Pleasing stork numbers in NRW: record growth through optimal feed

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In North Rhine-Westphalia, conservationists and bird observers are happy about a remarkable increase in the stork population this year. The feed offer and the weather were optimal, which led to a pleasant offspring. Peter Malzbender, chairman of the NABU district association Wesel, reported five stork couples in a rural district of Wesel, each of which raised four young. About 30 pairs of stork were counted, especially in the nature reserve Bislicher island near Xanten on the Rhine. The forecasts indicate that this year's count will present an impressive balance.

This breeding pairs increase is remarkable, since 784 breeding pairs were already registered in North Rhine-Westphalia last year, which is a record. The focus of this distribution is mainly in the Minden-Lübbecke district and in the Wesel district, although storks are also breeding in many other places. The Northern State Association of the Nabu Naturschutzbund in Düsseldorf is optimistic and expects that the complete count will confirm the positive trends.

role of the environment and variety of feed

In the past few decades, the image of the storks in North Rhine-Westphalia has changed significantly. In the early 1990s, only three pairs of stork in the region had been observed. However, the situation has stabilized over the years, although the stork is still on the red list of endangered species. However, he has proven to be adaptable by building his nests on various buildings such as chimneys, roofs and even church towers.

As for the nutrition of these impressive birds, they are anything but picky. After maltbender, the stork eats a variety of living things: from rats and mice to frogs and earthworms to insects and snails. In this damp summer in particular, many snails, sometimes even with their housings, were consumed. Such food resources are particularly important for the storks because they are looking for food in nature reserves and on lean, mown meadows.

It is also worth mentioning that the young birds are the first to break into their winter quarters in Africa. Recently, however, there has been an increasing number of storks during the milder winter in the region, which gives you a competitive advantage when it comes to filling nesting places in spring.

a ray of hope for the wealth of species

The gratifying news about the increase in the stork population are an essential sign of the relaxation of this kind. Despite the challenges in front of which many birds are facing, the storks in North Rhine-Westphalia show that positive developments are possible with the right feed offer and suitable habitats. This knowledge could also be important for other endangered types and underlines the importance of nature conservation in the region.

The coming year promises to continue to be exciting because the counts are completed and the exact numbers of the breeding pairs become known. Conservationists, bird observers and the general public are excited and hope that the positive development will last. The storks that always attract people with their striking white feathers and long legs are at a turning point in their history in terms of their future in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The positive development of storks in North Rhine-Westphalia is not only a local phenomenon, but also reflects general trends in Europe. In many European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium and France, nature conservation organizations also report an increase in stork populations. Factors such as targeted nature conservation measures, improved habitats and a general decline in pesticides contribute to the return of these impressive birds. These changes support the stability of the ecosystems in which storks live.

The influence of the European Nature Conservation Program Life, which aims to protect existing habitats and create new breeding areas. In Germany, many projects have been implemented in recent decades to improve the breeding conditions for storks, which is now also evident in North Rhine-Westphalia.

However, the future of stork populations in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond, but also, depends on numerous factors. Among other things, climate changes, land use and the preservation of wetlands are crucial for the survival of these species. According to the Federal Office for Nature Conservation, the habitats of storks are particularly sensitive to human interventions and environmental influences.214 , this leads to an increased risk of biodiversity.

In order to protect the stocks sustainably, nature conservation associations and local initiatives are aware of the population to maintain moist areas. Training programs for farmers and land users are also an important part of promoting environmentally friendly management that benefits the living conditions of the storks.

meaning of the storks for the ecosystem

Storks play an important role in the ecosystem by contributing to regulating the stocks of small nail animals and insects. By searching for food, you ensure that the populations of these species are kept in chess, which in turn promotes the health of the adjacent habitats. Your presence can also be an indicator of the ecological balance in an area.