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Human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) has altered landscape processes and negatively impacted many species globally. Some of the most dramatic changes have been in wetlands where flows have been disrupted, and new wetlands have been created to retain runoff. In response to disrupted natural wetland conditions, Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) populations in South Florida have significantly declined over the past several decades. Despite the well-documented sensitivity of Wood Storks to natural wetland conditions, Wood Storks are often observed foraging in roadside created wetlands; however, the availability of prey in created wetlands is currently unknown. We sampled natural and created wetlands to determine aquatic fauna available for foraging Wood Storks. To determine prey use, we collected food boluses from Wood Storks in both natural wetland and urban landscapes. Historical studies found nonnative fish were absent in Wood Stork diet prior to the dominance of created wetlands in the landscape; however, we found nonnative fish frequently in both created wetlands and boluses. Furthermore, urban nesting Wood Storks consumed large-bodied prey species that were more characteristic of created wetlands whereas Wood Storks nesting in natural wetlands consumed large-bodied prey more characteristic of natural wetlands. Overall, Wood Storks consumed prey that were more similar to the fish community in created wetlands than those in natural wetlands. These dietary patterns suggest that Wood Storks have behavioral plasticity in both foraging habitat and prey use to cope with HIREC. Conservation efforts for species existing in both natural and urban habitats should consider the importance of novel prey and foraging habitats, as they may assist in sustaining populations in a rapidly changing world.

Protecting habitats for charismatic vertebrates can provide an ‘umbrella’ for less conspicuous organisms, especially when these are threatened by the same processes. However, such a conservation scheme is vulnerable to the extirpation of the focal species. We studied wider biodiversity values in long protected black stork (Ciconia nigra) nest sites, which were abandoned by the bird and thus legally subject to de-listing. In 20 abandoned nest sites in Estonia, we (i) mapped breeding birds within 600 m from the stork nest, and (ii) carried out time-limited surveys of lichens, polypore fungi, vascular plants and bryophytes in 2-ha plots. The breeding bird assemblages (64 species recorded) included 19 red-listed species, and showed no clear aggregation to the immediate surroundings of the stork nest. We recorded 740 plant and fungal species, of which 134 (18%) were of conservation concern (nationally protected, red-listed or extremely rare). Across the 2-ha plots, the numbers of the species of conservation concern varied more than three-fold (maximum 42 species), being affected notably by dead wood accumulation over time and presence of nemoral broad-leaved trees. The results demonstrate that many abandoned nest sites of the black stork have broader biodiversity significance, both due to the bird’s habitat requirements and the natural development during the protection. Expanding the umbrella function to sites abandoned by a focal species, but intact from anthropogenic degradation, can thus be a cost-effective conservation approach due to its low additional administrative burden. In most jurisdictions, the assessment procedure for such situations should be formalized, however.

Supplemental materials for "The STORK dataset: Linked midwifery and delivery records of the mothers and index children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Mumme M, Boyd A, Golding J and Macleod J, 2020"

This paper presents information about the possible expansion of the range of the Far Eastern stork

Objective: This article aims to analyze the Brazilian scientific production related to communication and the Rede Cegonha, see king to raise questions about the communication process in these which is one of the health care networks present in the daily activities of the family health strategy. Methods: Bibliometric literature review research, searched in the Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde - BVS and The Scientific Electronic Library Online - SciELO.org databases, in the months of August and September 2019, using the key words: Rede Cegonha, Assistência Materno-Infantil(as a synonym of the first) and comunicação through the following peer associations: rede cegonha / communication and assistência materno-infantil/comunicação, through the Boolean operator AND the proximity operator quotation marks (“”), using the second consideringth e use of compound descriptors. Results: After excluding all articles that were not relevant to the topic and with all descriptors, 35 articles were found in the virtual library BVS and SciELO.org, however 18 were duplicated, leaving 17 articles. Regarding these arches performed with the descriptors associations, there was also duplicity, and all articles found were also inserted in the search with the descriptor Rede Stork. There was a tendency for publications to increase between 2015 and 2018, mainly in the VHL. Conclusion: The publication about stork net is still incipient, but with in increase in production in the last four years. KEYWORDS: Pregnant Women, Health Care Networks, Stork Network and Maternal Child Care. RESUMO: Objetivo: Esse artigo tem como objetivo analisar a produção científica brasileira relacionada à comunicação na Rede Cegonha, buscando levantar questionamentos sobre o processo de comunicação nessas que é uma das redes de atenção à saúde presente no cotidiano da atuação da estratégia de saúde da família. Métodos: Pesquisa de revisão de literatura tipo bibliométrica, pesquisada nos bancos de dados Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde – BVS e The Scientific Electronic Library Online – SciELO.org, nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2019, utilizando os descritores: Rede cegonha, Assistência Materno-Infantil (enquanto sinônimo do primeiro) e comunicação através das seguintes associações de pares: rede cegonha/comunicação e assistência materno-infantil/comunicação, por meio do operador booleano AND e o operador de proximidade aspas (“”), utilizando-se o segundo tendo em vista o uso de descritores compostos. Resultados: Após a exclusão de todos os artigos que não estavam pertinentes ao tema e com todos descritores, foram encontrados 35 artigos no total, nas bases de dados BVS e SciELO.org, contudo 18 estavam duplicados, restando 17 artigos. Com relação a busca realizada com as associações dos descritores, houve também duplicidade, sendo que todos os artigos encontrados estavam também inseridos na busca com o descritor Rede Cegonha. Houve uma tendência de aumento das publicações entre os anos de 2015 a 2018, principalmente na BVS. Conclusão: A publicação sobre rede cegonha ainda é incipiente, mas com um aumento na produção nos últimos quatro anos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Gestantes, Rede Cegonha, Assistência Materno Infantil.

