Abstract
We investigated the breeding behavior of the Oriental stork in the wild for 8 years using video recordings to reveal their breeding biology. It was found that the observed pair copulated frequently for more than 2 months before egg-laying. The pair exhibited cooperation in caring for the offspring through nest-building, incubating the eggs, and feeding the chicks. Among these activities, nest-building was predominantly performed by the male stork.
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Acknowledgements
We thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions in revising the manuscript. We would like to extend special thanks to the parents and their offspring, especially the female parent, who passed away in an unforeseen accident in February 2023. Part of this research was conducted as part of a work commissioned by Toyooka City.
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Inoue, T., Nagase, K., Osaka, M. et al. Breeding behavior and parental care in the wild Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana, reintroduced in Japan. Ornithol. Res. 32, 52–56 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-023-00167-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-023-00167-9