Breeding range expansion of White Storks <i>(Ciconia ciconia)</i> in the Algerian Sahara: Adaptation to hot hyper-arid environments

Abstract The breeding population of the White Stork in Algeria has historically been confined to the northern part of the country. During the 2025 breeding season (February to June), confirmed nesting occurred in El Oued (2 nests), Ouled Djellal (1 nest), and Menea (1 breeding attempt in 2003) provinces. The observed Southward expansion of the White Stork breeding population into the hot and hyper-arid climate of the Sahara represents a notable ecological shift in its known breeding range. Moreover, old datasets and historical records further indicate significant expansions of migratory flyways into southeastern Saharan regions. These findings highlight the White Storks’ adaptability to climate change and anthropogenic pressures under extreme aridity conditions, but also underscore the rapid ecological transformations occurring under climate change and human activity. They emphasized the critical role of Saharan ecosystems in providing foraging resources and optimal nesting sites for this resilient population.