Samsun’da Aralık 2019’da, Kızılırmak Deltası’nda, bir kuş gözlemcisi tarafından bir adet ölü kara leylek (Ciconia nigra) bulunmuş ve ekto-parazitolojik incelemesi yapılmak üzere Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Parazitoloji Anabilim Dalı Laboratuvarı’na getirilmiştir. Ektoparazitik muayenede 45 örnek (21 erkek, 18 dişi ve 6 nimf) incelenmiş ve tümü Neophilopterus tricolor (Burmeister, 1838) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae) olarak tanımlanmıştır. Bu tür, kara leylek (C. nigra) bit faunası için Türkiye’de ilk kayıttır., A dead black stork (Ciconia nigra) was found by an a birdwatcher in the Kızılırmak Delta near Samsun, Turkey and brought to the Parasitology Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ondokuz Mayis University for ectoparasitological examination in December 2019. During the examination, 45 specimens of chewing lice (21 males, 18 females and 6 nymphs) were collected. All of the specimens were identified as Neophilopterus tricolor (Burmeister, 1838) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae). Neophilopterus tricolor is reported from the black stork (C. nigra) for the first time in Turkey.

The foraging and feeding behaviours of the Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans) were observed in several paddy fields in Thailand, on food items not previously reported. Foraging and feeding techniques of the storks were similar to those described in the literature, except at one site where a peculiar new foraging behaviour was observed. Here, the storks fed on exotic Golden Apple Snails (Pomacea canaliculata) by using their bills to puncture the shells for extracting the soft snail bodies. The shells of large snails discarded by storks tended to be more damaged than those of small snails, due to the difficulty of extraction. Analyses of stork’s droppings and their regurgitated food showed that the bulk was of plant materials and shelled snails (mainly P. canaliculata and Filopaludina spp.). Adult storks tended to consume the whole soft bodies of the snails, including viscera, and sometimes the entire snails, including with their hard shells and opercula still attached. Although the storks could feed potentially on the entire snail body, the birds were seen to discard the male’s testes and female’s albumen glands of P. canaliculata at these feeding grounds, also evident in their regurgitates. Crushing of snail shells was not evident, but sometimes, pounding the shell and/or swallowing the entire shell and its operculum were supported by observations.

This article examines institutional activism between 2011 and 2018 in two Brazilian government programs, ‘Green Grants’ and the 'Stork Network’. Institutional activism is defined as collective acti...

The Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius), locally known as Hargila (the bone swallower) is an endangered bird with an estimated global population of less than 1200. Habitat loss, poisoning, and poaching have caused large declines in populations of this stork in South Asia, with the Brahmaputra valley in Assam in northeastern India now the last stronghold for the species. The stork nests colonially in privately owned trees within thickly populated villages. Tree owners would cut down trees to prevent rotten food and excreta of this carnivorous bird from falling into their backyards. A change in attitudes of the nest-tree owners towards keeping their trees and towards Greater Adjutants has been the key to stork conservation. A conservation project involving community development, education and outreach, interlinking storks with local traditions and cultures, and capacity building of local communities was initiated in 2007. A rural women's conservation group named the Hargila Army was instituted and strong feelings of pride and ownership for the storks by the villagers have been generated. Cash incentives for nest protection were deliberately avoided, with schemes that indirectly contribute to the livelihoods of nest-tree owners and other villagers introduced instead. The success of the conservation program is shown by the increase in the number of nesting colonies in the village area of Dadara, Pachariya, and Singimari in Kamrup District in Assam from 28 nests in 2007–08 to 208 nests in the 2019–20 breeding season, making this the largest breeding colony of Greater Adjutant Storks in the world.

Information on the distribution of the Vulnerable Lesser Adjutant from Sindhuli District is scarce. Here we report the investigation and observation a total of 12 individuals and two active nests of Lesser Adjutant in five different locations of Dudhauli and Kamalamai Municipality in Sindhuli, Nepal to reduce the information gap between Triyuga watershed, Siraha District and Chitwan. Further systematic studies are recommended to find out the total population of the species.

