State of the White Stork population in Ukraine in 2011. - V.N. Grishchenko, E.D. Yablonovska-Grishchenko. - Berkut. 20 (1-2). 2011. - P. 37-51.
Data analysed were obtained on 125 monitoring plots in all the regions of Ukraine. They had 1502 occupied nests on the overall area 9.3 ths km2. Migration and breeding phenology, number dynamics and breeding success were studied. The year was very unfavourable for the White Stork because of bad weather conditions: cold and protracted spring, enduring drought till mid June and heavy torrential rains in late June – early July. Timing of the spring arrival was close to average dates. In separate regions deviations of mean first arrival dates from long-term mean dates (1992–2011) fluctuated from –4.1 to +4.6 (0.11 ± 0,79 days (± se), 11 regions). Young birds left the nests since 10.07 till 14.08, majority of broods started to fly on 18–25.07. Mean date of the fledge is 21.07 (± 0.7 days, n = 77). The autumn passage went also in usual terms. The first migrating flocks were observed on average on 16.08 (± 2.3 days, n = 11, lim: 4.08–25.08). Last departures were registered since 17.08 till 28.09 (average – 31.08, n = 29). In 2011, the White Stork population in Ukraine remained practically stable. On monitoring plots the number increased on average in 2.3 ± 1.5% (n = 97). In separate parts of the country, the numbers fluctuated in different ways without definite trends. Only in the Carpathians the population essentially increased. The average gain of number on 6 study plots made up 16.4 ± 7.6%. The Carpathian population of the White Stork has restored with delay in one year after the decline in catastrophic year 2009. In 2010, the renewal was incomplete. Reproductive parameters were lower in 2011 than long-term mean values. Storks raised on average 2.26 ± 0,05 fledged youngs per breeding pair and 2.60 ± 0,05 fledged youngs per successful pair. 13.0 ± 1.2 pairs bred unsuccessful. Productivity of breeding rose from the west to the east. Reproductive parameters were the lowest in West and Central Ukraine and the highest in South Ukraine. The maximal number of youngs storks raised in the south-east part of the country (JZa = 2.94 ± 0.32; JZm = 3.52 ± 0.22; n = 6). In 2011, broods had from 1 to 6 fledglings. Majority of stork pairs in Ukraine raised 2 youngs (39.5%, n = 1249). It is characteristic only for very unfavourable years. Frequency graphs varied for different regions. In West and Central Ukraine about the half of stork pairs raised two youngs but in other parts of the country maximum fel on broods with three youngs. 2 nests with 6 fledglings were registered on the lower Dnieper in Kherson region. The proportion of broods with 5 fledglings rose from 0.4% in West Ukraine to 9.5% in east regions and 10.8% in South Ukraine. In Central Ukraine and in the Carpathians they were not found at all. The year 2011 was very bad for the White Stork but it is not a catastrophic year. Its parameters do not correspond to the formerly described criteria (see Grishchenko, 2009). [Russian].
Key words: White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, monitoring, breeding success, number dynamics, migration.
Address: V.N. Grishchenko, Kaniv Nature Reserve, 19000 Kaniv, Ukraine; e-mail: vgrishchenko@mail.ru.