Despite an unstable spring and a wet summer, 15 stork chicks are currently thriving in Denmark, feasting on worms, frogs, and snails. According to Jesper Leegaard, a board member of the Storkene.dk association (Stork Association), the wet weather contributes to the well-being of the storks, as it makes food such as earthworms and snails more accessible. The association has provided supplementary food at the nests, but it is best if the storks can find their own food. “It is not ideal to have to feed the storks, as it indicates a lack of natural food sources such as ponds and grazing animals in the landscape,” says Jesper Leegaard. He emphasizes that naturally found food is most beneficial for the storks’ health.
The association had hoped for more breeding pairs and chicks than last year, when ten pairs and 16 chicks were recorded. However, a wet and windy spring delayed the storks’ arrival from the south. “The stork is a bird that loves warmth, enjoying high-pressure weather with sunshine and upward air currents, which was lacking in April,” explains Jesper Leegaard.
Now that the breeding season is underway and the chicks have survived the first critical weeks, the wet weather is no longer a risk for the storks. Although no new records have been set this season, Jesper Leegaard remains optimistic about the future of storks in Denmark. “In the long run, it is certain that the stork population here will grow. Northern Germany is filled with storks, leading to an excess that moves further north. We will see this progress in the coming years,” he says.
Storkene.dk continues to monitor and support the stork population in Denmark, with hopes of even greater progress in the upcoming seasons.