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Aves, 40/1-4 | 2003 | 12-15

  Concervation Status of the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) in Europe and in the World.
Strazds, M.

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Article summary

The existing data don’t allow stating that the population of the Black Stork in Europe is increasing. A certain increase in some countries of Western Europe is entirely compensated by data inaccuracy or decrease in Eastern Europe. The total figure for increase in 1996-98 vs. 1990 is 604 pairs, while total inaccuracy amounts to 2124 pairs. From the current estimed population in Europe (6,600-9,700 pairs), 52% are distributed in lowlands of Eastern Europe where they are at risk from the recent intensive development of forest industry. It is highly probable that the increase in Western Europe actually represents a shift of population from the East. The rest of the population is distributed in Asia (2,000-3,200 pairs) ans Southern Africa (1,000-1,500 pairs)? The Asian population is least known but, the species is considered threatened in almost all its range in the Asian countries. The African population is entirely cliff breeding and is considered safe. Although no obvious morphological differences are described, not subspecies identified, DNA analysis may prove that both these populations are very isolated from the European one, as no gene exchange is known to take place. This confirms that the conservation status as identified by TUCKER & HEATH (Birds in Europe : their conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series 3. BirdLife International, Cambridge, 1994) for the Black Stork in Europe is inaccurate. The species is concentrated in Europe (67% of the species’ global population) where at least half of it is at risk. So the European conservation status shall be changed to SPEC 2 but, the exact category (either Rare or Vulnerable) shall be considered when accurate population data are available. The global conservation status, considering the total population size and the situation of one third of its population, shall be classified as Conservation dependent.

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