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Simple Summary: Wild birds fly across countries and continents. They carry pathogens in their blood, and they might also carry infected parasites like ticks or lice. Their flight path spreads diseases over long distances. Some birds may carry pathogens that are not infectious to the birds themselves, only to humans, in which case they are reservoirs for these bacteria. Bacteria are often spread from reservoirs to humans by blood-sucking insects like ticks. These bacteria, especially the spiral-shaped Borrelia spirochetes, are usually not detected via direct blood investigation, like microscopy, because they are low in numbers, so concentration steps are necessary. In this research we investigated bacteria extracted from 36 blood samples collected in a wild bird hospital from wild birds that did not show specific symptoms for a Borrelia infection. Still, at least two thirds of the samples contained Borrelia (e.g., B. anserina, B. burgdorferi sensu lato). All five samples subjected to the specific investigation confirmed the presence of the human-pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi, which proves that not only are ticks carried by wild birds but the blood of birds can also potentially transmit human diseases. Wild birds across the globe can carry the causative agent of avian borreliosis, Borrelia anserina, and that of human Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the ticks attached to them. Currently, only limited proof exists for the presence of these pathogens in samples taken from living wild birds, carried by the birds as a reservoir, without symptoms. We investigated blood samples of large-bodied wild birds admitted to a bird hospital, where basic clinical symptoms were recorded. Thirty-six blood samples were collected from them, according to the DualDur kit methodology, and investigated using dark-field microscopy to search for spirochetes. Five of the samples were also investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy to identify Borrelia burgdorferi. Since the main reason for admittance to the hospital was a physical injury, no significant symptoms were observed regarding a current Borrelia infection. Out of the sixteen birds of prey, eleven (68%) were infected with spirochetes, and fifteen out of twenty storks (75%) were also infected with spirochetes, without major symptoms. All five samples investigated using immunofluorescence were confirmed to contain the human pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Thus, direct investigations of the blood of wild birds may show the asymptomatic prevalence of Borrelia in the wild bird population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White Stork (WS) (Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758)) ranks among the most common breeding birds in many Mediterranean cities, underscoring the importance of studying nest densities, particularly when populations are increasing. In this study, conducted in Rabat (Morocco), we aimed to investigate the effects of coloniality, landscape composition, and space to identify the best predictors of variation in the number of WS nests per nest support using generalized linear mixed models. The results revealed significant interactions between the type of support (trees vs. pylons) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as well as between the support type and the distance to the nearest support occupied by WS and Cattle Egret (CE) (Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758)) nests. A high number of nests are associated with an NDVI increase around pylons, while such an effect is insignificant around trees. In contrast, a high number of WS nests are noted close to supports occupied by both WS and CE nests, whereas in pylons, this number is recorded far away from them. The implementation of a scientific monitoring system is crucial for determining, at a defined time step, the direction and strength of relations between WS and CE populations in Rabat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Düzce University Journal of Forestry / Düzce Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Ormancılık Dergisi is the property of Duzce University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The first published information about the avifauna of the Oești, Cerbureni and Curtea de Argeș Dam Basins, from the upper sector of the Argeș River, are shown in this paper. During 2023, 25 waterbird species were found here, 7 of them, 28% of all, Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus, 1758), C. ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758), Ixobrychus minutus (Linnaeus, 1766), Nyctycorax nyctycorax (Linnaeus, 1758), Ardea purpurea Linnaeus, 1766, A. alba Linnaeus, 1758, Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) and Mycrocarbo pygmaeus Pallas, 1773, being listed in the Annex I of Directive 2009/147/EC. 6 species, 24% of all, Cygnus olor (Gmelin J. F., 1789), Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758, Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758), Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758, Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Larus michahellis Naumann, 1840, were certain breeders in the area, and 2 species, 8% of all, Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) and Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758, probable breeders. While their avifauna is not as diverse as the one of the lower wetlands, the dam basins, though created by economic reasons, prove to be hotspots for the waterbirds, mainly in the period of passage and in winter, and, consequently, they need minimal avifaunistic protection: partially silted areas, covered with characteristic vegetation, not disturbed by people. Additional considerations about the distribution, phenology, dynamics and other factors that influenced the occurrence of the birds in the area were performed in the paper, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover is one of the spatial factors influencing the ecological niche of animal populations. Some types of land cover predetermine a particular site as a habitat for certain species. One of the flagship species of agrocenosis is the white stork (Ciconia ciconia (L.)). This study focuses on the occupancy of 122 nests in the vicinity of Kampinos National Park in Poland. This area is a mixture of traditional agricultural settlements, forests, the Vistula valley, and the suburbs of Warsaw, Poland. This mix allows for the identification of land cover disturbances that affect the white stork’s nest occupancy. The current state of development and the efficiency of remote sensing-based land cover databases allows us to easily identify spatial factors affecting nest occupancy and to analyse them in a longer timeframe. The study analyses land cover in buffers of 1 to 5 km around white stork nests based on CORINE Land Cover (CLC) for the years 2006, 2012, and 2018. Although the white stork’s habitat is well studied, the CLC-based results provide significant new insights. The results show that nest occupancy increases with an increasing proportion of agricultural land, especially with significant natural vegetation, while the proportion of wetlands and water is not significant. This work provides a description of the ideal habitat for the white stork in terms of nest occupancy.