Introduction The soft tissue envelope around the knee can have an impact on the ease of performing surgery such as total knee replacement (TKR). BMI is often used in planning theatre time but may be a poor indicator of the soft tissue around the knee due to varying distribution of adipose tissue. Radiological images directly show the soft tissue. We therefore aim to develop a method of quantifying the soft tissue envelope around the knee using radiographs. Method Plain weight-bearing radiographs were used to measure the total knee (soft tissue and bony) width at the level of the epicondyles of the knee and the bony epicondylar width of the femur. The ratio of the two widths was defined as the Soft Tissue Radiological Knee (SToRK) Index. The validity of the index as a true measure of soft tissue envelope was assessed using cross sectional areas on axial MRI cuts at the level of the epicondyles. The inter-observer reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient. SToRK Index values were correlated with patients’ BMI, gender and operative time. Results The results show there is a close correlation between the ratio of cross sectional area of MRI axial cuts at the level of epicondyles and the ratio of linear widths measured on plain radiographs, validating the SToRK Index as a measure of soft tissue envelope. There was also good to excellent inter-rater reliability of measurements of these widths. There was a close correlation between BMI and SToRK Index with differences between men and women. Discussion We believe the SToRK Index is a validated method of quantifying soft tissue distribution around the knee and gives surgeons a better descriptor of the knee envelope than BMI. It is easy to use, needs simple investigations and is reproducible.

The Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer is a large wading bird that occurs extensively throughout sub-Saharan Africa in savanna and wetland habitats. Despite its widespread occurrence in southern Africa, the number of known breeding localities and the numbers of nests are limited. We report on large, dispersed nesting colonies in the greater Gorongosa landscape in central Mozambique. We counted the number of active Marabou nests in Gorongosa National Park and adjoining areas by conducting annual aerial (helicopter) surveys between 2016 and 2019. The Muaredzi colony within Gorongosa National Park has been expanding annually from 82 active nests in 2016 up to 258 nests in 2019. Similarly, the Mussicadzi colony has increased from five nests in 2016 to 81 nests in 2019. A total of 373 active nests were recorded in 2019 in Gorongosa National Park. Since 2017, a small number of additional nests were also observed in the Coutada 11 and Coutada 12 hunting areas, adjacent to Gorongosa. The total count for the greater Gorongosa landscape was 380 active nests in 2019. This represents the first formal record of what appears to be the single largest breeding assembly of Marabou Storks south of the Zambezi and Cunene Rivers. The observation of a significant number of active Marabou nests in the greater Gorongosa landscape has important conservation implications. French Title: Le Marabout d’Afrique Leptoptilos crumenifer se reproduisent dans le grand paysage de Gorongosa, Mozambique Le Marabout d’Afrique Leptoptilos crumenifer est un grand echassier qui se trouve partout en Afrique subsaharienne dans des habitats de savane et de zones humides. Malgre sa presence etendue en Afrique australe, le nombre de localites de reproduction connues et le nombre de nids sont limites. Nous faisons etat de grandes colonies de nidification dispersees dans le grand paysage de Gorongosa, au centre du Mozambique. Nous avons recense le nombre de nids de Marabouts actifs dans le parc national de Gorongosa et les zones adjacentes en effectuant des releves aeriens annuels (par helicoptere) entre 2016 et 2019. La colonie de Muaredzi dans le parc national de Gorongosa s’est developpee chaque annee, passant de 82 nids actifs en 2016 a 258 nids en 2019. De meme, la colonie de Mussicadzi est passee de 5 nids en 2016 a 81 nids en 2019. Un total de 373 nids actifs a ete enregistre en 2019 dans le parc national de Gorongosa. Depuis 2017, un petit nombre de nids supplementaires a egalement ete observe dans les zones de chasse Coutada 11 et Coutada 12, adjacentes a Gorongosa. Le nombre total de nids actifs dans le grand paysage de Gorongosa etait de 380 en 2019. Il s›agit du premier enregistrement officiel de ce qui semble etre le plus grand rassemblement de Cigognes Marabouts nicheuses au sud des rivieres Zambeze et Cunene. L›observation d›un nombre important de nids de Marabouts actifs dans le grand paysage de Gorongosa a des implications importantes pour la conservation de la nature. Keywords: breeding colony, conservation importance. scavenger, Southern Africa

Wetlands are an important habitat for all kinds of dependent water birds. They are vital habitats for resident as well as migratory birds for foraging, roosting and breeding activities. Kopra wetland is an important and suitable bird habitat for both resident and migratory birds in Chhattisgarh. This wetland fulfills the need of water for the surrounding agricultural land and it also acts as a site for food as well as a roosting ground to many resident and migratory bird species. Every year a huge number of birds including Waterfowl, waders and Terrestrial Birds migrate to this wetland between the months of October to March. A study was carried out to estimate the avifaunal diversity during three consecutive winter seasons from 2016 to 2018 and estimated 133 avifauna species belonging to 18 orders and 47 families. Out of 133 avifauna 80 resident and 53 migratory species were recorded, including four Near Threatened species which are Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) and one Vulnerable (VU) Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) and one Endangered (EN) Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus).

