More white storks in Germany: Pleasing inventory development 2023

More white storks in Germany: Pleasing inventory development 2023

The latest observations on white stork population in Germany show pleasant developments. According to Bernd Petri, a specialist in the Federal Working Group on Weißstork protection, the number of pairs of stork has increased to at least 13,000 this year. This information was published by the NABU nature conservation organization and show a positive trend compared to the previous year, when a total of 12,122 breeding pairs were registered. The exact figures for the current year will be available in the coming weeks.

A look at the geographical distribution reveals that many storks occur especially in southwestern Germany, especially along the Upper Rhine. Here, federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse have the highest density of breeding couples, with about six couples 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 stocks of the white stork have grown sharply in recent decades. In 1988 the population reached a low point with only 3,000 couples. In several federal states, including Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, the stork was no longer exists as a brood bird. Thanks to the voluntary work of the nature conservation associations, however, the inventory has gradually recovered.

An interesting aspect of this development is the changed train behavior of the storks. Instead of taking the long way to Africa, many western storks now spend the western storks in Spain, Portugal, France and increasingly also in Germany. This changed behavior reduces the risks of a long flight, which leads to a higher survival rate.

The positive development associated with the increase in stork population is not equally pronounced in all regions. In some East German federal states, especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the situation remains more difficult. This could be partly due to the fact that more storks choose the riskier eastern route that leads to Africa through the Middle East. In addition, intensive agriculture has a negative impact: the loss of species -rich grassland and the monocultures in the region could contribute to the decline in storks.

The observations and analyzes of experts like Helmut Eggers underline the need to further improve the conditions for the storks and to protect their habitats. The detailed change in the existing development of the white storks shows how important the protection of natural habitats is.

For detailed information about the exciting development of the white stork in Germany, as it was documented by the experts, you can do the article on www.faz.net read.