Category: Ciconiiformes

Phylogenetic relationships of the Zigzag Heron (Zebrilus undulatus) and white-crested Bittern (Tigriornis leucolophus) estimated by DNA-DNA hybridization

Zigzag Heron (Zebrilus undulatus) Science Article 2 abstract Recently we, acquired DNA of two rare species of heron, the Neotropical Zigzag Heron (Zebrilus undulatus) and the African White-crested Bittern (Tigriornis le colophus). To estimate their phylogenetic relationships to other herons, we compared these species with representatives of the major heron clades using DNA-DNA hybridization. Even […]

Prey Handling in Yellow-crowned Night Herons

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) Science Article 1 abstract Although an extensive literature exists on the foraging ecology of wading birds (reviewed by Kushlan 1978), detailed studies of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) are lacking.The yellowcrown is unique among the ardeids in that it specializeson crustacean prey (Palmer 1962, Hancock and Elliott 1978) and […]

ORGANOCHLORINE RESIDUES AND EGGSHELL THINNING IN WOOD STORKS AND ANHINGAS

Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) Science Article 1 abstract All 10 Wood Stork eggs collected at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in 1973 contained residues of DDE (geometric mean 4.0 ppm wet weight) and PCBs (1.2 ppm). Nine other organochlorines were found at lower frequencies in the eggs. Eggshells from the recent period were 8.9% thinner […]

Development of thermoregulatory ability during ontogeny in the White Stork Ciconia ciconia

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 1 abstract The development of thermoregulation abilities in White Stork Ciconia ciconia nestlings was examined. Our results showed that body mass, and not age, was the best predictor for thermoregulatory ability despite what was found in passerines. White Stork nestlings did not develop their thermoregulatory abilities abruptly since their […]

Time budget, habitat use and breeding success of White Storks Ciconia ciconia under variable foraging conditions during the breeding season in Switzerland.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 9 abstract Following its extinction in 1950, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia was reintroduced to Switzerland. We analysed time budget, habitat use and breeding success of 28 breeding pairs at five sites in 1994. At two sites the adults were given extra food daily (SF), at the others no […]

Flight behaviour of White Stork Ciconia ciconia on their migration over southern Israel

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 8 abstract More than 200 flight paths of White Storks were recorded during spring and autumn 1991/92 at two sites in southern Israel by tracking radar. White Storks did not adapt flight behaviour to maximize cross-country speed as predicted by theory. Gliding airspeed was not adjusted to climb rate […]

Resource-dependent weather effect in the reproduction of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 11 abstract Weather affects the breeding success of White Stork Ciconia ciconia, but the effect has not been studied in the context of different food resources or habitat quality. The aim of this study was to determine whether the impact of weather conditions on breeding success was dependent on […]

Migratory orientation of first-year white storks (Ciconia ciconia): inherited information and social interactions

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 5 abstract We used satellite tracking to study the migratory orientation of juvenile white storks from the population in the Kaliningrad Region (Russia) during their first autumn migration. Two series of experiments were performed. In the first series of experiments, several groups of first-year storks were raised in an […]

Aggregation size and foraging behavior of White Storks

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 7 abstract The foraging behaviour of breeding White Storks Ciconia cinconia was studied at a colony in central Spain to test various predictions related to the advantages of flocking. Storks devoted more time to preening and resting with increasing aggregation size. Time spent vigilant by individual Storks decreased significantly […]

Effects of power lines on a White Stork Ciconia ciconia population in central Spain

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Science Article 3 abstract The aims of this article are 1) to study the effect of mortality at power lines on a White Stork population and 2) to know which are the risky factors on both collision and electrocution incidents in a humanised area. Location: Study area was located at South-eastern […]