Factors determining the occurrence of anthropogenic materials in nests of the white stork Ciconia ciconia.

ABSTRACT: Birds have been using anthropogenic materials for nest construction for the past few decades. However, there is a trade-off between the use of new nesting material, which is often linked to greater breeding success, and the higher risk of nestling mortality due to entanglement or ingestion of debris. Here, we investigate the incorporation of anthropogenic materials into nests of the white stork Ciconia ciconia, based on a long-term study of a population in Western Poland. We recorded at least one item of debris in 50 and 42% of nests at the egg and nestling stages, respectively. More debris was found in nests located in territories with higher number of anthropogenic material in the surrounding environment. We found a relationship between the age of females, the number of debris in the are

SUBMITTER: Jagiello ZA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5973955 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature