Dispersal of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park, Croatia

Sa？etak Dispersal of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park, Croatia There are two main types of dispersal: natal and reproductive. Natal dispersal is more common and individuals travel a greater distance than during reproductive dispersal. Direction and distances depend on various factors. Dispersal of the White Storks, Ciconia ciconia, was analysed using resightings of colour-ringed individuals in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park, Croatia. 36.7% observed individuals did not disperse outside the natal settlement, while only 14.3% covered a distance longer than 50 km. The median dispersal distance was 4.21 km (IQR = 0 - 8.8, n = 49); the correlation of dispersion with the number of nests in settlements and the size of the settlements was studied. Results have shown that storks are dispersing from settlements with a small number of nest to settlements with a large number of nests and that dispersal does not depend on the size of the settlement