A nation-wide census for future conservation actions

Abstract

Citizen science is a type of research which could be crucial for wildlife monitoring in the developing countries due to low funding opportunities and trained specialists. In the Republic of Moldova, this concept is not fully understood and currently under-developed. The citizen science will bring new data in ornithological research, which is still in its early stages, due to the few ornithologists involved in scientific research. Thus, there is poor data and knowledge regarding occurrence and distribution of wild bird species across the country, which makes difficult to implement conservation strategies in order to conserve our bird fauna. White stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a common bird species which breeds near human settlements and is easily identifiable. This aspect makes the species to be a very good target for citizen science monitoring. The number of White stork nests in Republic of Moldova was estimated to be around 574 in 1984 and continued to decrease since then. During 1990-2010 the official numbers pointed to 180 nests, while the breeding stork population was considered to be around 400-600 breeding pairs. During June – August 2017 the Society for the Birds and Nature Protection (SPPN) carried out a national census when 283 nests were recorded. The nests were registered on a digital map with the help of citizen volunteers. The concept and the procedure were a novelty for Republic of Moldova, as the observations were uploaded using an online survey which provided additional information about the nests (type of support, condition, number of offspring). The impact among citizens was high: 90 volunteers participated in the census across the country. Most of the nests were installed on concrete pillars (57.24%), followed by wooden pillars (17.67%), 15.19% were found on trees, while 9.19% were installed on other types of support (towers, monuments and barns). Only one nest was found on a house. Comparative with the previous monitoring program, from 1984, the White stork population from Republic of Moldova changed the breeding behavior, using the electric poles in a much higher percent. These changes in species ecology should be included in the species conservation strategy for the next years. Out of the total number of 283 nests, 83% were occupied in the 2017 breeding season, with a breeding success of 1.51 offspring per nest during the study period. The 2017 White stork nest census in Republic Moldova proved to be an efficient tool for field data collection. Moreover, the information improved significantly the knowledge regarding the breeding status of White stork and raised awareness about the ecology of this species. For the Republic of Moldova scientific community, which is young and still developing, the census represents the first step for future conservation projects and a successful start of citizen science methods.