Hilpoltstein (dpa / lby) - The number of white storks in Bavaria has risen to a record value. More than 1000 pairs have been reported to the State Association for Bird Protection (LBV) this year so far. "Never since the start of recording its population in 1900 have so many breeding storks been counted in the Free State as this year," said LBV expert Oda Wieding on Tuesday. In 1988 the number of white storks in Bavaria had reached a low of 58 breeding pairs. Since the beginning of the millennium, their number has been steadily increasing again.
According to LBV information, a changed migration behavior that bird experts have been observing since the 1980s has contributed to this. "Most of the Bavarian storks that migrate south via the western route are increasingly spending the winter directly in Spain," explained Wieding. As a result, they no longer have to cross the Mediterranean Sea and are no longer exposed to the dangers in the African wintering quarters. As a result, more storks returned to Bavaria.
According to the LBV, most storks settled in areas that were already popular with the birds, such as Oettingen in Swabia or Uehlfeld in Middle Franconia. But new nests have also been reported in eastern Bavaria.
