Prolonged Incubation and Early Clutch Reduction of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia)

Two cases of prolonged incubation by White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) were observed in the same nest in 2009 and 2010 in southwest Poland. Incubation lasted at least 59 and 65 days, respectively; i.e., 84 and 103% longer than the average incubation period. Extended incubation was accompanied by other...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Wilson journal of ornithology 2012-06, Vol.124 (2), p.362-366
Main Author: Wuczynski, Andrzej
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal breeding
Animal reproduction
Aviculture
Behavior
Bird nesting
Birds
Breeding
Breeding seasons
Ciconia ciconia
Ciconiidae
Conservation biology
Copulation
Eggs
Female animals
Females
Incubation
Nests
New records
Reproductive behavior
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Storks
Studies
White stork
Wild birds
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Summary:Two cases of prolonged incubation by White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) were observed in the same nest in 2009 and 2010 in southwest Poland. Incubation lasted at least 59 and 65 days, respectively; i.e., 84 and 103% longer than the average incubation period. Extended incubation was accompanied by other abnormal breeding behavior. The lack of observed copulation in either breeding season, an extremely short arrival-breeding interval, and early clutch reduction suggest the eggs were infertile. This is the first record of prolonged incubation in the Ciconiidae, and probably the first record of repeated prolonged incubation by wild birds.
ISSN:1559-4491
1938-5447
DOI:10.1676/11-154.1