Primeros datos sobre movimientos de cigüeñas blancas "Ciconia ciconia" L., 1758 anilladas como pollos en nido en Navarra: 2012-2015

Abstract

In recent decades, the breeding population of White Stork Ciconia ciconia L., 1758 in Navarre has increased exponentially. The abundance of predictable food in landfills, providing one of the most used food resources for the species, seems to have influenced both demographically and spatiotemporal distribution in the whole Iberian Peninsula. In order to study dispersal patterns, movements and habitat use of the White Stork population in Navarre, during the period 2012-2015, we ringed 243 chicks in 9 breeding colonies in southern Navarre. Of these, 16% of the individuals (n = 37) were observed afterwards both alive and in good condition (i.e., sightings) and dead (i.e., recoveries), mostly by electrocution. All the sightings, except three, were made in landfills (n = 61), where the sampling effort was considerably higher. Two sightings corresponded to storks observed in wetlands, and another individual was observed two years after at the colony where it was born (i.e., recruitment). The average sighting distance in relation to the colony was 48 km (maximum distance, 410 km). Most sightings/recoveries were obtained during the spring and summer, regardless of age. All dead birds (n = 7) were fledglings found in the vicinity of the colonies where they were born.