Selective Forces Responsible for Transition to Nesting on Electricity Poles in the White Stork<i>Ciconia ciconia</i>

Janiszewski, Tomasz; Minias, Piotr; Wojciechowski, Zbigniew

doi:10.5253/arde.v103i1.a4

Cited by 20 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Many aspects of nest-supporting structures and location are important and may influence the breeding success of solitary nesting birds: nesting shrub species (Tryjanowski et al 2000), tree species, height, and diameter (Zawadzki and Zawadzka 2017). For some bird species, the type of nest supporting structure explains not only breeding effect but also reoccupation rate (Tryjanowski et al 2009;Tobolka et al 2013;Janiszewski et al 2015). Anthropogenic changes in the environment generally have a negative influence on the availability of natural nesting sites (Yasué and Dearden 2006); however, for some bird species, changes in the environment lead to the provision of new sites (Mainwaring 2015).…”

Section: The Structure Supporting the Nestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of nest occupation and breeding effect of the white stork by human-mediated landscape in Western Poland

Bialas

Dylewski

Tobółka

2019

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Choosing an appropriate nest site is essential for successful breeding. Changes in land use cause populations of many species to decline although some species adapt to anthropogenic changes. The white stork Ciconia ciconia commonly uses artificial nest sites. Recently, white storks from Western Europe have been using landfills as feeding sites; the beginnings of this process are being observed in Central-Eastern Europe. The study aimed to determine factors influencing the probability of nest occupation and breeding effect in a Central-Eastern European population of white storks. We used long-term data from Western Poland on breeding effect, nest occupation, the structure supporting the nest, the proximity of the nearest landfills, landfill area, and land cover. The probability of nest occupation was significantly dependent on habitat quality (based on the share of the preferred type of land cover), the structure supporting the nest, and landfill proximity within a specific year. The breeding effect was influenced by habitat quality and nesting structure. We demonstrate that the type of nesting structure is an important factor influencing both the probability of nest reoccupation and breeding effect. However, the significance of landfills appears to be growing, and in recent years, storks prefer occupying nests closer to landfills, which may have significant consequences for the population of the white stork.

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Section: The Structure Supporting the Nestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of nest occupation and breeding effect of the white stork by human-mediated landscape in Western Poland

Bialas

Dylewski

Tobółka

2019

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Higher densities were expected to promote the likelihood of pylons being used for nesting, because either more individuals would be looking for a nest site, or stronger competition for the best sites would force some individuals to use pylons. Other authors have also described a higher probability of using electricity pylons as density increased (Janiszewski et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Examples of the use of electricity pylons by species with conservation value include the endangered Cape vulture Gyps coprotheres (Anderson & Hohne, 2007), Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus (Arkumarev, Dobrev, Abebe, Popgeorgiev, & Nikolov, 2014) and Saker falcon Falco cherrug (Dixon, Purev-Ochir, Galtbalt, & Batbayar, 2013). This study focused on the white stork as a case study, because this charismatic bird is increasingly using power-line pylons as nesting structure in many European countries (Janiszewski, Minias, & Wojciechowski, 2015;Muzinic & Cvitan, 2001;Tucakov, 2006), most noticeably in the Iberian Peninsula (Infante & Peris, 2003;Janss & Sanchez, 1997). In the case of Portugal, the white stork breeding population increased sixfold from 1984 to 2014, and during this period the proportion of storks nesting on electricity pylons increased from c. 2% to 25% of the national breeding population, the vast majority on pylons of the transmission (150-400 kV) grid which are large structures capable of holding several nests of this species (Moreira et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of power line use by white storks: A case study of birds nesting on anthropogenic structures

