White storks in Germany: record number of 13,000 breeding couples discovered!
White storks in Germany: record number of 13,000 breeding couples discovered!
The latest observations by the nature conservation association Germany (NABU) show a gratifying increase in white storks in Germany. Bernd Petri from the Federal Working Group on Weißstork Protection was confident that the number of breeding pairs will reach at least 13,000 this year. This number represents a significant upswing compared to the 12,122 breeding pairs of the previous year. Exact statistics are expected in the coming weeks, according to Petri.
Helmut Eggers from the same organization emphasizes that the white stork is one of the best documented bird species in Germany. This data is of interest not only for ornithologists, but also for conservationists who want to draw attention to the success of their efforts to preserve this species of birds.
strongholds of the storks in the southwest
It is particularly noteworthy that the highest concentration of white storks in the regions along the Upper Rhine in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse occurs. These federal states have the greatest density of breeding couples; There is a value of at least six breeding pairs per 100 square kilometers. Baden-Württemberg leads the list with 2,191 breeding pairs, followed by Lower Saxony, where 2,113 nest pairs were counted.The recovery of the stocks has been particularly visible since the late 1980s. The low point was reached in 1988 with less than 3,000 breeding pairs. At that time, many storks in federal states such as Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland were almost disappearing. Since then, thanks to the initiative of NABU honorary and successful protective measures
changed train behavior and agricultural influences
one of the factors that contribute to the increase in white storks is their changed train behavior. More and more storks are deciding to no longer fly to Africa, but hibernate in countries such as Spain, Portugal and France or even in Germany. This reduces the risks connected to the long flight. Storks that choose the western route have a higher chance of survival than their eastern relatives who take the more dangerous route over the Bosphorus to Africa.
Nevertheless, there are regional differences in inventory development. In some East German federal states in particular, there is no increase in, which is partly due to the unfavorable choice of the grooves. In places such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, however, intensive agricultural practices also play a role: less and less species-rich thorough areas and increased monocultures of corn and rapeseed could lead to declining population here.
The positive news about the recovery of the storks are confirmation of the ongoing protective measures and the efforts to preserve this majestic bird in the German landscape. Further information and details on the developments are at www.radiobielefeld.de to read.
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