First stork young born this year in Zwin Nature Park

“The birth took place on one of the nests on the stork tower in the park, where the young storks have been tagged in recent years. More young will be born in the coming days,” says the Zwin.

Vulnerable Boy

“The vulnerable young storks are almost constantly shielded by the parents in the beginning and can therefore only be seen very occasionally. After a week they show themselves more and more, when they emerge from under the wings of the parent bird. Young In their first weeks of life, storks have a fine skin covering of down feathers that does not protect them enough against the weather elements, so the parent birds keep their young extra warm under their wings during the first weeks,” says the Province.

Crucial first weeks

“The breeding success depends on the weather: cold and wet weather in the first weeks of life can be fatal. Nutrition also plays an important role. If the parents can find enough food, all young can survive and grow up. If food problems arise, the oldest young will claim most of the food at the expense of their smaller nest mates, and within a couple of months the young will have grown into full fledged young storks.

In recent years, 12 to 22 young storks have fledged in the Zwin Nature Park each year. Eggs and young The incubation period is about 33 days. Storks usually lay three to five eggs. These are not laid all at once, but on average every two days. Both the female and the male keep the clutch warm. Because the eggs are not all laid at the same time, they do not all hatch together. As a result, not all young in the same nest are the same size.”

Good year for storks for the Zwin Nature Park

“This year, 16 stork nests have been occupied in the Zwin Nature Park, 15 of which by a couple. That is the highest number of the past five years. The first stork eggs were laid at the end of March. A large part of the pairs went into that period before breeding, especially those that returned early in the spring, breeding pairs that arrived later waited until April.

One of those later starters is Hadewijch, a stork that was provided with a transmitter in the Zwin Nature Park in 2019. This female has been followed for three years now, and she is making her first serious breeding attempt this year. It is the first transmitter stork to welcome the park as a breeding bird.

Three other transmitter storks (Cora, Esperanza and Kris) also returned to the Zwin Nature Park in the past period.”

Rings and Transmitters

Like every year, the Zwin Nature Park will once again provide all young storks with a scientific ring this year. Some will also be sent.

Thanks to Zwin Nature Park & ​​Province of West Flanders for the video images