By 1971, the breeding populations of the oriental stork Ciconia boyciana in Japan had become extinct in wild. After long-term conservation efforts and breeding projects, Oriental Storks have been continuously reintroduced to the Toyooka Basin, their final habitat, since 2005. The restoration of shallow wetlands in river areas and paddy fields is urgently needed in the Toyooka Basin, because these areas represent the major foraging habitats for reintroduced Oriental Storks. However, limited information is available on their feeding habits prior to extinction in the wild and, thus, it is difficult to plan specific restoration targets for these foraging habitats. In the present study, we used stable isotopic analysis to compare the nutritional status of the reintroduced populations with that of the extinct populations using preserved (stuffed) specimens. The δ15N values in the extinct populations were higher than those of the reintroduced populations. The diet proportions of the extinct populations were calculated to be equally comprised of five prey items (brackish water fish, freshwater fish, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans), while the contribution of insects was remarkably higher than that of the other prey items in the reintroduced populations. We suggest that these stable isotopic trends and diet proportions reflect a decline in the trophic level of the reintroduced populations owing to the reduced prevalence of high-nutrient prey animals caused by the loss of healthy wetlands after the 1960s in the Toyooka Basin. To increase the abundance and diversity of natural prey species available to the reintroduced Oriental Storks in the Toyooka Basin, more eco-friendly paddy fields and restored wetlands are required in the current paddy and river areas, which would secure the continuity of these wetlands from sea areas to paddy areas using fishways. However, the sampling size of the extinct populations was limited and information about historical baseline changes in prey items was insufficient. Therefore, new approaches using reintroduced populations are required to plan future reintroduction projects for Oriental Storks.

An observation on avian species composition, density, and diversity was carried out at three selected water bodies of Khanapur Taluka, Belagavi District, for a period of 11 months in 2014. During the study, a total of 28 species belonging to 12 families from five orders were recorded. Of these, Ciconiiformes was represented by seven families followed by Coraciiformes by two families while Anseriformes, Charadriiformes and Gruiformes were represented by one family each. Among the three water bodies studied, maximum species composition (26 species) was recorded from Nandgad pond which also hosts Lesser Adjutant Stork and Wooly-necked Stork categorized as ‘Vulnerable’ and Painted Stork, River Tern and Oriental White Ibis as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN Red List. Bidi Minor Irrigation Tank stands second with 17 species while the minimum was recorded at Hebbal Minor Irrigation Tank with 11 species. Based on our observation, a smaller habitat with habitat heterogeneity can attract more assemblages of avifauna and also result in increased species richness and diversity.

The Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis exemplifies a case in conservation research in which a species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and the resulting consideratio...

The Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus is a stork found throughout Asia whose international conservation status is currently being considered for reclassification from vulnerable to near-threatened. However, much of what is known about this species is fragmented across observational reports and small studies making a comprehensive assessment of population trends difficult. Here, we bring together all available published information to see what is known and what research questions still need answering in order to make reliable assessments of regional population trends and identify probable drivers of decline. Despite the species likely being extinct in the extremes of its former range and evidence of dramatic declines in Southeast Asia, Asian Woollyneck appears to be stable or increasing in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Observations of its preferred foraging and nesting habitats in South versus Southeast Asia show some obvious differences that may explain regional variations in population trends. In South Asia the bird is common in open grasslands and agricultural areas, while in Southeast Asia it is mostly observed in forested areas. Also, reports of the Asian Woollyneck nesting on cell phone towers is increasing in South Asia. However, because of a severe lack of reporting from Southeast Asia, it is unclear if or how these regional differences in population trends and habitat use are linked. Structured surveys and studies into the Asian Woollyneck foraging, nesting and movement ecology are urgently needed to understand the extent and drivers of decline in Southeast Asia. Therefore, researchers should focus future studies on population trends across the species' range, and aim to identify the local factors influencing recent changes in population growth. Without such knowledge, reassessment of its conservation status may be premature.

The Stork Network ensures quality, humanized care for pregnant women and newborns. Besides, it promotes the integration of actions and the connection between health services based on completeness, access, welcoming, resolution, and the production of networked care; Goals: to analyse the perception of Primary Health Care professionals and pregnant women about the actions of the Stork Network. Methods: interviews and focus groups with thematic data analysis. Results: In the perception of pregnant women, care is centered on the doctor. Professionals have difficulties in understanding networked care. Conclusions: for the implementation of a care networking to occur, managers must build strategies based on the needs of each municipality

SummaryAvian nest site selection is crucial to breeding birds especially for large endangered waterbirds. We investigated the population dynamics, nests and breeding habitat selection, offspring numbers and reproductive success rate of Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana from February to June 2017 in Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve (YRD NNR), Shandong, China. We measured the characteristic variables of 32 control plots by random selection and 62 nest plots, including 40 nests on power poles, 14 nests on artificial poles and eight nests on pylon poles. We used conditional logistic regression and model-averaging to quantify data and model characteristic variables affecting nest site selection. Our results showed that human disturbance was the main negative factor affecting Oriental Stork’s selection of power pole nests. Meanwhile, distance from highways was the most important variable for the selection of artificial nests. Distance from sightseeing sites was the main explanatory variable that contributed to the selection of pylon nests. Based on our findings, we recommend promoting conservation of this species by reducing human disturbance, such as forbidding use of car horns in nest site areas and providing enough suitable nest sites.

