Pasewalk's storks: chicks in danger - where is the offspring?

Pasewalk's storks: chicks in danger - where is the offspring?

Pasewalk, Deutschland - Pasewalk, a picturesque town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is particularly proud of its feathered residents this year. Three of their medieval towers, the Mühlentor, the Kiek in de Mark and the powder tower, are not only historical landmarks, but also home to storks that enliven the cityscape. As the Nordkurier reports, this year saw the light of day at the Kiek in De Mark Dreiken. Their breeding -graying bends the positive trend around the stork population in Germany, which according to National Geographic recently recorded remarkable growth.

Although there is a lot of hustle and bustle on the Kiek in De Mark, the situation at the Mühlentor remains rather worrying. Although a pair of stork worked on the nest there in April, no chicks have so far been reported. If you then look at the powder tower, there is another picture: a pair of stork has a young chick, but this is smaller compared to its siblings. In the neighboring village of Belling, on the other hand, a pair of stork has two large chicks, which will be looked after in the nest in the coming weeks.

rearing and development

The breeding season of the storks stretches over 30 to 32 days and usually begins with the second egg, which is laid every two days. According to the information from the Storchenfreunde Wabern, the old tapes at the brood alternate, with the female often sitting on the eggs at night. Unresty previously lived is not a good sign, because it is important that the nest is always documented at night so that the eggs do not die. Shortly before the chicks hatch, they are audible and already communicate with their parents. The chicks that have seen the light of day this season will stay in the nest for about eight to ten weeks before they become fledged.

This rearing is crucial, as is the careful mounting of the chicks, which is carried out by experienced stork supervisors. This action is not only important to determine the gender of the animals through DNA analysis, but also to observe the movements of the animals. More and more chicks are being equipped with transmitters to understand their flight routes. According to National Geographic, the number of breeding pairs in Germany has increased to record numbers, which shows how successful the protective measures in recent years are. In 2024 the NABU reported impressive 13,266 breeding pairs across Germany.

challenges and protective measures

Despite the pleasant figures, the stork population also faces challenges. Missed storks, which are endangered by human interaction, are a serious problem. These storks lose their natural shyness and go to urban areas, which makes them vulnerable. In addition, the history shows that the white stork in Germany was almost extinct, with a low point of only 3,403 nest pairs in 1984. Thanks to extensive breeding and outdoor measures, the numbers have now been able to improve drastically.

The storks in Pasewalk and the surrounding area are not only a sign of the success of these measures, but also an important part of the cultural landscape of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. While the chicks are preparing for fledging, the citizens of the city are eagerly watching the development of their feathered neighbors and are happy about the return of these majestic birds.

So it is to be hoped that the storks will continue to find their luck in Pasewalk and enrich the city with its sight.