Number of white storks in Germany are booming - a reason to joy!
Number of white storks in Germany are booming - a reason to joy!
In early autumn 2024, nature lovers enjoy positive news from the bird world: the number of white storks in Germany has increased significantly. Bernd Petri from the Federal Working Group on Weißstorchschutz informed the press about an increase to at least 13,000 breeding pairs this year. This represents an impressive development compared to the previous year when 12,122 breeding pairs were registered.
The special thing about this inventory is the comprehensive documentation of the storks in Germany. Helmut Eggers from the Federal Working Group emphasizes that the white stork is one of the best documented bird species. Already over three decades ago, in 1988, the future of these majestic birds seemed at risk when the stock had dropped to only about 3,000 couples.
Rhineland's big stork king
The storks along the Upper Rhine, in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse are particularly represented. Last year, at least six breeding pairs per 100 square kilometers were counted here. If you look at the absolute numbers, Baden-Württemberg leads with 2,191 breeding pairs, followed by Lower Saxony with 2,113. These regions also profit from a large number of agricultural areas that serve the storks as food habitats.Another crucial factor for the success of the white stork is the changed train behavior. There are clear trends: many western storks are increasingly decided not to fly to Africa, but hibernate in warmer regions of Europe, such as Spain and Portugal. This adaptation seems to strengthen their survival and could have a significant influence on the increasing number of breeding pairs.
challenges in the east
However, some East German federal states remain where the decline is more questionable. According to the NABU, there are still many eastern storks here that lead to a higher risk for themselves due to their longer and more dangerous route to Africa. In these regions, the intensive agricultural practices such as monocultures of corn and rapeseed could also play an important role in the decline in stocks.
The nature conservation efforts and the voluntary care of the storks by organizations such as the NABU show success, and the storks are still intensively observed. The confidence is great that this species of bird can continue its positive trend. More information on this is at www.rhein-zeitung.de to be found.
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