – local Parents can take plastic bags, foils or other plastic thrown away to nest as lining material. In this case water can not leak through nest material forming small paddles in nests. It can cause chill of eggs or chicks.

14 Unsuccessful relocation of nests – medium Stork nests built onto human buildings or electric pylons can cause hygienic or mechanical problems. White storks convey nest material throughout the whole breeding season to eliminate faeces of youngs remained in the nest. Due to this nests can grow very large and several hundred kilograms heavy. Droppings of storks can cover several ten square meters under a stork nest. Because of these reasons large number of nest are relocated from its original place to new basements to eliminate hygienic. Due to improper (e.g. not enough stable) new nest basements birds often leave these artificial places causing conflicts between local people and conservationists.

Collapse of large nests – medium Large, several hundred kilograms nests can collapse causing damages to human buildings or electric shortcuts. Such accidents also can defeat breeding of storks.

Policies and legislative background

On international level

- Listed in the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), APPENDIX II (STRICTLY PROTECTED FAUNA SPECIES); - Listed in the DIRECTIVE 2009/147/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, Annex I. (“Article 4 … 1. The species mentioned in Annex I shall be the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution.”); - The species has not a EU Transnational Action Plan; - The species is not a priority species for the Ornis Committee

EU Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds (Birds Directive) As the White stork is listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive, it should be the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution in the EU. Member States should classify in particular the most suitable territories in number and size as special protection areas for the conservation of these species. In addition, they should protect the species in particular against (a) deliberate killing or capture by any method; (b) deliberate destruction of, or damage to, their nests and eggs or removal of their nests; (c) taking their eggs in the wild and keeping these eggs even if empty; (d) deliberate disturbance of these birds particularly during the period of breeding and rearing, in so far as disturbance would be significant having regard to the objectives of this Directive; (e) keeping birds of species the hunting and capture of which is prohibited. Derogation from this general protection can be only permitted in the interests of public health and safety, in the interests of air safety, to prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water, for the protection of flora and fauna if there is no other satisfactory solution; or for the purposes of research and teaching, of re-population, of

15 reintroduction and for the breeding necessary for these purposes; or for judicious use of certain birds in small numbers. However, this cannot undermine maintaining the species’ population at a satisfactory level.

Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention) The Biodiversity Convention requires Contracting Parties to establish a system of protected areas; promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings; as well as to rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies.

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) As the White stork is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention, Contracting Parties should take appropriate and necessary legislative and administrative measures to ensure the special protection of the species. The following will in particular be prohibited for these species: a) all forms of deliberate capture and keeping and deliberate killing; b) the deliberate damage to or destruction of breeding or resting sites; c) the deliberate disturbance of wild fauna, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing and wintering, insofar as disturbance would be significant in relation to the objectives of this Convention; d) the deliberate destruction or taking of eggs from the wild or keeping these eggs even if empty; e) the possession of and internal trade in these animals, alive or dead, including stuffed animals and any readily recognisable part or derivative thereof.

Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention) As the White stork is listed on Appendix I of the Bonn Convention, Range States should endeavour: a) to conserve and, where feasible and appropriate, restore those habitats of the species which are of importance in removing the species from danger of extinction; b) to prevent, remove, compensate for or minimize, as appropriate, the adverse effects of activities or obstacles that seriously impede or prevent the migration of the species; and c) to the extent feasible and appropriate, to prevent, reduce or control factors that are endangering or are likely to further endanger the species, including strictly controlling the introduction of, or controlling or eliminating, already introduced exotic species.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The White stork is not listed on Appendices of CITES.

16 On national level - The species is protected throughout its breeding range. - Several countries have national action plans for the White stork. - Due to its relatively favourable conservation status (compared to several other species) White stork is not a priority species for conservation.

Actions

Overall goal

Short-term: to significantly increase population in NW Europe and to keep stable breeding population in other countries through habitat restoration, management, and protection.

Long-term: restore European population to a favourable conservation status.

Objectives for conservation sorted by priority

1. Preservation and restoration of feeding habitats 2. Conservation of suitable stopover sites 3. Maintenance of nesting sites 4. Prevention of birds from electrocution and collision to electric power-lines 5. Raising awareness

Actions necessary to reach the objectives

Develop or review national action plans In countries of the project area official national action plan is missing. As action plan is a common platform for conservation activities it should be accepted in all countries of the region.

Designate priority areas on migration and wintering EU member countries designated a large proportion of natural sites within the frame of Natura 2000 network, but further efforts are needed to cover the whole life cycle of the species.

Protection of feeding habitats (prevention from destruction) Legal protection needed, for feeding habitats of local importance also. Natura 2000 network coves only areas of community interest.