The article deals with the changes in the legislation of Ukraine during 2016–2018, which have become the impetus for a new stage of development of legal regulation and practice of creation of protected areas around the breeding ground of wild birds, in particular, with the changes to the Sanitary Rules in forests of Ukraine, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 27 July 1995 no. 555 (in the wording of the Decree no. 756 of 26 October 2016), according to which since 11 november 2016, it is prohibited in Ukraine to implement measures to improve the sanitary state of forests (i.e. selective and continuous forest sanitation, elimination of clogging; prevention of the occurrence and spread of pests and diseases of the forest, combatting them, etc.) around the breeding ground of birds of prey from the Red Book of Ukraine (radius of 500 m), black stork (radius of 1,000 m), the lekking ground of gullers, black grouses (radius of 300 m). The decree of the Ministry of ecology and natural Resources of Ukraine no. 557 “On additional Measures for the Conservation of Rare and endangered Species of animals and Plants” of 29 December 2016, Decree of State agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine no. 17 “On additional Measures for the Protection of Wild animals and Plants Recorded in the Red Book of Ukraine” dated 20 January 2017, and separate local acts (of local councils, national natural parks, forestry enterprises, etc.) are also studied. The conclusions of the study on the peculiarities of the national legal regulation and the practice of creating such preservation zones, their legal regimes and recommendations for the improvement of legislation in this area are presented.

At the end of 2016, the concept of protection zones around nests of rare species of birds was introduced into Ukrainian legislation. This applies to the Black Stork Ciconia nigra (L.), a species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009). For all species except Storks the radius of a protection zone is equal to European standards, but for this particular species, it was increased to the radius of 1000 m around the nest throughout the whole year. In 2006-2018 studies of the number and distribution, biotope preferences and nesting biology of the species on the territory of the Ukrainian Polissya (Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kiev, Chernihiv and Sumy regions) were conducted. On the Western Polissya (Volyn and Rivne area) permanent monitoring of the nesting biology of Black Stork was done. The studies have shown that the radius of 1000 m around the nest is excessive and inappropriate. The first drawback of such an approach is the lack of seasonality when creating a protection zone. The second one is such a large radius. The aim of this paper is to provide arguments supporting an optimal size of protection zones around Black Stork nests. It was proven that 54 % of nests are located not farther than 200 m from the edge of the forest. The importance of the 500-meter forest area around the nest is also confirmed by Belarusian scientists. According to their data, in 83.3 % of cases, the perching place of Black Storks is located within this distance and is needed for birds to estimate the safety of approaching a nest. It is recommended to consider seasonality and to create protection zones of two types – zones of strict protection (with a radius of at least 100 m around the nest) and zones of seasonal protection (radius of not less than 500 m). Within zones of strict protection, any human activity and even presence of people should be forbidden throughout the year. In areas of seasonal protection, the same should be implied only in a period between March 15 and July 30. On forest roads and clearings that pass through the area of strict protection, we recommend the installation of special signs. The study was financially supported by the "CICONIA" fund (Lichtenstein) within the scope of the project "Ciconia-Ukraina" that was realized by West-Ukrainian Ornithological Society and State Museum of Natural History of NAS of Ukraine.

Endangerment and extinction of threatened populations can often be accelerated by genomic contamination through infiltration with alien alleles. With a growing anthropogenic footprint, many such hybridization events are human-mediated. The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is one such species whose genomic composition is threatened by human-mediated hybridization with its sister taxon, the Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala). A comprehensive investigation of the stork population in Singapore using three complementary population-genomic approaches revealed a large proportion of hybrids that have undergone several generations of genomic leakage from Painted Storks and fall along a genetic cline that closely mirrors a phenotypic cline from pure Milky to pure Painted. Although originating from a limited number of introduced Painted Storks, these hybrids are now an integral part of both the wild and captive Singaporean and southern peninsular Malaysian stork population. Genetically informed conservation management including the isolation of hybrids in captivity and a strict removal of hybrids from the wild along with a release of genetically pure Milky Storks is imperative for continued survival. Similar approaches must become routine in endangered species conservation as human-mediated hybridization increases in volume.

