Satelliten-telemetrie der jahreswanderungen eines weißstorchs Ciconia ciconia und diskussion der orientierungsmechanismen des heimzugs

In a female White Stork the complete migration cycle could be tracked by satellite from the nesting site to the wintering grounds in the Sudan and Tanzania and back to the nest. The migration route extended over 16 000 km, autumn migration lasted 100 days, homeward migration 70 days, wintering 58 and 41 days in northeastern and southeastern Africa, respectively. The maximum daily route was about 350 km. Up to Turkey the bird migrated together with its male Homeward migration was performed within a relatively narrow corridor in which autumn migration took place, but in detail the routes of the two migratory seasons showed substantial differences. These data together with those from some raptors in which complete annual migration cycles could be tracked indicate that homeward migration is based on navigation (vector navigation and/or true navigation) rather than on route reversal.