Environmental drivers of vigilance behaviour in painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) nesting colonies

Painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala) exhibit sex-based differences in vigilance, with males displaying higher alertness likely due to territorial and mate-guarding behaviors. Parental vigilance increases as nestlings age, reflecting heightened parental investment. The study, conducted at Keoladeo National Park and the National Zoological Park in North India, used camera techniques to analyze how variables such as sex, nestling age, number of neighbors, and visitor numbers influence vigilance behavior. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) revealed significant effects of these factors on vigilance, with storks at the National Zoological Park showing greater vigilance than those in Keoladeo National Park, suggesting site-specific influences on behavior.

Ahmed, P., & Urfi, A. J. (2024). Environmental drivers of vigilance behaviour in painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) nesting colonies. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78276-8