The Normal Delivery Center (CPN) of São Sebastião / DF, also named the House of Delivery in São Sebastião, is a unit of the Unified Health System (SUS) that provides care to low-risk pregnant women in the Eastern Health Region of the Federal District who want a humanized birth in the public health network. Created in 2001, with the objective of attending and conducting normal delivery, it is composed of 4 PPP rooms (pre-delivery, delivery and postpartum) and aims to meet the entire gestation demand by giving birth to the proposed line of care by the Stork Network. In 2011, the Ministry of Health (MS) created this care network as a public policy strategy that systematizes and institutionalizes a model of care for childbirth and birth. However, the lack of support infrastructure makes the actions proposed by the network unfeasible. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate and implement viable solutions. Based on the post-occupation evaluation (APO) of the House of Delivery in São Sebastião, the existing project from the architectural point of view, considering the physical space and its environmental comfort (thermal, light and sound), the users' perception, companions and employees) through the application of a questionnaire and compliance with current legislation. In view of the information obtained, the intention is to identify the main aspects that need improvement, aiming at a sustainable architecture, that qualifies the environment., O Centro de Parto Normal (CPN) de São Sebastião/DF, também nominado Casa de Parto de São Sebastião, é uma unidade do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que oferece atendimento às gestantes de baixo risco da Região de Saúde Leste do Distrito Federal que desejam um parto humanizado na rede pública de saúde. Criada em 2001, com o objetivo de assistir e conduzir o parto normal, é composta por 4 quartos PPP (pré-parto, parto e pós-parto) e tem o intuito de atender toda a demanda da gestação ao parir, seguindo a linha de cuidados propostos pela Rede Cegonha. Em 2011, o Ministério da Saúde (MS) criou essa rede de cuidados como uma estratégia de política pública que sistematiza e institucionaliza um modelo de atenção ao parto e ao nascimento. No entanto, a ausência de infraestrutura de apoio inviabiliza as ações propostas pela rede. Sendo assim, faz-se necessária a avaliação e implementação de soluções viáveis.Com base na avaliação pós-ocupação (APO) da Casa de Parto de São Sebastião, serão avaliados o projeto existente do ponto de vista arquitetônico considerando o espaço físico e seu conforto ambiental (térmico, luminoso e sonoro), a percepção dos usuários (puérperas, acompanhantes e funcionários) por meio de aplicação de questionário e a conformidade com a legislação vigente. Tendo em vista as informações obtidas, a intenção é identificar os principais aspectos que necessitam de melhoria, visando uma arquitetura sustentável, que qualifique o ambiente.

House Stork. The reconstruction of a Mesolitic hut. In the summer of 2017 a group of archaeology students of the University of Groningen built a reconstruction of a Late-Mesolithic hut (6500 – 5200/4400 cal BP) at the archaeological park Swifterkamp. It was based on the plans of huts excavated by Raymond Newell at Bergumermeer. This article explains the background of the project, the building process, and several observations regarding the use of material and the amount of labour invested in it. Lastly, it offers a number of ways in which the project will proceed in the summer of 2018.

Professor Gilbert Stork, the organic chemist and teacher par excellence, passed away on 21 October 2017. His departure marked the end of a hallowed era of classical organic synthesis. His extraordinary scholarship in organic chemistry, originality, and human qualities such as humility, kindness, warmth and concern for students, and humanity in general, sets him a class apart.

The decline of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in the Iberian Peninsula was averted within the last 30 years, partially due to an increase in food availability in landfills. In this study, we compared 2 colonies located at different distances from a landfill in southern Portugal, with the aim of assessing differences in stork diets. We also compared our current results with data from the same colonies before the landfill was built. Additionally, we studied storks' exposure to kleptoparasitism by Black Kites (Milvus migrans) as a potential factor affecting their feeding behavior in landfills. We analyzed 182 pellets collected in 2005 and 2010 in non-landfill colonies and from landfills only in 2010. We carried out >47 h of focal observations of storks feeding at the landfill. Pellet contents are primarily insects (15 families from 5 orders) as well as unidentified and inorganic materials. Our analyses of variance revealed significant local, seasonal, and annual differences in Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, and total number of insects. Our observations at the landfill showed that storks feed on large amounts of organic material, mostly fresh meat and fish, which means that observational data differs from pellet data. Black Kites kleptoparasitize White Storks mainly at the beginning and end of the morning limiting their food intake and increasing the amount of time storks spend at the landfill. We conclude that foraging in landfills has provoked an important shift in the White Stork's diet, partially replacing these birds' natural food items and exposing them to potential new threats such as the ingestion of inorganic material and exposure to kleptoparasitism by kites.

Due to their falling cost, unmanned aerial vehicles, often called drones, are increasingly used as a tool in bird research and conservation. However, behavioural responses of birds to flying drones are still not well understood, for example do birds recognize drones as predators, as benign, or as neutral elements? How do they react to drones? We answered these questions and described the behaviour of birds toward drones during a study with White Stork Ciconia ciconia in north-eastern Poland. We used a small quadrocopter and noted flight initiation distances (FID) of adult storks on nests and behavioural reactions of their young towards drones. During nest inspections by drone, adult White Storks showed FIDs of between 1 and 20 metres, but occasionally did not even flush during drone approaches. FID was mainly affected by breeding stage, but some storks even ignored the working drones close to the nest (14%). Birds that escaped from the nest at the egg stage, returned to it on average within 23 seconds. The most common reactions of young White Storks to the drone were scaring (42%) and akinesis (34%). The rapid return of adult storks to the nest, even when scared away, shows that drones are not an highly invasive tool for examining their breeding outputs, even during the most sensitive period, i.e. egg stage. We believe that drones will soon become an important and common tool in research of the White Stork for determining breeding success and examining nests for hazards, e.g. waste, strings or electrocution risk. Our research can be a useful guide to researchers for predicting stork behaviour during inspection of their nests in the near future.