Promote grazing livestock practices and hay mowing on meadows and grasslands To keep feeding sites for storks abandoned meadows should be managed again in a bird friendly way. Most suitable management is a proper grazing for example with cattle, buffalo or sheep. Further deterioration of habitats also should stop.

17 International cooperation An international working group and a network of country co-ordinators, as a useful tool for conservation is to be established to exchange knowledge, organise joint actions etc.

Propagation of bird friendly electric pylon technical standards All electric poles and pylons dangerous for storks should be replaced or modified. New power-lines must be constructed accordingly to bird friendly standards.

Fill knowledge gaps Further research needed on mortality during migration, effects of , nest and pair fidelity etc.

Design (or redesign) and promote best agricultural practice for the species Agri-environment schemes aims to keep biodiversity. These donations support grassland management but practically cause schematic land use (eg. large scale mowing in the same period, intensive grazing etc.) decreasing storks' prey diversity and amount on mosaic-like areas and areas with climate changing inordinately year-by-year. More flexible agri- environment schemes should be designed to help grass- and wetlands management similar to local, traditional ways.

Promote habitat heterogeneity To ensure feeding possibilities for the whole breeding season patchy habitats are needed instead of homogeneous land use (eg. large scale mowing in the same period etc.). Diversity of land management in time and space should be supported and promoted.

Ensuring periodically flooded areas and other feeding sites Highest prey availability for storks can be found on periodically flooded wetlands. Natural water-courses and water regimes have to be restored. Dry grasslands are also important feeding sites for the species. Abandoned former grasslands overgrown with bushes or trees should be cleared (taking other bush breeder birds into account). {As storks can feed on all amphibians, reptiles or ground nesting birds, actions should performed outside of priority sites of rare reptiles (e.g. Vipera ursinii) or small ground nesting birds!}

Continue national and international censuses National censuses have to follow decennial international census-years but on sample areas more frequent nest counts are useful.

Promote environmental friendly, chemical-free land use Storks often collect prey not only on grasslands or wetlands but arable lands also, so intensive chemical use can decrease food availability and can cause direct or indirect poisoning of birds. Organic farming and farming using less pesticides and fertilizers is less damaging for the wildlife.

18 Install nesting possibilities to electric pylons (raising nest built directly to electrical wires) In the project area at least ¾ of stork nests were built to electric pylons in the last years. Nests built directly on wires can tumble down, can cause electric short-circuit or fire. Raising nests on the same place but with special metal nest holders can prevent such problems.

’Cleaning’, maintaining of nests Plastic pieces and such garbage have to be removed from nests. Nests grown over 50-60 cm have to be thinned (lower layer removed and top layer put back).

Ensure artificial roosting sites (e.g. tree-groups) during migration Storks prefer to overnight on roosting sites instead of the ground.

Awareness raising Wide public has to be informed about nature conservation questions, volunteers have to be involved in stork protection activities (.

Install nesting possibilities to traditional type sites (buildings) As cleaning and maintaining of nests is easier at nest built not on electric networks, traditional nest sites (roofs, trees, chimneys) have to be preserved to keep nesting site diversity.

Improve EIAs of irrigation, inland water management systems and grassland built-ups Nature conservation issues also have to be taken into account during Environmental Impact Assessment procedures. Member states have to apply EU's EIA regulation completely.

Carrying injured storks to rescue centres On-call system and network of rescue centres have to be established and operated.

Identification of knowledge Gaps

The White stork is one of the species studied for the longest terms as the first international census was organised in 1934. Since then five international censuses were organised and long term annual national and regional censuses took place. Storks living in human settlements are usually studied by students also. In spite of this long period and popularity there is a lack of knowledge e.g. on mortality on migration, site fidelity, possible effects of climate change etc. A complex, international scientific evaluation is needed.

19 Future Research & Monitoring

Due to the species' habit of defecating on its legs to regulate its body temperature in hot climates it is inadvisable to fit individuals with leg-rings for tracking purposes (dry builds-up on the legs and hardens around leg-rings, tightening them and leading to injuries). Other methods of monitoring movements such as satellite telemetry or patagial wing-tags are therefore advised (Goriup and Schulz 1990). A large scale study on habitat quality, food resource availability, habitat use pattern needed to assess effects of agricultural regimes.

Species Management and Protection See actions.

Communication & Publicity

Widespread propaganda amongst the public to be continued in order to preserve nesting and feeding areas. Information materials shall be prepared and submitted to the educational institutions and local governments. ‘Stork owners’ and the general public should be informed through the media about population surveys and conservation achievements. The White Stork is well known and is perfect for the protection of birds and the broad propagation of nature conservation objectives.

