Onntuf el al. • WHITE STORK NEST-SITE SELECTION AND BREEDING SUCCESS 355 
weather, land use, drainage, and changes in 
electricity transmission) on breeding parameters 
(specifically number of breeding pairs, juveniles, 
and breeding success). 
METHODS 
Study Area.—The study was conducted in 
Sindirgi, a District of Balikesir Province in 
western Turkey (39 14' N, 28 10’ E) (Fig. 1). 
The site has a typical Mediterranean climate. The 
long-term mean annual temperature is 14.3 C 
'mean r wulter = 3 C. mean f, unirncf = 36.3 C). 
The annual precipitation is between 600 and 
700 mm with highest rainfall in January and 
lowest in June and August (Turkish State 
Meteorological Service, www.dmi.gov.tr). The 
study area covered ~ 1,510 knr of which 47% 
were forests, mainly Red Pine (Pinus brutia), 
European Black Pine (P. nigra), and oak (Quoreus 
spp.); 22% arable land (mainly wheat and 
tobacco); 20% arid and mountainous zones; 3% 
grassland, pastures for grazing, and irrigated 
agriculture; and 7% inhabited areas, roads, and 
reservoirs (based on data from the Local Admin¬ 
istration Office in Sindirgi). The mean altitude of 
the study area is 830 m (range = 157-1,706 m). 
The main rivers in the study area are Simav, 
Cuneyt, and Ilicali which How throughout the 
year, and Caygoren Lake (700 ha). There are also 
numerous small and temporary streams. 
Nest-Site Selection.— Nest-site selection was 
examined in all inhabited areas (central town 
and 73 villages; settlements hereafter) and 
throughout the countryside between 2008 and 
2010. The locations and boundaries of all 
inhabited areas, rivers, and streams were delin¬ 
eated from a LandSAT image (taken in 2000) of 
15 m pixel resolution. A Digital Elevation Model 
(DEM) of 30 m pixel resolution was used to 
measure mean altitudes and to calculate aspects 
and slopes of all the settlements with ArcGIS 9.3. 
Aspects were reclassified into four different 
categories: North (315 -45 ); East (45 -135°); 
South (135 -225 ); West (225 -315°). Slopes 
were classified inlo four different categories: flat 
(0-5 ). slightly inclined (5.1 -10 ). moderately 
inclined (IO.f-30 ). and severely inclined 
(30.1 -90 ). The dominant (> 50%) aspect and 
slope of each settlement was calculated from these 
data. The study am a was visited during mid May 
and all active and inactive White Stork nests were 
documented. Large obvious nests of the White 
Stork are associated with human settlements and it 
is highly unlikely that any nests were missed. The 
locations of White Stork nests within the study 
area were recorded with a Global Positioning 
System (GPS) and settlements having at least one 
active/inactive White Stork nest were considered 
as settlements with nests for analyses. The exact 
location of each nest (active or inactive) was used 
28°20’E 
I 
28°40'E 
I 
Settlements with Stork Nest 
— Elevation (m) 
. Other settlements 
__ _ 157 - 250 H 751 -1000 
Streams 251 ’ 500 ■ 1001 -1250 
£3> caygoren Dam ■ 501 - 750 wm 1251 - 1706 
fig. 1. Location of the study area in northwestern Turkey and its settlements, rivers, streams, and main altitudinal 
features. Settlements with White Stork nests are numbered and indicated differently from the other settlements. 
(M = Mountains). 