This paper introduces and comments on the animals and plants listed in a manuscript dated 1599 (the 'Berry-Pomeroy Manuscript'), the 'Synopsis chorographical of Devonshire' by John Hooker of Exeter (1527–1601). Two hundred and seventy eight animals and plants were named, which is an unprecedented number for a local natural history text from sixteenth-century Britain. The animals mentioned include some of considerable interest like the wolf, bear, roe deer and red deer, polecat, black rat, white stork, Cornish chough and numerous freshwater fishes. Several cultivated varieties of domesticated fruit trees, in particular apples and pears, and other local specialities that are no longer known were also in Hooker's list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study is to examine harmonic and generalized magnetic vector fields as mappings from an anti-paraKählerian manifold to its associated tangent bundle, endowed with a ciconia metric. Initially, the conditions under which a vector field is harmonic (or magnetic) concerning a ciconia metric are investigated. Subsequently, the mappings between any given Riemannian manifold and the tangent bundle of an anti-paraKählerian manifold are explored. The paper delves into identifying the circumstances under which vector fields exhibit harmonicity or magnetism within the framework of a ciconia metric. Additionally, it explores the relationships between specific harmonic and magnetic vector fields, particularly emphasizing their behaviour under conformal transformations of metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "UK Project Management Round Up" by Dr. Miles Shepherd provides a comprehensive overview of recent project management developments in the UK. It covers a range of topics including updates on projects like HS2, nuclear energy, and offshore wind developments. The article also delves into the challenges faced by project managers in addressing unethical behavior and jurisdictional disputes within the profession. Additionally, it highlights initiatives such as rewilding projects and the reintroduction of White Storks in the UK. The article concludes with a look ahead at upcoming events and trends in project management. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Zoonoses are a growing threat to human health. Therefore, their surveillance is especially important in densely populated areas such as cities. Modern cities are, in fact, urban agglomerations where the population lives in urban centers and surrounding towns interspersed with agricultural land, forest patches and parks, where it is common to come into contact with several animal species, some of which may act as vectors of zoonoses. In this work, we evaluated, using molecular techniques, the zoonotic parasites carried by urban birds (White Stork, Lesser Black-backed Gull and two species of exotic parakeets), with the aim of better understanding the zoonotic risk that their faeces may pose. We detected a total of 23 genera of eukaryotic parasites, including six that are potentially harmful to human health: three fungi, one protist, and two nematodes. Our results show that the faeces of these four bird species could pose a risk to human health associated with the zoonotic parasites present in them. This should be taken into account when developing management plans for urban populations of these bird species. Synanthropic birds might play an important role as reservoirs of many zoonotic endoparasites; however, little information is available on many parasites and their prevalence. Here, we use an approach based on targeted metagenomic detection through the use of DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples to screen for circulating parasites in alien parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus and Psittacula krameri) and urban landfill-feeding storks (Ciconia ciconia) and gulls (Larus fuscus). We focus especially on potentially zoonotic parasites, with the aim of better understanding the zoonotic risk that these birds' faeces may pose. We detected a total of 23 genera of eukaryotic parasites: six fungi, three protists, five nematodes, two cestodes and seven trematodes. Among them, six stood out for their relevance to human health: Cryptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. (fungi); Cryptosporidium spp. (a protist); and Ascaris spp. and Halicephalobus spp. (nematodes). In parakeets, we detected Cryptococcus spp. and Ascaris spp., the latter being detected in 10–20% of the samples. In the White Stork and the Lesser Black-backed Gull, we found a high prevalence of Aspergillus spp. (in 15% and 50% of the samples, respectively) and Candida spp. (in 63% and 82% of the samples, respectively), and the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in 10% of the samples. We detected Halicephalobus spp. in one gull sample (2%). Our results show that synanthropic birds may act as vectors and reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and their faeces could pose a risk to human health associated with the zoonotic parasites present in them. This should be taken into account when developing management plans for urban populations of these bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences is the property of Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Land cover is one of the spatial factors influencing the ecological niche of animal populations. Some types of land cover predetermine a particular site as a habitat for certain species. One of the flagship species of agrocenosis is the white stork (Ciconia ciconia (L.)). This study focuses on the occupancy of 122 nests in the vicinity of Kampinos National Park in Poland. This area is a mixture of traditional agricultural settlements, forests, the Vistula valley, and the suburbs of Warsaw, Poland. This mix allows for the identification of land cover disturbances that affect the white stork's nest occupancy. The current state of development and the efficiency of remote sensing-based land cover databases allows us to easily identify spatial factors affecting nest occupancy and to analyse them in a longer timeframe. The study analyses land cover in buffers of 1 to 5 km around white stork nests based on CORINE Land Cover (CLC) for the years 2006, 2012, and 2018. Although the white stork's habitat is well studied, the CLC-based results provide significant new insights. The results show that nest occupancy increases with an increasing proportion of agricultural land, especially with significant natural vegetation, while the proportion of wetlands and water is not significant. This work provides a description of the ideal habitat for the white stork in terms of nest occupancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift is the property of Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of ANIAV: Revista de Investigación en Artes Visuales is the property of Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The phenomenon of White storks forgoing migration and wintering in the region is documented since 1909. In Armenia, Ararat valley provides suitable wintering conditions for the species due to various dynamic agricultural landscape changes, especially, development of fisheries and poor waste management, which leads to food availability. To understand the current state of the wintering population of White storks as well as to describe population trends and wintering habitat choices, systematic surveys were conducted in eight chosen locations of Ararat valley. The results show, that the median number of wintering White storks in Armenia during 2020-2024 is -2114 individuals. The wintering population of White stork in 2023-2024 is about 87.36% of the population in 2020 and the main habitat choices are anthropogenic habitats, such as chicken farms, landfills and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accessibility of genomic tools in evolutionary biology has allowed for a thorough exploration of various evolutionary processes associated with adaptation and speciation. However, genomic studies in natural systems present numerous challenges, reflecting the inherent complexities of studying organisms in their native habitats. The utilization of museum specimens for genomics research has received increased attention in recent times, facilitated by advancements in ancient DNA techniques. In this study, we have utilized a museum genomics approach to analyze historic specimens of Woolly-necked storks (Ciconia spp.) and examine their genetic composition and taxonomic status and explore the evolutionary and adaptive trajectories of populations over the years. The Woolly-necked storks are distributed in Asia and Africa with a taxonomic classification that has been a matter of ambiguity. Asian and African Woollynecks were recently recognized as different species based on their morphological differences; however, their genomic validation was lacking. In this study, we have used ∼70-year-old museum samples for whole-genome population-scale sequencing. Our study has revealed that Asian and African Woollynecks are genetically distinct, consistent with the current taxonomic classification based on morphological features. However, we also found a high genetic divergence between the Asian subspecies Ciconia episcopus neglecta and Ciconia episcopus episcopus , suggesting this classification requires a detailed examination to explore processes of ongoing speciation. Because taxonomic classification directly impacts conservation efforts, and there is evidence of declining populations of Asian Woollynecks in Southeast Asia, our results highlight that population-scale studies are urgent to determine the genetic, ecological, and phylogenetic diversity of these birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of avifauna was conducted for a period of four months i.e., January 2018 to April 2018, of some selected lakes of Tumakuru city, Karnataka, India. The aim of present study was to document the diversity and ecological status of avifauna of these selected lakes. During the study period, 47 species of wetland birds belonging to different orders and families were observed and recorded. These three lakes have shown variation in terms of diversity, occurrence, richness and evenness. The highest diversity was recorded from Amanikere lake while as low diversity from Melekote lake. Human disturbance and colonization of non-hydrophytes was observed as a major factor in avifaunal distribution. The present study has shown the occurrence of 47 species, but most of the species were common among three selected lakes which made about 56% as common, 5% as rare, abundant and occasional species with 39%, respectively. Out of 47 bird species, 12 species were carnivorous, 12 insectivorous, 12 piscivorous, 6 omnivorous and 5 herbivorous. Three globally threatened species were recorded, such as White necked stork (Ciconia episcopus), Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephalo) and Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), which are listed in the Vulnerable, near Threatened category and Endangered species, respectively (IUCN, 2015). Hence, the study shows that these lakes are the habitat for globally threatened bird species and that appropriate conservation measures should be taken to save this avifaunal diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white stork Ciconia ciconia is a bird species located at the top of the trophic pyramid in grassland and wetland ecosystems. This charismatic species is susceptible to pesticides and their environmental residues. In 2016, we collected blood samples from 114 white stork chicks across Western and Southern Poland. Chicks were sexed by molecular analysis and aged by development pattern. We studied the relationship between the concentration of pesticides (beta-HCH, heptachlor, aldrin, endrin, 4.4′-DDD, 4.4′-DDE and 4.4′-DDT) and of PCB in the chicks' blood with blood morphology and biochemistry parameters in the blood. The mean (± SD) values of concentrations of above detection level pesticides were: for (1) beta-HCH 4.139 ± 19.205; (2) 4.4′-DDE 9.254 ± 91.491 and additionally (3) PCB 16.135 ± 44.777 ppb. We found negative relationships between beta-HCH and oxidative stress enzyme activity in the blood, between beta-HCH and leukocyte concentration and between 4.4′-DDE and catalase activity. We also found a positive relationship between the concentration of pesticides in blood and the age of chicks. Interestingly, we found a higher concentration of PCB in the blood of male stork chicks than in female stork chicks. We provide more evidence that the presence of pesticides in the environment can be a strong stress factor, shaping the health status of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frogs play crucial roles in ecosystems as both predator and prey within food webs. The decline in their populations is attributed, in part, to modern, intensive rice farming practices. In the Tajima region of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, a subset of farmers has embraced a "white stork friendly farming" (WSFF) method since 2003, which promotes environment-friendly rice production to preserve and restore biodiversity while aiding the reintroduction of the Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) into the ecosystem. Here, we hypothesize that the WSFF method has a positive impact on the conservation of black-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) populations inhabiting paddy fields. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the influence of the WSFF method on the population density of P. nigromaculatus. Using a line transect method, we identified and quantified individual frogs observed on the paddy field levees in June 2016. Subsequently, we analyzed the effects of rice production using the WSFF method and land-use factors on the frogs' population density. Our findings indicate that P. nigromaculatus population density increased with the expansion of paddy-field areas managed under the WSFF method within a 100 m radius of the paddy-field center. These results suggest that rice production following the WSFF method has a positive impact on the conservation of this frog species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filial and sibling cannibalism have never been documented in Black Storks (Ciconia nigra). We gathered information on 34 breeding events in 10 Black Stork nests from Estonia (three nests), Hungary (two nests), Poland (two nests) and Spain (three nests) being monitored with camera surveillance, live streaming webcams or intensive monitoring control of nests. Overall, we recorded 16 cases of filial infanticide and two cases where the nestlings died by natural causes and were later cannibalized by either their siblings or their parents. Four nestlings were killed by their parents without any attempt of cannibalism. In the remaining 12 cases of infanticide (66.7% of the total losses), 8 nestlings were consumed by one of the parents while in 4 cases the parents were not able to swallow the previously killed nestlings. All victimised nestlings were the youngest, weakest or smallest in their brood. Eight of 14 cases were identified as being associated with environmental stress or an exceptional matter during the breeding season. In at least five cases, one of the mates was new to the nest. Females committing filial infanticide swallowed or tried to swallow the chicks in five out of nine episodes where the parent's sex was known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The black stork is a large woodland bird. There has been a steady decline in its numbers in Europe in recent years. The safe development and independence of young individuals in the post-breeding period are crucial for the conservation of this species' population. This research uses GPS loggers to track young storks' use of space from the time of their first flight attempts until they finally leave the nest. During this period, the birds spend most of their time in an area less than 200 m away from the nest. They often rest outside the nest, with three-quarters of their resting places being within 500 m of the nest. Ensuring that the birds have peace and quiet during the nesting season in a zone 500 m from the nest is a good conservation strategy for this rare species. The black stork is a protected species in Poland, and its numbers have declined significantly in recent years. The protection of nesting sites during the period of growth and independence of young birds is crucial for the population. In 2022–2023, 34 young storks were equipped with GPS-GSM backpack loggers. On average, birds had left the nest by the 87th day of life. In the period between the first flight attempt and the final abandonment of the nest, the birds spent 82% of their time in a zone up to 200 m from the nest. During the period of independence, resting areas played an important spatial role, 75% of which were located within 500 m of the nest. As the young birds grew older, their area of activity gradually increased. Differences in nesting phenology were observed depending on the geographical location of the nest. A shorter migration route from the wintering grounds allowed for earlier breeding. As a result, the young birds begin to fledge earlier. The data collected confirm the validity of designating protective zones with 500 m radii around nests and the need to maintain them from the beginning of the breeding season in March until the end of August. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reintroducing locally extinct/extirpated species has been considered as an approach for restoring ecosystems. Although such projects share the same goals of rebuilding previously affected ecosystems, the overall impacts that such reintroductions generate on both ecosystems and human society, i.e., on the social-ecological system, are difficult to measure. We propose a system dynamics approach, a platform on which both natural and social scientists could collaborate to identify the social-ecological impacts of species reintroduction as well as factors that affect such decision making. We use cases in Japan to demonstrate the potential applicability of system dynamics in terms of (1) understanding the impacts of a previously reintroduced species, the Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana), and (2) predicting the impacts of reintroduction of wolves (Canis lupus). We present a causal loop diagram of the social and ecological effects of Oriental Stork reintroduction, and we discuss how the relationships between factors could be articulated based on empirical data and ongoing projects in Japan. The model demonstrates how local residents began to appreciate the rich biodiversity, including the Oriental Stork, following its reintroduction, and how public support toward such reintroduction enhanced further projects to reintroduce these species in different parts of Japan. A similar diagram, created to illustrate the social and ecological effects of the potential reintroduction of wolves to Japan, demonstrates how social factors such as environmental education and public attitudes could affect decision making as well as ecological factors such as predator-prey dynamics and overall biodiversity. Further, humanwolf conflicts could negatively affect the overall loop. Creating causal loop diagrams can help managers and stakeholders understand that species reintroduction projects need to be considered via an interdisciplinary approach. The models illustrate that these problems are dynamic and that the factors affecting or affected by such projects change over time, implying the importance of both the spatial and temporal scales in managing reintroduction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White storks (Ciconia ciconia), an emblematic bird of high conservation interest, build massive nests which are also important breeding sites for other birds. However, their role as a potential source of food for foraging birds and bats is unexplored. In this study, we counted insectivorous aerially foraging birds (swallows, martins, and swifts), sparrows, and bats foraging around 51 pairs of white storks' nest and control sites in Poland. The number of birds was significantly higher near active white stork nests than control sites, but this effect was invisible for bats. White storks provide important benefits to the conservation of co-occurring species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some molecular epidemiological surveys on avian haemosporidian protozoa have been conducted in Turkey, it is of great importance to increase the number of studies on the subject in this country, which has important bird migration routes between Europe and Africa. Hatay province, which is the intersection point of many bird migration routes in the intercontinental crossing, is a very suitable geographical location for the investigation of avian haemosporidian protozoa in a wide variety of bird species that use it as a route. Therefore, this study was planned to survey Haemoproteus spp., Plasmodium spp., and Leucocytozoon spp. in migratory birds sampled from this province. The animal material of the study consisted of Ciconia ciconia (Ciconiformes, n:45), Ichthyaetus melanocephalus (Charadriiformes, n:2), Pelecanus onocrotalus (Pelecaniformes, n:5) and Pelecanus crispus (Pelecaniformes, n:1). Microscopic examinations revealed Haemoproteus spp. gametocytes (5.66%) in one white stork and two Mediterranean gulls. On the other hand, nested PCR assay targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene revealed the presence of Plasmodium/Haemoproteus spp. in 11.3% (6/53) of migratory birds. Leucocytozoon spp. was not detected by either microscopy or PCR. PCRpositive products were sequenced bi-directionally, and the GenBank and MalAvi databases were used for phylogenetic analysis and lineage identification of the isolates. This study revealed H-MYCAME08 lineage (OR227579, OR227580, OR227581, OR227582) in Ciconia ciconia and H-LARCRA01 [H. (Parahaemoproteus) larae] lineage (OR227577, OR227578) in Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, respectively. There are no studies investigating the haemosporidian parasites of these birds in Turkey, and studies on haemosporidian parasites of these species in different countries are also limited. Although the Haemoproteus MYCAME08 Cytb lineage has been demonstrated in ciconiform birds (Ciconidae) and the LARCRA01 lineage in charadriiform birds (Laridae), this study is unique in terms of reporting these lineages in different species in the same families. Inspired by this, we envisage that the expanding host range of Cytb lineages of haemosporidian protozoa is an indication that there is still a long way to go with avian haemosporidian protozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the native population of Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) in Japan disappeared, a reintroduction project was implemented in 2005. All released storks and most wild-fledged storks were individually identified using colored rings on their legs. The size of the reintroduced population reached 256 by the end of 2021. In this study, we investigated the causes of stork injury and death in wild populations to clarify important medical issues for successful reintroduction. During the survey, 153 of 412 (78 released and 334 fledged storks) storks were injured or died between 2005 and 2021. At least 49.7% of the injuries and deaths were directly caused by human activities. Entanglement with pest control measures (such as bird- and beast-proofing nets) and accident with electrical and telecommunication equipment are two major causes of injury and death of reintroduced Oriental storks in Japan. It is important to recognize that these anthropogenic threats have a significant impact on the establishment and maintenance of the reintroduced populations of Oriental storks in Japan. Therefore, it is necessary to implement countermeasures against these threats to establish human and Oriental storks coexistence, which is a major goal of reintroduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many Mediterranean cities, man-made structures are an integral part of the landscape mosaic, hence the importance of studying their use by wildlife. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regard to the White stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Rabat City (Morocco) using data on a series of variables, including clustering, landscape composition, and space, to (i) identify the best predictors that cause variation in the probability of artificial supports use by means of generalized linear mixed models and (ii) assess their importance via variation partitioning. The results revealed a significant interaction between clustering and landscape composition in explaining this probability. As the clustering strength decreases, artificial supports in green villa zones are the most likely to be occupied, in contrast to those close to agricultural areas or wetlands. The decrease of occupied supports clustering at the scale of the landscape is compensated, at the artificial supports scale, by occupying already occupied ones. Partitioning analyses revealed that the joint effect of occupied supports clustering, landscape composition, and space was the most significant in explaining the PAS by WS (Adj. R2 = 0.29). Separately, each set of variables contributes significantly to the occupation of the artificial support, except the landscape composition. Special attention should be paid to (i) identifying factors influencing WS nest density per nesting support and (ii) studying the effect of urban nest-support choices on the reproductive success of WS selection. This would help conservation and manage of the Rabat WS