Moreira

Martins

Catry

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Anthropogenic structures are mainly known to have negative impacts on wildlife populations but they can be beneficial. Power lines are a main driver of bird mortality through collision or electrocution, but electricity pylons are also commonly used for nest building by some species. Birds and nests cause power outages that need to be tackled by electricity companies. However, the use of pylons by threatened species provides an opportunity for conservation purposes. In this study, we describe an empirical modelling approach to predict the circumstances under which nesting birds use electricity pylons. We focused on white storks Ciconia ciconia, a species that has been increasingly using electricity pylons for nesting across Europe. In a country‐level census in Portugal, we found a total of 1,348 white stork nests in 668 of the 8,680 very high‐tension power line pylons occurring in the distribution range of this colonial species, with spatial clustering in pylon occupation up to a distance of 30 km. The number of nests in each used pylon ranged from 1 to 21 (M ± SD = 2.2 ± 2.06). The main drivers of pylon use by nesting storks were distance to major feeding areas (rice fields, landfills and large wetlands), with more intensive use closer to these features, followed by land cover type surrounding each pylon. Pylon type and age, and stork population density in the region, had comparatively less importance. Synthesis and applications. We developed an approach to predict the use of anthropogenic structures by nesting birds that can be used both for species conservation and minimising damage to infrastructures. For power lines, applications include: (1) planning power line routes to take account of the probability of pylon use; (2) applying nesting deterrent devices (to reduce bird mortality and power outage risk) and providing nesting platforms (to promote bird use) on suitable pylons and (3) selecting adequate pylon types to promote or inhibit nesting.

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“…Previous research found conflicting results, with evidence of either no impact (e.g. Tryjanowski et al 2009) or a negative impact on productivity (Janiszewski et al 2015) as a consequence of nesting on electricity pylons. Future studies should further clarify this aspect, including evaluating the potential impacts of electromagnetic fields on nesting storks (Vaitkuvienè and Dagys 2014).…”

Section: Conclusion: Implications For Stork Conservation and Power Lmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Similarly, the decreased availability of ruins or suitable large trees for building nests is a possibility that needs testing; (iv) a preferential selection for these structures because they provide fitness benefits such as reduced pressure from predators or a better productivity (Schulz 1998, Janiszewski et al 2015. Independently of the drivers, this trend for the increased use of man-made poles as nesting structures by storks seems to be widespread across Europe (Tryjanowski et al 2009, Janiszewski et al 2015. Electricity poles holding very high voltage power lines (managed by REN) supported an increasing share of the total white stork nests.…”

Section: Nest Site Selection: Increased Use Of Power Lines For Nestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wired: impacts of increasing power line use by a growing bird population

Moreira

Encarnação

Rosa³

et al. 2017

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Power lines are increasingly widespread across many regions of the planet. Although these linear infrastructures are known for their negative impacts on bird populations, through collision and electrocution, some species take advantage of electricity pylons for nesting. In this case, estimation of the net impact of these infrastructures at the population level requires an assessment of trade-offs between positive and negative impacts. We compiled historical information of the Portuguese white stork Ciconia ciconia population to analyze long-term changes in numbers, distribution range and use of nesting structures. White stork population size increased 660% up to 12000 breeding pairs between 1984 and 2014. In the same period, the proportion of nests on electricity pylons increased from 1% to 25%, likely facilitated by the 60% increase in the length of the very high tension power line grid (holding the majority of the nests) in the stork's distribution range. No differences in breeding success were registered for storks nesting on electricity pylons versus other structures, but a high risk of mortality by collision and electrocution with power lines was estimated. We discuss the implications of this behavioral change, and of the management responses by power line companies, both for stork populations and for managers.

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Selective Forces Responsible for Transition to Nesting on Electricity Poles in the White StorkCiconia ciconia

Cited by 20 publications

References 26 publications

Determination of nest occupation and breeding effect of the white stork by human-mediated landscape in Western Poland

Determination of nest occupation and breeding effect of the white stork by human-mediated landscape in Western Poland

Drivers of power line use by white storks: A case study of birds nesting on anthropogenic structures

Wired: impacts of increasing power line use by a growing bird population

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