01.12.2009
We placed a new nesting platform for White Stork
White stork is the companion of man in our cultural landscape. We are often witnesses of a scene when the stork is following a farmer, who is ploughing the field or mowing the meadow, and collecting large insects, small mammals and amphibians. It seems that the stork has much more benefit from man than vice versa.
At least in the past that has been the case. Austrian ornithologists (Joachim Tajmel; oral source) started to warn that their presence in areas, where there is a growing share of corn fields, reduces. At the same time accelerated climate changes influence on animals and their nests.
In this year´s white stork census held by the BirdLife Slovenia and many volunteers we found out that many nests in Nature Park Goričko started to decay due to heavy rains and storms.
At home of Renata Šadl in Ropoča one of these nests almost completely decayed, and only the central part with rotten wood, clay and plastic pieces remained. Unfortunately, the majority of nests are on platforms which are too small. Therefore the parts which hang over the platforms are starting to fall down. Because of the nest decaying and their weight this year this happens often. Sometimes the nestlings fall down as well.
So, Miss Šadl took the initiative and employees in Public Institution Nature Park Goričko decided to build the suitable nesting platform for white stork and to set it on to the existing electric pole, accompanied by staff of Elektro Maribor companay, Regional Unit Murska Sobota. First the "electricians" removed the rest of the nest from the old platform then fixed the new one and finally they put the nest back on the new platform together with some branches.
As the exchange of the old nesting platform with new one has proved successful and quick, in future we will continue with that activity. There are currently 20 white stork nests in Nature Park Goričko, of which in seven the storks were successfully nesting. At least four are under construction and at least at three locations it will be necessary to replace old and unsuitable nesting platforms! Of course, with the support of local people and Elektro Maribor company.
For more information don’t hesitate to call the telephone number 02/551 88 68 or write to gregor.domanjko@goricko.info or kristjan.malacic@goricko.info.
Gregor Domanjko
You can contribute to restoration of white stork nests by buying a book called Pepi in njegovo gnezdo.
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