White storks in Schleswig-Holstein: number of records of 580 breeding pairs!

White storks in Schleswig-Holstein: number of records of 580 breeding pairs!

Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland - Did you know that the white stork population in Schleswig-Holstein could increase at a record level? This year, an increase in breeding pairs is expected to 580, which means a plus of 80 pairs, i.e. about 15%, compared to the previous year. There were so many breeding pairs last in 1969 when the inventory was 579 couples. NDR reports that the number of breeding pairs has been reduced in Central Africa in recent years, which has not been permanently appears. It is particularly interesting that the storks no longer move to the east, but orientate themselves west and hibernate in Spain, which reduces their energy consumption and reduces the risk of accidents.

In order to better classify the enormous population in Schleswig-Holstein, it is worth taking a look at the previous year. In 2024 the Storchen Protection Working Group recorded in the NABU 501 Weißstorch-Horst pairs, of which 386 brut activities were recorded. In general, storks are usually sexually mature at about four years and in 2024 impressive 892 fledged young storks were raised - the highest number in half a century. nabu knows that 44 young storks were even raised in a stork care station in Erfde.

The great growth in the existence is not set everywhere in stone. The population could be at risk due to lack of food and habitat loss. Dryness could affect the food supply during boys. The habitat of the storks is also restricted by more and more grassland break. It is important to mention that breeding success in Germany is not sufficient to compensate for natural losses. Instead, we experience an increase from moving from other regions where the breeding conditions are better.

international stork counting and views

The situation of the white storks in an international context is also exciting. The 8. International white stork counting is currently running and the first results from 40 out of 55 participating countries show a preliminary increase in breeding pairs to around 330,000 worldwide. This count is continuously continued, and final results are expected in autumn 2025. Some countries, including Germany, have already reported preliminary data, but the evaluations from other countries such as France and Spain are still pending.

summarized that the future of the white storks in Schleswig-Holstein is promising, provided that we take care of your habitats and meet the challenges that the climate and the landscape changes bring. So we can be excited to see which numbers will be presented in the final breeding pairs in September!