Actions necessary to reach the objectives Priority of actions/Rating (Essential, high, medium, low) Timetable (short/mid/long term)

A priority has been assigned to each Result, according to the following scale: Essential: a Result that is needed to prevent further large declines in the population that could lead to the species’ extinction. High: a Result that is needed to prevent a decline of more than 20% of the population within 20 years. Medium: a Result that is needed to prevent a decline of less than 20% of the population within twenty years. Low: a Result that is needed to prevent local population declines or which is likely to have only a small impact on the population across the range.

20 Action Rating Timetable Develop or review national action plans essential short term Designate priority areas on migration and wintering essential short term Protection of feeding habitats (prevention from destruction) essential short term Promote grazing livestock practices and hay mowing on high short term meadows and grasslands International cooperation high short term Promote bird friendly electric pylon technical standards, high short term replace or modify old power-lines Fill knowledge gaps high mid term Design (or redesign) and promote best agricultural practice high mid term for the species Promote habitat heterogeneity high mid term Ensuring periodically flooded areas and other feeding sites high mid term Continue national and international censuses high long term Promote environmental friendly, chemical-free land use low short term Install nesting possibilities to electric pylons low short term ’Cleaning’, maintaining of nests low mid term Ensure artificial roosting sites (e.g. tree-groups) duringlow long term migration Awareness raising medium short term Install nesting possibilities to traditional type sites medium short term (buildings) Improve EIAs of irrigation and inland water managementmedium mid term systems

21 Literature recommended

Báldi, A. & Batáry, P. & Erdős, S. 2005: Effects of grazing intensity on bird asemblages and populations of Hungarian grasslands – Agr. Ecocsyst. Environ. 108: 251-263.

Berthold, P., van den Bossche, W., Fiedler, W., Kaatz, C., Kaatz, M., Leshem, Y., Nowak, E. & Querner, U. (2001): Detection of a new important staging and wintering area of the white stork Ciconia ciconia by satellite tracking. Ibis 143: 450–455.

Berthold, P., van den Bossche, W., Kaatz, M., Querner, U. (2006): Conservation measures based on migration research in white storks (Ciconia ciconia, Ciconia boyciana) Acta Zoologica Sinica 52(Supplement): 211–214.

BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12).

Bossche, W. van den, Berthold, P., Kaatz, M., Nowak, E. & Querner, U. (2002): Eastern European White Stork Populations: Migration Studies and Elaboration of Conservation Measures. BfN-Skripten 66. German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn. Pp. 198.

Creutz, G. (1985): Der Weiss-storch Ciconia ciconia. Neue Brehm-Bücherei. Bd. 375. A. Ziemsen Verlag. Winenberg-Lutherstadt.

Dallinga, J. H. & Sachoenmakers, S. (1987): Regional decrease in the number of White Storks (Ciconia c. ciconia) in relation to food resources – Colonial Waterbirds 10(2): 167- 177.

Elliott, A. (1992): Family Ciconiidae (Storks) – Handbook of the Birds of the World (Lynx editions) Vol. 1: 436-465

Goriup, P. D. & Schultz, H. (1990): Conservation Management of the White Stork: an international Opportunity – ICBP Study Report 37. ICBP, Cambridge.

Goriup, P. D. & Schultz, H. (1991): Conservation Management of the White Stork: an international need and opportunity – Pp. 97-127 in Salathé (1991): Conserving Migratory Birds. ICBP Technical Publication 12. ICBP, Cambridge.

Grimmett, R.F.A. (1987): A Review of the Problems Affecting Palearctic Migratory Birds in Africa – ICBP, Cambridge.

Hall, M.R. & Gwinner,E. & Bloesch, M. (1978): Annual cycles in moult, body mass, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and gonadal steroids during the developement of sexual maturity in the White stork (Ciconia ciconia). J. London 211: 467-486.

Kahl, M.P. (1972): Comparativ ethology of the Ciconiidae. Part 4. The “typical” storks (genera Ciconia, Sphenorhynchus, Dissoura and Euxenura). Z. Tierpsychol. 30: 225-252.

22 Kanyamibwa, S., Bairlein, F. & Schrierer, A. (1993): Comparision of survival rates between populations of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia in Central Europe. Ornis Scandinavica 24: 297-302.

Rheinwald, G. & Ogden, J.C. & Schultz, H. (eds.) (1989): Proc. Int. Stork Symp. 1985. Walsrode, germany.

Schulz, H. (ed.) (1999): White storks on the up? Proceedings International Symposium on the White Stork, Hamburg, 1996. NABU, Bonn.

Thomsen, K. & Hötker, H. (2006): The sixth International White Stork Census: 2004-2005. In: Boere, G.C., Galbraith, C.A. & Stroud, D.A. (Eds.) (2006): Waterbirds around the world. The Stationery Office, , UK. 493-495.

