Effect of Altitude and Urbanization on the Ecology of the Breeding White Stork (Ciconia Ciconia) in the Tizi-Ouzou Region (Kabylia, Northern Algeria)

The ecological breeding conditions of the Tizi-Ouzou white stork (Ciconia ciconia, Linnaeus, 1758) are examined in this study. The population was estimated, as well as its evolution, and the impact of altitude on breeding pairs was examined throughout two breeding seasons (2019 and 2021). The first census showed 650 breeding pairs in 2019. By 2021, there are 830 pairs. In 2019, piedmont areas had 601 stork pairs (92%) by altitude. In the mid-mountains, 49 pairs (8%) were seen. There are no pairs above 1200 m in the high mountains. Similar percentages were seen in 2021. The breeding pair density rose from 65.76 in 2019 to 83.97 in 2021. At altitudes below 400 m, the density exceeded 230 pairs per 100 m² for both study years. The mid-mountain zone has fewer pairs/100 km² than the foothills over the same period. The following proportions indicate that this Ciconiidae prefers heights between 10and 14m: 67.69% (2019) and 69.04 (2021). Over the two-year study, 94.62% of nests were installed on artificial supports and 5.38% on natural supports. Urban pairs make up 63% of the spatial distribution. Both years saw 36% fewer pairs outside built-up areas. The altitude distribution of stork nests shows that this bird prefers to live from 15 to 550 m. The average nesting pair is 329.5 between 0 and 100 m. This distribution is mainly determined by habitat quality and food availability. Other agronomic parameters, such as the presence of irrigated agricultural areas and landfills, which may feed the studied species, also affect it.