The Western Himalaya is recognised for its biological diversity and ecological values. An attempt was made to understand the avian diversity distribution in Forest, Agriculture and Water stream habitats of Dehradun (Western Himalaya) Uttarakhand. A total of two hundred and thirty one species belonging to 54 families were encountered during the survey. Out of these, one endangered species (Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus) and three near-threatened species Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticu) and River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) and one vulnerable species Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) were sighted. Three avian species, Mistle Thrush, Sulphur-bellied Warbler and White-rumped Munia. have been recorded as isolates in the study area. The presence of these species indicates the habitats extension in Dehradun District of Uttarakhand. The present study provides significant records in the study site and provides a baseline data for future study with reference to conservation in Dehradun Region.

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 information attention on stock market return. We use Google search volume index to proxy investor information attention in respect to case, death, lockdown and vaccine. We uncover that information attention towards lockdown and vaccine positively affects investor sentiment, reflected through increase in stock market return. By contrast, we do not find significant impact of case information attention on stock market return. However, we uncover that COVID-19 death information attention is negatively associated with stork market return for only initial 90 days trading period. Our results are consistent to a battery of robustness tests. Our study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between investor information attention and asset pricing during economic uncertainty and particularly, during pandemic state.

Over 90% of birds live in monogamous pairs, although most birds are serially monogamous with changing partners every year. Some birds like swans, bald eagles, Atlantic puffins, Adelaide penguins, and some others are genuinely monogamous with partners mating together for life. However, even in such species, monogamy is mostly social, while they are not impervious to an occasional extramarital affair. As birds are socially monogamous, they are also good parents, and often mothers and fathers take good care of the brood.

Migrant water birds such as Black Storks Ciconia nigra have progressively started capitalizing on man-managed ecosystems during migration. Behavioural and ecological studies at stopovers are thus key to deliver comprehensive conservation policies. To be able to improve stopover potential for one of the main Black Stork fall passage sites in central Romania, the Dumbraviţa fishing complex, we analysed the species' foraging behaviour in relation to management of water levels and human activities. Afternoon feeding sessions were recorded weekly during two consecutive autumn migration periods in August–September 2017 and 2018. We used focal and scan sampling methods to quantify behavioural patterns based on 168, 10-minute feeding bouts between 16:00 and 18:00. The selection of foraging areas was contingent upon drainage practices and biased towards vegetated sectors of ponds. The time at which the storks started foraging was strongly correlated with the cessation of the daily fish harvest. Hunting strategies involved grabbing (visual) and water probing (tactolocation), the first prevailing in terms of frequency and time allotment and the latter mainly being used in shallow, muddy areas. Until now, traditional fish farming has unintentionally catered to Black Stork feeding preferences. We put forward several long-term management suggestions to secure the stopover potential for Black Storks at Dumbraviţa.

Background Nesting trees and habitat represent the key factor underpinning stand selection by forest-dwelling birds. While two large European species – the black stork (Ciconia nigra L.) and white-tailed eagle (Haliaaetus albicilla L.) – are known to require old, large trees for nesting, we sought to investigate further by comparing species requirements at the levels of the nesting tree, nesting stand, and landscape. This entailed a detailed examination of forest features within circles of radius 15 m surrounding 16 and 19 trees holding the nests of storks and eagles respectively. The same parameters were also checked in the vicinity of 50 randomly-selected mature trees. Results Our results indicate different nesting preferences, with the eagles entirely confining themselves to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) – a species also chosen by black storks, which nevertheless regularly favour pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Both species select trees of greater girth than the random ones, but white-tailed eagles choose to nest in the vicinity of patches of mature old stands with a loose canopy, to the extent that nesting trees and surrounding trees are of similar ages. In contrast, black storks prefer “veteran” trees with low-set crowns that are much older than any others in their vicinity. Nesting trees of the eagles are away from roads and close to lakes, while black storks do not avoid roads. Conclusions As the ages of nesting trees of both species are greater than ages at final cutting in this region’s managed forest, silvicultural measures will need to be adjusted, with small patches of forest spared, or larger areas as “islands” of old-growth. Likewise, as tending and thinning are engaged in, certain trees with horizontal branches will need to remain, with relict trees also left untouched. As it happens, all of these recommendations are anyway key elements of close-to nature silviculture and multifunctional forestry.