population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study applied a non-invasive method to analyse anthropogenic particles and prey items in white stork (Ciconia ciconia) pellets. Pellets (n = 20) were obtained from white stork nests during the 2020 breeding season from two sites in Croatia. In total, 7869 anthropogenic particles were isolated. The majority of particles were fragments, while previous studies on other birds often reported fibres. An ATR–FTIR polymer analysis detected glass and construction and building materials, as well as several compounds associated with plastic masses. Polymer investigation revealed the presence of dotriacontane and octacosane, which are by-products of polyethylene (PE) degradation and transformation. Additionally, the detection of vinylidene chloride (VDC) highlights the historical contribution of polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) to plastic pollution. Significant variation in particle quantity and size between the sampling sites was detected, with larger particles found at sites associated with the metal mechanical engineering industry and agriculture. Prey assessment revealed chitin remains of large insects such as Orthoptera and Coleoptera. This research confirms the potential of pellet analysis as a valuable tool for assessing the presence of anthropogenic particles in the environment. However, further research is needed to fully understand the extent of particle ingestion, particle sources and potential impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 100 years, the range of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758) in Kazakhstan has greatly diminished; it has entirely disappeared in its former eastern and northern ranges, while the number of nesting sites has decreased in the remaining part of its habitat. The most recent specialized studies on the distribution of the White Stork here were conducted in the 1980s. Subsequently, ornithologists were only aware of isolated nests, and in the last 15 years, up until recently, in Kazakhstan, there was only one known active nest in the Zhambyl region. To clarify the current distribution of the White Stork in Kazakhstan, we conducted field research during the breeding season in places of its former distribution in the Zhambyl and Turkestan Regions. Nest surveys were conducted by visual observations using binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens. During the expedition, 43 inhabited nests of the White Stork were found; information about another 4 nests was obtained from data survey and social networks. Analysis of satellite images allowed us to identify 12 nests located on power line pylons in the southern regions of the republic, specifically in the Keles, Zhetisay, and Maktaaral districts. In total, 59 White Stork nests were found in Kazakhstan. In addition, satellite images revealed more than 120 power line pylons with White Stork nests in the territory of Uzbekistan in close proximity to the Kazakhstan border. All literary and electronic sources available to the authors have been meticulously reviewed. By synthesizing these data, two maps were created: one delineating all recorded White Stork nesting sites across Kazakhstan and its neighboring territories, and the other illustrating the known contemporary and historical ranges of the White Stork in Kazakhstan. A cadastral survey accompanies new nest discoveries of the White Stork. Based on the newly acquired data, we conclude that the White Stork population in Kazakhstan is currently on the rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How animals refine migratory behavior over their lifetime (i.e., the ontogeny of migration) is an enduring question with important implications for predicting the adaptive capacity of migrants in a changing world. Yet, our inability to monitor the movements of individuals from early life onward has limited our understanding of the ontogeny of migration. The exploration-refinement hypothesis posits that learning shapes the ontogeny of migration in long-lived species, resulting in greater exploratory behavior early in life followed by more rapid and direct movement during later life. We test the exploration-refinement hypothesis by examining how white storks (Ciconia ciconia) balance energy, time, and information as they develop and refine migratory behavior during the first years of life. Here, we show that young birds reduce energy expenditure during flight while also increasing information gain by exploring new places during migration. As the birds age and gain more experience, older individuals stop exploring new places and instead move more quickly and directly, resulting in greater energy expenditure during migratory flight. During spring migration, individuals innovated novel shortcuts during the transition from early life into adulthood, suggesting a reliance on spatial memory acquired through learning. These incremental refinements in migratory behavior provide support for the importance of individual learning within a lifetime in the ontogeny of long-distance migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine chewing lice species of the wild birds, which were brought to the Veterinary Health, Practice and Research Center and Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, between May 2018-August 2022. For this purpose, 75 wild birds injured or sick, which needed medical treatment when they arrived at the hospital, were examined for chewing lice. A total of 356 lice specimens were collected, representing 148 males, 157 females and 51 nymphs. The majority of the bird lice collected (317 out of 356) belonged to Amlyceran suborder, while a small number of them (39 out of 356) were obtained in the Ischnoceran suborder. Piagetiella titan (47.8%) detected in Pelecanus onocrotalus was the most common louse species. This was followed by Laemobothrion maximum (16.0%) detected in Clanga pomarina, Buteo rufinus, Circaetus gallicus. Ciconiphilus quadripustulatus (16.0%), Neophilopterus incompletus (10.4%) and Colpocephalum zebra (7.3%) species were detected in Ciconia ciconia. Other species (Colpocephalum ecaudati, Colpocephalum nanum, Pectinopygus forficulatus) were in small numbers (2.5%). Colpocephalum ecaudati found on black kite (Milvus migrans) was reported for the first time in Türkiye. The results of this study contributed to the lice fauna obtained from wild birds in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A new feather mite species, Mycterialges boycianae sp. nov. (Xolalgidae), was identified from the Oriental Stork, Ciconia boyciana Swinhoe, 1873, in Korea. Males of M. boycianae sp. nov. are distinguished from Mycterialges mesomorphus Gaud & Atyeo, 1981, in having a single triangular prodorsal shield, sinuous margins of the opisthosoma located between setae e2 and h2 on the hysteronotal shield, an oval-shaped epiandrum without posterior extensions, a shorter tibia + tarsus IV than femoragenu IV, and an absent ambulacral disc of leg IV. Females differ in having a prodorsal shield with a posterior margin that is blunt-angular, and a concave posterior margin of the hysteronotal shield with posterior extensions. This study presents the first record of the feather mite genus Mycterialges in birds of the genus Ciconia (Ciconiidae). Additionally, we determined the phylogenetic relationship among Ingrassiinae using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit (COI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of multiple avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes into Nigeria has resulted in several poultry outbreaks purportedly linked to trade and wild birds. The role of wild birds in perpetuating AIV in Nigeria was, therefore, elucidated. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among wild aquatic bird species at the Hadejia‐Nguru wetlands in Northeastern Nigeria between March and April 2022. A total of 452 swabs (226 cloacae and 226 oropharyngeal) were collected using a mist net to capture the birds. These samples were tested by RT‐qPCR, followed by sequencing. Results: Highly pathogenic AIV of the H5N1 subtype was identified in clinically healthy wild bird species, namely, African jacana, ruff, spur‐winged goose, squared‐tailed nightjar, white‐faced whistling ducks, and white stork. A prevalence of 11.1% (25/226) was recorded. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete HA gene segment indicated the presence of clade 2.3.4.4b. However, these H5N1 viruses characterized from these wild birds cluster separately from the H5N1 viruses characterized in Nigerian poultry since early 2021. Specifically, the viruses form two distinct genetic groups both linked with the Eurasian H5N1 gene pool but likely resulting from two distinct introductions of the virus in the region. Whole‐genome characterization of the viruses reveals the presence of mammalian adaptive marker E627K in two Afro‐tropical resident aquatic ducks. This has zoonotic potential. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the key role of surveillance in wild birds to monitor the diversity of viruses in this area, provide the foundations of epidemiological understanding, and facilitate risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Remote sensing time series (hereafter called time series) and telemetry data are widely used to study animal-environment relationships. However, both data sources are subject to uncertainties that can cause erroneous conclusions. To date, only the uncertainty of telemetry data can be estimated, e.g. through movement modelling, while information on the uncertainty of time series is often lacking. Consequently, it remains challenging to assess if and how the results of animal-environment studies are affected by cumulative uncertainties of telemetry and time series data. Objectives: To address this gap, we proposed an approach to approximate time series uncertainties. Coupled with movement modelling, this allows to determine whether the results of animal-environment studies are robust to the cumulative uncertainties of time series and telemetry data. We demonstrated the procedure with a study that used time series to distinguish periods of favourable/poor prey accessibility for white storks. Our objective was to test whether the storks' preference for fields during periods of favourable prey accessibility could be validated despite the uncertainties. Methods: We estimated the telemetry data uncertainties based on continuous-time movement modelling, and approximated time series uncertainties based on data subsampling. We used Monte Carlo simulations to propagate the uncertainties and to generate several estimates of the stork habitat use and levels of prey accessibility. These data were applied in two habitat selection analyses to derive probability distributions of the analyses results, allowing us to characterise the output uncertainties. Results: We found that, after accounting for uncertainty, favourable and poor prey accessibility periods were well discriminated, with storks showing the expected degree of preference/avoidance for them. However, our uncertainty analysis also showed, that compared to croplands, grasslands required more temporal NDVI samples to reliably identify these periods. Furthermore, the NDVI itself did not appear to be a coherent predictor of stork habitat selection when uncertainties were accounted for. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of validating results by assessing and quantifying the effect of input data uncertainties in animal-environment studies. To our knowledge, the approach presented is the first to assess the cumulative uncertainty of time series and telemetry data, hopefully raising awareness of the consequences of input data uncertainties for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report describes a case of chaunocephalosis due to Chaunocephalus ferox in a white stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Bulgaria. On July 2017, a malnourished and debilitated adult white stork was found in a field near Stara Zagora city. The bird was caught and transported to the Wildlife Rescue Center of Green Balkans organisation, with history of weakness, severe watery diarrhoea, loss of ap-petite, and cachexia. The stork died several hours after admission. The corpse was referred to the Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University where post-mortem examination was performed. The necropsy revealed the presence of multifocal to coalescing mural intestinal nodular circumscribed lesions affecting all portions of the intestinal tract, most prominent and numerous in the jejuno-ileal segment. When sectioned, the nodules contained either single, or 2 to 3 small flattened tadpole-like trematodes which were identified as Ch. ferox. Histologically, a total traumatic destruction with ulceration and necroses of intestinal tissue layers were found at the site of fluke penetration. The trematodes also formed a marked granulomatous in-flammatory reaction with inflammatory cellular infiltrate, consisting mainly of heterophilic and pseudoeosinophilic leukocytes, lymphocytes and histiocytes. In the area of infection, the intestinal villi and mucosa were totally eroded, and the surrounding mucosal crypts were distended by necrotic detritus.

Pollution by anthropogenic litter is a major threat to global ecosystems. Seabirds are frequently used as environmental monitors of litter ingestion, but similar research is rare for terrestrial birds. Here, we focused on pellet analysis from 117 nests of an iconic bird of the Western Palearctic, the white stork (Ciconia ciconia), breeding in southern and southwestern Poland in a farmland landscape, far away from large dumps and landfills. We found that most prey items in the diet of white storks were invertebrates (particularly from orders Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera) but vertebrate prey comprised most of the biomass. Further analysis revealed that anthropogenic litter was found in 22.7% of pellets (34.2% of breeding pairs) with plastic (8.4%) and cigarette filters (6.9%) being most prevalent. This study represents the first assessment through pellet analysis of the ingestion of anthropogenic litter by live wild storks in Poland and also by a migratory population of white storks. Our study indicates a potentially significant transfer of plastic and other anthropogenic material through terrestrial food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic debris accumulated in bird nests creates a unique environment for organisms, including microbes. Built from various plant materials that are typically enriched by animal residues, bird nest favours the development of various fungal groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical properties of the material deposited in the white stork Ciconia ciconia nests and the link between extracellular enzyme activity and the diversity and composition of culturable fungi. Our findings revealed low C/P and N/P ratio values in the nest materials, which indicate a high P availability. Nest material C/N/P ratio ranged from 67/8/1 to 438/33/1. Enzymatic activity strongly correlated with the content of carbon, nitrogen, and pH of the material deposited in the nests. A total of 2726 fungal isolates were obtained from the nests, from which 82 taxa were identified based on morphology and DNA sequence data. The study indicates that white stork nests are microhabitat characterised by diverse chemical and biochemical properties. We found relationship between the fungal richness and diversity and the C/P and N/P ratios of materials from the nests. Our study showed that culturable fungi occurred frequently in materials with high levels of C, N, and P, as well as high concentrations of base alkaline elements (Ca, Mg, and K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme droughts are increasing in frequency and severity globally as a result of climate change. Developing understanding of species' responses to drought is crucial for their conservation, especially in regions experiencing increased aridity. Although numerous studies have investigated birds' responses to drought, the emphasis has primarily been on landbirds. Drought can significantly alter the wetland environments that waterbirds inhabit, but the response of waterbirds to drought remains understudied. In this study, we surveyed the distribution and behavior of Oriental Storks (Ciconia boyciana) in Poyang Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in China. Results indicate that drought-induced catchment areas at the lowest water level limited the total