Page 28 - NZDPM 33/2017

Nesting habitats of Black Stork (Ciconia nigra L.) in Ukrainian forest zone … 27

Table 2

Distribution of Black Stork nests in the forests with different prevailing tree species in
relation to the general frequency of distribution of those prevailing species in the region

In 500 m
Prevailing Nests In 500m buffers around In the entire
tree species in locations buffers random points study area
forest stands (n=108)
n % % % % ha
Pine 71 65,7 61,4 69,1 68,2 266977
Black alder 19 17,6 14,8 11,5 9,1 35517
Silver birch 11 10,2 16,1 14,2 14,9 58229
Oak 7 6,5 6,6 4,0 4,6 18169
Common aspen 0 0,0 0,4 0,3 0,3 1001
Other 0 0,0 0,6 0,9 2,1 3038
Total 108 100 382979

A somewhat different picture is seen in the case of the Black Storks distribution in
relation to the forest age. We found a fairly big positive shift in the inhabitance frequency
in the case of old forest fragments. In other words, the forests surrounding nests are usually
older than other forests in the region. In general, 54,2% of nests are located in mature
forests (pre-mature, mature, and very old combined). The forests of such categories
comprise 37,5% of forest in 500 m buffers around nests. In comparison, in the entire study
area such forests comprise only 31,8% of all forests. An opposite situation can be found in
the case of young and middle-aged forests (fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Distribution (%) of Black Stork nests in forests of different age classes in
relation to the general frequency of distribution of those age classes in the region.