There are about 160 thousand pairs of white storks in the world. Their distinctive looks make them easily recognisable. White storks are about 80 cm high and weigh between 2.7 and 2.5 kg. Their wingspan is impressive, reaching even 2 meters.
Storks mate for one mating season only. Every next year they look for a new partner. They build their nests near human settlements on trees, farm buildings and power line poles. They lay from 2 to 6 eggs from the middle of April. Hatching begins 4-5 days after the first egg appears, before the next one. The eggs are hatched by both males and females. The first nestling hatches after a month. For the first 20 days the offspring is not left unattended for even a moment. While one stork takes care of the young, the other one hunts intensively.
It is almost impossible to distinguish the male stork from the female with just external observation. Males are slightly bigger and have marginally longer beaks. To determine stork’s sex, a biochemical blood analysis is carried out.
Storks live 9 years on average but some specimens can even surpass 20 years of age.
Storks are carnivores. Their diet consists of rodents, amphibians, little mammals (for example a mole), fish, big insects, rarely reptiles and nestlings or eggs of other birds. Storks can also hunt bigger animals such as rabbits. Each pair during the mating season has to get 200-350 kg of meat for themselves and the young. In a moment of stress a stork regurgitates what it has just eaten. This allows the scientists to analyse storks’ diet more precisely.
In Poland and nearby regions it is possible to see two stork species – the black stork and the white stork. Unlike the white stork, the black stork is a recluse. It nests at a distance from human settlements.
Sorks were treated with respect and associated with many superstitions for a long time. This bird had a good reputation up until the 19th century when it began to be exterminated, treated as a pest like other birds. In 1952 the stork was added to the list of protected species. Because of that their population started growing. Today, the white stork is under strict protection and included in the EU Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC).
Dangers
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The stork is now faced most importantly with dangers connected to changes in its natural habitat:
› Changes in agriculture that contribute to the disappearance of meadows and wetlands;
› Increasingly intensive river regulation contributing to the destruction of old river beds and meandering watercourses;
› During their migrations, storks are exposed to electrical wires and fall prey to hunts organised for these birds in the Mediterranean region;
› Changes in the habits of storks are also being observed. Instead of migrating to African countries, they remain to feed on rubbish dumps in southern Europe.
Our role in protecting these birds stretches from individual actions to social engagement and caring for environment. The first step is increasing our knowledge on white storks. We can attend lectures, workshops and read literature regarding these birds. The better we understand their behaviours, needs and dangers, the more efficiently we will be able to help. Another important aspect is to preserve and restore white storks’ natural habitats. This means that we should engage in the conservation of wetlands, swamps, coastal areas, meadows and other habitats that are crucial for these birds. We can also actively suport local nature preservation projects that are focused on these fields.
White storks need appropriate locations to build their nests. We can help create nest platforms which allow them to nest at safe heights, away from potential predators.
It is worth it to participate in white storks’ population monitoring programmes as well. That way we can assist scientists in tracking changes in the number of these birds and understand what factors affect their population.
We can also actively participate in social actions and supporting organisations preserving nature that take certain steps for the benefit of storks. This can consist of taking part in fund-raisers, awarness-raising campaigns and research projects.
More materials
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