population size of Oriental Storks in the sub-lakes. Sub-lakes with large catchment areas at the lowest water level demonstrated a capacity to support a larger population of wintering Oriental Storks. Over time, Oriental Storks exhibited a gradual concentration in Changhu Lake, characterized by larger catchments, after resource depletion in sub-lakes with smaller catchments. Additionally, the duration of Oriental Storks' vigilance and moving behaviors decreased significantly compared with that observed before the drought. After the drought, Oriental Storks increased their foraging efforts, as evidenced by increased presence in deeper water and reaching their heads and necks into deeper water to forage, higher search rates, but lower foraging rates. In accordance with area-restricted search theory, reductions in habitat quality resulting from drought, including extensive fish dieoffs, forced Oriental Storks to increase their foraging efforts. Sustaining a specific water area in sub-lakes during droughts can preserve resource availability, which is crucial for the conservation of Oriental Storks. Implementing measures such as water level control and micro-modification of lake bottoms in sub-lakes might mitigate the impact of drought on the piscivorous Oriental Storks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities have altered the availability of resources for wildlife. Landfill sites now provide abundant and predictable anthropogenic food subsidies worldwide, sustaining increasing numbers of opportunistic species and shaping their foraging behaviour. However, although individuals may differ in their ability to use these resources, the factors influencing this variability within species are still poorly known. Using GPS data from 68 adult and 67 juvenile white storks, Ciconia ciconia , tracked during their premigratory periods between 2018 and 2020, we investigated whether age determines landfill attendance and the ability to compete for space and food. Additionally, using video recordings of 165 adults and 124 juveniles obtained in the 2020 premigratory period, we investigated whether age influences landfill foraging proficiency and dominance over resources. Adult storks visited landfills on 57% of the days, while juveniles only visited landfills on 29% of the days. There was strong competition for food at landfills, with adults exerting dominance over juveniles, foraging predominantly in areas with higher food availability and outcompeting juveniles in food acquisition. Juveniles had significantly lower food intake rates in the best foraging areas and showed less aggressiveness, being forced to use adjacent lower quality areas. Overall, juveniles had limited access to landfill resources, suggesting that landfill diet specialization is mediated by age-related improvements in foraging expertise and increased competitiveness developed during maturation. Thus, landfill use is shaping foraging strategies and species behaviour from an early age, with potential consequences for population dynamics. • In Iberian landfills, competition for food between white storks is high. • Adult storks visit landfills considerably more often than juveniles. • Adults have higher feeding success and are more aggressive towards conspecifics. • Juveniles are outcompeted by adults and displaced to areas with less food. • Skills for foraging in landfills are likely to develop with age and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, during 2017–2018, for the first time in Kosovo, research on the census, distribution and population dynamics of the White Stork was made. 61 new nests were found in the whole country territory and together with 22 known nests, the total population is recorded to 83 nests and 72 breeding pairs. In total, 461 chicks were raised in the successful nests. Breeding success for the country territory during the observation period of all breeding pairs was 3.18, and 3.19 of all breeding pairs that raised chicks. The mean breeding density for the entire country was 0.67 breeding pairs/100 km2 in 2017 and 0.70 in 2018. For the potential feeding habitats, it was 2.19 (2017) and 2.28 (2018). The densest area, the river basin of Lepenci held 2.48 pairs for 100 km2. 48.61% of all recorded White Stork nests were located on various poles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Neocamarosporium halophilum in leaf spots of Atriplex undulata. Australia, Aschersonia merianiae on scale insect (Coccoidea), Curvularia huamulaniae isolated from air, Hevansia mainiae on dead spider, Ophiocordyceps poecilometigena on Poecilometis sp. Bolivia, Lecanora menthoides on sandstone, in open semi-desert montane areas, Sticta monlueckiorum corticolous in a forest, Trichonectria epimegalosporae on apothecia of corticolous Megalospora sulphurata var. sulphurata, Trichonectria puncteliae on the thallus of Punctelia borreri. Brazil, Catenomargarita pseudocercosporicola (incl. Catenomargarita gen. nov.) hyperparasitic on Pseudocercospora fijiensis on leaves of Musa acuminata, Tulasnella restingae on protocorms and roots of Epidendrum fulgens. Bulgaria, Anthracoidea umbrosae on Carex spp. Croatia, Hymenoscyphus radicis from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi erraticum, Orbilia multiserpentina on wood of decorticated branches of Quercus pubescens. France, Calosporella punctatispora on dead corticated twigs of Acer opalus. French West Indies (Martinique), Eutypella lechatii on dead corticated palm stem. Germany, Arrhenia alcalinophila on loamy soil. Iceland, Cistella blauvikensis on dead grass (Poaceae). India, Fulvifomes maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum, Fulvifomes natarajanii on dead wood of Prosopis juliflora, Fulvifomes subazonatus on trunk of Azadirachta indica, Macrolepiota bharadwajii on moist soil near the forest, Narcissea delicata on decaying elephant dung, Paramyrothecium indicum on living leaves of Hibiscus hispidissimus, Trichoglossum syamviswanathii on moist soil near the base of a bamboo plantation. Iran, Vacuiphoma astragalicola from stem canker of Astragalus sarcocolla. Malaysia, Neoeriomycopsis fissistigmae (incl. Neoeriomycopsidaceae fam. nov.) on leaf spots on flower Fissistigma sp. Namibia, Exophiala lichenicola lichenicolous on Acarospora cf. luederitzensis. Netherlands, Entoloma occultatum on soil, Extremus caricis on dead leaves of Carex sp., Inocybe pseudomytiliodora on loamy soil. Norway, Inocybe guldeniae on calcareous soil, Inocybe rupestroides on gravelly soil. Pakistan, Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus on soil. Philippines, Ophiocordyceps philippinensis parasitic on Asilus sp. Poland, Hawksworthiomyces ciconiae isolated from Ciconia ciconia nest, Plectosphaerella vigrensis from leaf spots on Impatiens noli-tangere, Xenoramularia epitaxicola from sooty mould community on Taxus baccata. Portugal, Inocybe dagamae on clay soil. Saudi Arabia, Diaporthe jazanensis on branches of Coffea arabica. South Africa, Alternaria moraeae on dead leaves of Moraea sp., Bonitomyces buffelskloofinus (incl. Bonitomyces gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Constrictochalara koukolii on living leaves of Itea rhamnoides colonised by a Meliola sp., Cylindromonium lichenophilum on Parmelina tiliacea, Gamszarella buffelskloofina (incl. Gamszarella gen. nov.) on dead insect, Isthmosporiella africana (incl. Isthmosporiella gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothoeucasphaeria buffelskloofina (incl. Nothoeucasphaeria gen. nov.), on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothomicrothyrium beaucarneae (incl. Nothomicrothyrium gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta, Paramycosphaerella proteae on living leaves of Protea caffra, Querciphoma foliicola on leaf litter, Rachicladosporium conostomii on dead twigs of Conostomium natalense var. glabrum, Rhamphoriopsis synnematosa on dead twig of unknown tree, Waltergamsia mpumalanga on dead leaves of unknown tree. Spain, Amanita fulvogrisea on limestone soil, in mixed forest, Amanita herculis in open Quercus forest, Vuilleminia beltraniae on Cistus symphytifolius. Sweden, Pachyella pulchella on decaying wood on sand-silt riverbank. Thailand, Deniquelata cassiae on dead stem of Cassia fistula, Stomiopeltis thailandica on dead twigs of Magnolia champaca. Ukraine, Circinaria podoliana on natural limestone outcrops, Neonematogonum carpinicola (incl. Neonematogonum gen. nov.) on dead branches of Carpinus betulus. USA, Exophiala wilsonii water from cooling tower, Hygrophorus aesculeticola on soil in mixed forest, and Neocelosporium aereum from air in a house attic. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An injured young individual of the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca; Accipitridae) from the Protected Bird Area „Medzibodrožie" in the south-eastern Slovakia was subjected to the complete clinical examination at the Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy. Adult trematodes were isolated from the pharynx of the eagle after oesophagoscopy. The morphological and molecular identification of the flukes confirmed a trematode Cathaemasia hians (Cathaemasiidae), the obligate parasite of black storks (Ciconia nigra) and white storks (Ciconia ciconia). This finding represents the first documented case of C. hians in new bird host species and indicates broader spectrum of definitive hosts of the fluke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild animals play an important role as amplifiers and/or reservoir hosts in the ecology of many ticks and tick-borne pathogens affecting livestock and humans. In this study, which was carried out in the Hatay province, the southernmost region of Anatolia, a total of 362 (210°C, 146 °C, 6N) tick specimens were collected from 18 wild animals from 7 species, including white stork (Ciconia ciconia) (n = 1), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (n = 5), badger (Meles meles) (n = 2), jackal (Canis aureus) (n = 3), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (n = 5), hare (Lepus europaeus) (n = 1), and wild goat (Capra aegagrus) (n = 1), which were obtained between 2014 and 2022. The collected ticks were identified according to morphological criteria at the level of species as Amblyomma lepidum, Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis erinacei, Haemaphysalis inermis, Haemaphysalis kopetdaghica, Ixodes gibbosus, Ixodes kaiseri, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus kohlsi, Rhipicephalus rossicus, and Rhipicephalus turanicus. With this study, A. lepidum was reported for the first time in Türkiye, while R. rossicus detected in roe deer was reported for the first time in wild animals, and the lesser-known/rare tick H. kopetdaghica was reported for the second time in wild goats where it was previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape transformation by humans through habitat degradation, agriculture intensification and urbanization results in the loss of natural feeding areas. However, populations of certain species have adapted to these changes and benefit from some anthropogenic food sources as well as an absence of predators and milder environmental conditions in urban landscapes. Although breeding near landfills secures food availability and saves energy and time spent on foraging activities, the poor food quality and risks associated with these facilities imply some fitness costs. Our study shows the effects of landfills on nest‐site selection and breeding success in white storks (Ciconia ciconia). Birds breeding near landfills occupy more urban areas where many structures are available to nest, while breeding pairs 20–30 km from landfills select nest sites with high‐quality food sources in the vicinity such as pastures, meadows and agro‐forestry areas. Furthermore, we demonstrate that habitat quality in the surrounding area is more relevant than landfills for breeding outcomes, but both of these are crucial for brood size. The number of fledglings was higher at a medium distance to the landfill than at 20–30 km from the landfill, but not near the landfill (0–10 km). This suggests that the best strategy includes food from landfills as a complementary or alternative food source. Future studies should further investigate if these shifts in habitat preference are permanent, and the potential impact of habitat degradation and landfill closures at a population level, for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To our knowledge, ours is the first case of applying a 3D-printed prosthetic beak to an Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana). A stork in captivity underwent several surgeries for beak fractures, but the lower-mandible fractures failed to be repaired. Therefore, we applied a patient-specific beak prosthesis of titanium alloy and nylon. Because the prosthetic beak could not be maintained due to mandible and soft-tissue inflammation, the stork was euthanized. Still, we confirmed typical behavior and feeding for ~3 months after surgery. This report highlights some of the challenges we encountered and identifies process improvements required for a more successful surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird migration is a fascinating natural phenomenon, with curiosities such as "arrow storks", systematic observations, bird ringing, and, increasingly, modern technologies, such as radio transmitters and satellite telemetry, contributing to its research. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Google Trends data are suitable for capturing the migration of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Germany. We used search engine data to track seasonal levels of public awareness for the white stork in Germany. The public search interest was compared with interest in other migratory and non-migratory bird species, and with interest in the topic "white stork" along migration routes. Our analysis demonstrated public interest in the topic "white stork" in Germany with a seasonal pattern. In contrast, we were not able to detect a clear seasonality in all countries along the migration routes, which traced white stork migration in time and place. Google Trends was a useful tool to track the seasonality in Germany, for example. However, some limitations were also identified in tracking migration routes using Google Trends data. Relative search interest in Germany for white stork (Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758)) [red graph] and common crane (Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758)) [black graph] according to Google Trends data. [Display omitted] • Google Trends is a useful tool, well suited for demonstrating the Internet users' awareness of certain environmental or zoological topics. • Seasonal interest patterns can be demonstrated by using search engine data. • Differences in seasonal interest can be shown for different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights a successful project in Missy VD, Switzerland, to support the nesting of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) by installing nesting platforms on decommissioned electrical masts in autumn 2023. It also explores recent research on migratory birds, focusing on how parasites may influence bird navigation, particularly for lost migrants.

New nest supports used by the white stork Ciconia ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1775) are mobile phone network relay antennas, which are not without danger because they emit electromagnetic waves that can have a major, although insidious, impact on the species. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of electromagnetic waves from mobile phone network base stations on white stork reproduction. We monitored the breeding phenology of the storks as a function of the distance of their nests from the base stations over 2 consecutive seasons, 2020 and 2021. The work took place in the North-East of Algeria, in Annaba and El-Tarf provinces. The nests were counted and divided into 3 distinct groups. The first is located on the relay antennae, the second less than 200 m and the third more than 300 m from the antennae. We calculated nest occupancy, number of young in the nest and number of nests without young. The results show that nests located directly on base stations have a reduced clutch size, not exceeding two storks and a low reproductive success since the majority of nests (51.9%) remained without young. The number of young storks tends to increase in nests far from base stations. Broods with 3 and 4 young are generally those located more than 300 m from relay antennas.