Internet:

BirdLife International (2012) Species factsheet: Ciconia ciconia. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php? id=3835 http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3835 at 26/07/2012.

Fransson, T., Kolehmainen, T., Kroon, C., Jansson, L. & Wenninger, T. (2010) EURING list of longevity records for European birds. Downloaded from http://www.euring.org/data_and_codes/longevity.htm http://www.euring.org/data_and_ codes/longevity.htm http://www.euring.org/data_and_codes/longevity.htm at 30/07/2012.

23 Annexes

Annex 1. 2 Density of breeding pairs (pairs/100 km )

24 Annex 2. Geographical distribution during the year (ssp. ciconia)

Breeding Migrating/wintering Visitor Albania Angola Benin Algeria Botswana Bissau-Guinea Burundi Burkina Faso Austria Chad Cameroon Azerbaijan Cyprus Congo Belarus DR Congo Belgium Egypt Gabon Bosnia Eritrea Gambia Bulgaria Ethiopia Ghana Croatia Israel Guinea Czech Republic Jordan Iceland Denmark Kenya Ivory Coast Estonia Lebanon Liberia Lesotho Norway Georgia Libya Oman Germany Malawi Saudi-Arabia Mali Senegal Hungary Malta Sierra Leone Iran Mauritania Togo Iraq Namibia United Kingdom Italy Mozambique Yemen Latvia Niger Lithuania Nigeria Macedonia Palestinian Authority Territories Montenegro Rwanda Morocco Somalia Moldova South Sudan Poland Sudan Portugal Syria Romania Swaziland Russia Tanzania Serbia Uganda Slovakia Western Sahara Zambia South-Africa Zimbabwe Spain Sweden Switzerland the Netherlands Tunisia Turkey Ukraine Uzbegistan

25 Annex 3. Breeding population and trends

Breeding Trend*** Actual Density Breeding population breeding (pair/ 100 population Trend 1984- (pairs)*** population 2 Country (pairs) 1994 ** 1994** Year*** (pairs) km ) Austria 350 0 365-415 98-02 + 392 0,5 Belgium 0 E 45-46 95-02 + 50 0,2 Bulgaria 4190 -1 4200-4200 94 - 4956 4,5 Czech Republic 820 0 931-954 00 + 814 1,0 Denmark 6 -2 1-3 98-01 - 3 <0,1 Estonia 2650 1 3000-4000 98 + 3500 7,7 France 315 1 645-655 00 + 973 0,2 Germany 4155 1 4300-4400 95-99 + 4482 1,3 Greece 1500 -2 (2000-2500) 95-00 (-) 2139 1,6 Hungary 4850 0 4800-5600 98-02 0 5300 5,7 Italy* ? E 50-60 03 + 63 <0,1 Latvia 10600 2 9500-10500 94-03 0 10700 16,6 Lithuania 11124 2 12500-13000 99-01 + 13000 19,9 the Netherlands* 200 -2 330-390 98-00 + 528 1,4 Poland 37500-48500 1 44000-46000 00-01 + 52500 16,8 Portugal 3500 1 4000-6000 02 (+) 7684 8,3 Romania (820) -2 4000-5000 96-02 + 5500 2,3 Slovakia 1100 0 1000-1350 90-99 0 1330 2,7 Slovenia ? ? 195-205 99-00 + 40 0,2 Spain 16643 2 16600-16600 94 + 33217 6,6 Sweden* - E 3-3 99-00 + 29 <0,1 EU Total ca. 106000 ca. 120000 ca. 147000

Albania 2 -2 10-20 96-02 - 15 0,1 Armenia 1000-1500 97-02 0 600? (1000-5000) (0) ’common Azerbaijan 96-00 breeder’ Belarus 11807 1 10300-13300 97-99 0 20342 9,8 Bosnia (50-50) 84 ? 50 0,1 Croatia 1500 -1 1000-1500 02 (0) 1700 3,0 Georgia present 03 ? 99 Macedonia 800-1200 00 - Moldova 400-600 90-00 0 500 1,5 Russia ? 1 5500-7500 90-00 + 10200 # Serbia + MN ? -1 1100-1250 99-02 0 1150 1,3 Switzerland* 172 167-182 97-01 + 198 0,5 Turkey ? -2 15000-35000 01 (-) 20000? 2,6? Ukraine 7979 1 26200-32400 90-00 0 30000 5,0 Non-EU European ca. 80000 ca. 85000 countries

Algeria 2394 Iran 2209 Iraq ? Israel 13 Marocco 1251 South Africa 200

26 Syria few 100s Tunisia 350 Uzbegistan 1343 Non European countries (ca. 8000)

ca. 200000- ca. 240000 TOTAL ca. 160000 220000 *: Reintroduction projects **: Schulz 1996 ***: BirdLife International 2004

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