Nesting habits and breeding success of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, in the Kizilirmak delta, Turkey (Aves: Ciconiidae)

Abstract

A total of 926 nests of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) was found in a survey conducted in the Kizilirmak delta on the Black Sea coast of Turkey in 2010. Breeding success was 3.82 young per successful nest, which is very high compared to other studies in and outside Turkey. The breeding population has increased from 125-130 pairs in 1992 to at least 870 breeding pairs in 2010 (158.5/100 km(2)). This population increase is apparently related to the increase in rice cultivation, which has more than tripled in the delta since 1992.