OBSERVATIONS ON THE WINTERING OF WHITE-STORK CICONIA CICONIA (LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM SOUTH-EASTERN PART OF TÜRKİYE

Between the December 2003 and January 2023 periods, 119 individuals of White-stork Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758) have been recorded during winter seasons that covering only December and January months. White-storks determined between Diyarbakır and Batman provinces from 12 different locations and also nearly all of the records obtained within the boundaries of the Bismil Plain IBA’s between Diyarbakır and Batman provinces. The wintering of species in this part of Türkiye and Diyarbakır province have been firstly documented. The availability of suitable habitat's together with food possibilities and mild climate conditions may have been supports the population increase in the area during all year round. This study showed that White-storks have found the favourable conditions for wintering in our region and have now started to wintering. Monitoring of the wintering population in the region is recommended for evaluate changes in size of population and range expansion of species in the area by a comprehensive field study in this part of country.