6 days ago
Denmark sees highest number of white stork nestlings in decades
STORY: The white stork – once extinct in Denmark – is making a comeback with the highest number of nestlings recorded in decades.
That's sparking new hope that the birds may once again become a familiar sight in the Nordic country.
The white stork population was once thriving in Denmark, with some 4,000 nesting pairs in the late 19th century.
In 2008, the birds became locally extinct due to the expansion of agriculture and the loss of wetlands.
Hans Skov is a member of Storks Denmark, a volunteer group working to help the species return.
:: Hans Skov, Storks Denmark board member
"This year is something very special because this year we have 13 pairs and 33 nestlings, and that's the highest number since (19)86."
The rebound is primarily attributed to conservation efforts and changing migration patterns.
As climate change makes European winters warmer, storks are wintering in Spain rather than locations like South Africa, enhancing survival rates through shorter migration distances.
But as the storks migrate further north into Denmark, they face challenges finding enough food for their young.
Storks Denmark is spending $4,700 annually to make sure there's enough for them to eat.
SKOV: "When new pairs appear we know how to offer them food when there is a crisis in the nature. And then they will manage to keep their nestlings alive. And if they get nestlings on the wings, they will come back next year. If the nestlings died, then they would not come back."
Denmark's Natural History Museum is tagging five additional nestlings this year with GPS devices to gain insight into the storks' migration paths.
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