White Stork – Ciconia ciconia

Distribution
The white stork is a widely distributed species throughout Europe, with larger populations in Central and Eastern Europe. It is a long-distance migratory bird, wintering in Africa, where its wintering grounds stretch from sub-Saharan tropical Africa to South Africa. It can also winter in India. During migration between Europe and Africa, white storks avoid crossing the Mediterranean Sea, instead detouring east via the Bosporus or west via the Strait of Gibraltar, as the air currents they rely on for migration do not form over open water.

Population
The estimated global population of the white stork ranges between 180,000 and 220,000 breeding pairs. Between 1970 and 1990, the species experienced a significant decline. Although there was an upward trend between 1990 and 2000, the population has not yet returned to its pre-decline levels. The largest populations are found in Poland, Ukraine, and Spain. In Romania, the estimated population is 5,000–6,000 pairs. During migration, between 100,000 and 300,000 individuals can be observed in Romania.

Habitat and Biology
The white stork is typically found in wet pastures and marshy areas. Adults have similar appearances and are distinguished from black storks by their white head and neck. Their diet includes frogs, mice, insects, moles, young birds and rabbits, snails, snakes, and lizards. The white stork is one of the species that interacts most closely with humans, alongside the swallow, and is present in most Romanian localities, except mountainous areas. Adapted to human presence, it uses medium-voltage power poles and rooftops as nesting sites. Stork pairs often return to the same nest each year. The male arrives first, defends the nest from other contenders, and repairs or reinforces it while awaiting the female. Unlike the noisy herons, storks are nearly silent but communicate with their partner at the nest through a “bill-clattering” display, performed rhythmically while the head and neck are tilted backward. These sounds, made by rapidly opening and closing the beak, are loud and drum-like. Before migration, storks gather in large numbers in wet meadows or floodplains. During migration, they typically cover an average distance of 220 km per day at speeds ranging from 30 to 90 km/h. They return from their wintering grounds at the beginning of March.

Nests are usually placed on medium-voltage power poles or rooftops and are made of branches bound together with soil. Over the years, nests can reach impressive dimensions due to the addition of material each year (1.5 m in diameter, 1–2 m in height, and weighing 40 kg). The interior is lined with moss and plant debris. Males often bring the materials, while females arrange them in the nest. Sparrows often nest within the outer walls of stork nests, especially in Dobrogea, where Spanish sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis) are common. The female lays 3–4 eggs between early April and mid-May. Eggs have an average size of 73.6 x 52.54 mm. Both parents incubate the eggs, with the female taking over at night. After 33–34 days, the chicks hatch and are fed at the nest by their parents for 53–55 days.

Threats

• Habitat loss and degradation.
• Pollution.
• Reduced food availability.
• Disturbances caused by human activities.

Necessary Conservation Measures

• Prohibiting the destruction of occupied nests.
• Restoring suitable nesting sites and maintaining them.
• Installing artificial platforms on medium-voltage power poles and insulating power grids.
• Ensuring food resources and maintaining habitats near breeding sites.
• Encouraging the use of selective, low-toxicity agrochemicals on nearby lands.
• Inventorying current and potential breeding sites.
• Identifying key migration, feeding, and roosting areas for conservation efforts.
• Promoting research on various aspects of the species’ biology, including demographic parameters.