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<p>Fledging is a critical stage in the life of altricial birds, marking their transition from nest dependence to independence. This study examines the timing of nest-leaving in White Stork (<i>Ciconia ciconia</i>) fledglings, focusing on how factors such as day of the year, brood size, chick age, habitat, and temperature influence the onset of fledging. Between 2012 and 2023, 121 fledglings in southern Poland were tagged with solar-powered GPS–GSM loggers to track their departure from nests. Our findings indicate that fledging occurred, on average, at 67 days after hatching, with most fledglings leaving their nests around 6–7 h after sunrise, typically during the late morning (median: 11.00 h local time). However, diel fledging times varied widely, with some chicks leaving as early as sunrise and others as late as 23.00 h. Brood size had a significant impact on fledging behaviour: older chicks in larger broods tended to fledge later in the day, while this pattern was not evident in smaller broods. Environmental factors, such as temperature and habitat type, had no significant effect on timing of fledging. However, fledging time exhibited a non-linear relationship with date, with chicks departing later in the morning in mid-July but earlier in the day by early August, possibly due to changing day lengths and the pressures of migration. This study provides new insights into the complex factors that influence fledging in White Storks, highlighting the role of sibling competition and seasonal variations in shaping fledging behaviour.</p>

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To stay or to go: an analysis of fledging timing in White Stork Ciconia ciconia fledglings

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月15日

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  • Łukasz Jankowiak,
  • Joachim Siekiera,
  • Piotr Profus,
  • Michał Szkudlarek,
  • Piotr Tryjanowski

摘要

Fledging is a critical stage in the life of altricial birds, marking their transition from nest dependence to independence. This study examines the timing of nest-leaving in White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) fledglings, focusing on how factors such as day of the year, brood size, chick age, habitat, and temperature influence the onset of fledging. Between 2012 and 2023, 121 fledglings in southern Poland were tagged with solar-powered GPS–GSM loggers to track their departure from nests. Our findings indicate that fledging occurred, on average, at 67 days after hatching, with most fledglings leaving their nests around 6–7 h after sunrise, typically during the late morning (median: 11.00 h local time). However, diel fledging times varied widely, with some chicks leaving as early as sunrise and others as late as 23.00 h. Brood size had a significant impact on fledging behaviour: older chicks in larger broods tended to fledge later in the day, while this pattern was not evident in smaller broods. Environmental factors, such as temperature and habitat type, had no significant effect on timing of fledging. However, fledging time exhibited a non-linear relationship with date, with chicks departing later in the morning in mid-July but earlier in the day by early August, possibly due to changing day lengths and the pressures of migration. This study provides new insights into the complex factors that influence fledging in White Storks, highlighting the role of sibling competition and seasonal variations in shaping fledging behaviour.