Baldesi, G., L. Pignotti & R.M. Baldini (2020). A new species of Pseudoblepharispermum (Asteraceae, Plucheeae) from NE Somalia. Candollea 75: 183–188. In English, English abstract.A new species of the genus Pseudoblepharispermum Lebrun & Stork (Asteraceae), up to now including Pseudoblepharispermum bremeri Lebrun & Stork and Pseudoblepharispermum mudugense Beentje & D.J.N. Hind, is described from two herbarium specimens housed at FT, collected in 1954 near the Indian Ocean coast of Bari Region, NE Somalia. These specimens formed an unidentified remaining part of a collection given to FT by the Italian geologists G. Merla, A. Azzaroli and V. Fois, who had led a geologic expedition in the former Migiurtinia (current Bari Region) on behalf of an Italian oil company. The new species Pseudoblepharispermum tuddense Baldesi & Pignotti is more similar to Pseudoblepharispermum bremeri from S Ethiopia than to Pseudoblepharispermum mudugense from central Somalia. Close examinations of macro- and micro-characters were carried out for the new species and compared with the features of Pseudoblepharispermum bremeri. Diagnostic characters are listed to support the taxonomic distinction between the new species and Pseudoblepharispermum bremeri.Received: May 9, 2020; Accepted: August 20, 2020; First published online: October 29, 2020

John M. Saul, What the Stork Brought: African Click-Speakers and the Spread of Humanity’s Oldest BeliefsNaivasha (Kenya): Old Africa Books, 2019. Paperback, 109 pp. ISBN: 9789966757524. £11.99.

Piscivorous avian species may be affected by mercury (Hg) which tends to accumulate in aquatic environments and biomagnifies across the food webs. One of such species is the black stork, whose population increase recently slowed down due to unknown reasons. At the same time Hg contamination and its effects were almost unaudited for this species, so it may have exerted deleterious effects on the population and an evaluation is necessary. This is the first study of this species concerning Hg contamination. Thus, Hg concentrations were investigated in the down of black stork chicks (N = 90) from breeding locations in central and southern Poland (Europe) between 2015 and 2017. As well as Hg levels, morphometric parameters and age were evaluated. Mean Hg concentrations reached 0.7 μg/g d.w. and differed significantly between years, from the lowest value noted in 2017 (mean 0.5 μg/g), through 2016 (0.7 μg/g), to the highest one in 2015 (0.9 μg/g), and between nest locations where higher Hg levels were generally found in northern parts of the study area. Hg concentrations were also unrelated to morphometric parameters. Contrarily, morphometric parameters revealed high correlations between themselves, which was confirmed by the cluster analysis (revealing only two clusters) and principal component analysis (the first PC explained 96.8% of the variance). Hg levels in the down of black storks were rather low with the fluctuation between years and nest locations probably caused by parental exposure during wintering, migration, pre-breeding season and recent exposure through food provided by parents. Such low Hg concentrations seemed not to affect the population from the region studied.

This data note describes the linked antenatal and delivery records of the mothers and index children of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort study. These records were extracted from the computerised maternity record system ‘STORK’ used by the two largest NHS trusts in the study catchment area. The STORK database was designed to be populated by midwives and other health professionals during a woman’s pregnancy and shortly after the baby’s birth. These early computer records were initiated in the early 1990s, shortly before the start of enrolment to ALSPAC. At this time the use of electronic medical record systems such as ‘STORK’ was very new, the accuracy of the records has been questioned and little contemporary detailed documentation is available. Small sample spot checks on the accuracy of the information in ‘STORK’ suggests extensive missingness and differences against gold-standard fieldworker abstracted information in some variables; yet high levels of completeness and agreement with gold-standard data in others. Software code was created using STATA (StataCorp LLC) to transform the original CSV (comma-separated values) files into a cohesive and consistent format which was reviewed for data-completeness for its potential use in future research. The cleaned ‘STORK’ records provide health, social and maternity data from the very earliest period of the ALSPAC study in an easily accessible format, which is particularly useful when other sources of data are missing.

There is a strong conservation need to understand traits of species that adapt to urban environments, but results have been equivocal. Wetland birds exhibit a strong phylogenetic signal towards urban tolerance; however, they have largely been ignored in urban studies. In their historic ranges, wetland birds inhabit dynamic systems, traveling long distances to locate food. This ability to exploit dynamic resources may translate to success in urban environments, areas characterized by novel food opportunities. We used the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), a species of conservation concern, to determine if the ability to exploit resources in natural environments translated to exploitation of urban resources. During optimal natural foraging conditions, storks nesting in both urban and natural wetlands had narrow diet breadths and high productivity. However, during suboptimal conditions, urban stork diet expanded to include anthropogenic items, leading to increased productivity. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of how a wetland species persists, and even thrives, in urban environments. We demonstrated that species inhabiting dynamic systems can exploit urban areas resulting in increased reproductive performance during suboptimal conditions. Together, urban environments may support biodiversity in a variety of ways, but species-specific mechanistic understanding will help highlight how to best mitigate potential threats of urbanization.