Storks over the winter in Romania (1 Viewer)

Cristian Mihai · Jan 24, 2015

Between December 24th 2014 and January 11th 2015 we had an interesting set of records for both Stork species, close to Bucharest. A Black Stork was spotted close to Chitila forest on December 24th 2014, on January 5th 2015 and again on January 11th 2015. On the other hand, on January 5th two White Storks were spotted in the same area. On January 7th one of the birds was seen again and on January 11th I found again both birds (see the pictures). It is important to mention that during this time the weather was rather harsh in Bucharest area, with a snow layer of about 20 centimeters and sometimes with minimum temperatures below minus 10 degrees Celsius.
Do you know a (general?) explanation for this type of situation? Why these birds didn't migrate?
Thank you for help.

Nutcracker · Jan 24, 2015

Cristian Mihai said:
Do you know a (general?) explanation for this type of situation? Why these birds didn't migrate?
Thank you for help.

Avian flu or similar, and left without the strength to migrate?

Cristian Mihai · Jan 25, 2015

They all look healthy and they were able to fly...

MJB · Jan 25, 2015

Cristian Mihai said:
They all look healthy and they were able to fly...

In the last decade or so, there have been quite a few records of White Storks overwintering in Germany and Austria. Over the last 50 or so years, the number of White Storks overwintering or becoming resident in southernmost Spain has risen steadily. It's an advantageous strategy at the population level to have a spectrum of migratory behaviour so that, as in the above cases, when winters are less harsh and less prolonged, birds remaining in the breeding grounds, or not far from them, can claim the best nesting sites.

It's also possible that the southern Africa breeding population (resident or part-resident with individuals who may have bred both in Europe and in Africa, likely no more frequently than 18-month intervals) arose from the wide-spectrum migration strategy. After all, any population that has a locked-in migratory strategy is at risk from catastrophic events on the breeding or wintering grounds or on migration.

Climate change seems linked to migratory bird species exploiting new niches, but those species with a wide-spectrum migratory strategy and the ability to move and seek out food-rich areas, such as storks, are less at risk of population crashes than those more rigid in behaviour.

On the other hand, it's clear in Central Europe that in drought conditions when wet meadows disappear in spring, the White Stork is reluctant to forage in reed beds like the Great Egret and so broods often fail. On the other hand, in wet springs, the Great Egret happily competes with White Stork in wet meadows!
MJB

Farnboro John · Jan 25, 2015

MJB said:
In the last decade or so, there have been quite a few records of White Storks overwintering in Germany and Austria. Over the last 50 or so years, the number of White Storks overwintering or becoming resident in southernmost Spain has risen steadily. It's an advantageous strategy at the population level to have a spectrum of migratory behaviour so that, as in the above cases, when winters are less harsh and less prolonged, birds remaining in the breeding grounds, or not far from them, can claim the best nesting sites.

It's also possible that the southern Africa breeding population (resident or part-resident with individuals who may have bred both in Europe and in Africa, likely no more frequently than 18-month intervals) arose from the wide-spectrum migration strategy. After all, any population that has a locked-in migratory strategy is at risk from catastrophic events on the breeding or wintering grounds or on migration.

Climate change seems linked to migratory bird species exploiting new niches, but those species with a wide-spectrum migratory strategy and the ability to move and seek out food-rich areas, such as storks, are less at risk of population crashes than those more rigid in behaviour.

On the other hand, it's clear in Central Europe that in drought conditions when wet meadows disappear in spring, the White Stork is reluctant to forage in reed beds like the Great Egret and so broods often fail. On the other hand, in wet springs, the Great Egret happily competes with White Stork in wet meadows!
MJB

If you subscribe to the refugia theory of bird migration, then it is likely that some birds possess genes for non-migration: and as the Ice Ages recede, selection pressure against these genes decreases, allowing them to be expressed.

John

Cristian Mihai · Jan 25, 2015

Thank you for your interesting reply, MJB.

Nutcracker · Jan 25, 2015

MJB said:
After all, any population that has a locked-in migratory strategy is at risk from catastrophic events ... on migration.

The barrage of gunfire they meet in parts of the Med may be significant here :C

MJB · Jan 25, 2015

Farnboro John said:
If you subscribe to the refugia theory of bird migration, then it is likely that some birds possess genes for non-migration: and as the Ice Ages recede, selection pressure against these genes decreases, allowing them to be expressed. John

Indeed, John, but I'd rabbitted on for quite long enough...:eek!:
MJB

Farnboro John · Jan 25, 2015

MJB said:
Indeed, John, but I'd rabbitted on for quite long enough...:eek!:
MJB

And apparently you were interesting..... :C

John

Cyclops · Jan 25, 2015

Lovely shots there, and a (Grey?) Heron too!

Andy Hurley · Jan 27, 2015

AFAIK, in Germany many nest on buildings or near buildings on man made platforms. From way back when, they were encouraged as they kept the rodent poulation down. Nowadays, it is also a tourist attraction and some villages actively encourage the storks to overwinter by feeding them from the Autumn onwards. There is a healthy poulation around Kreis Paderborn and the owners of the platforms send in regular reports to the local Bio Station, especially during breeding season. There are some that I see regularly in winter, I must go and check again for the year list, LOL.

Andy Hurley · Jan 29, 2015

I saw 2 today, these two are regulars that don't migrate

Storks over the winter in Romania (1 Viewer)

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