The Storks Are Coming to Poland
Storks are birds of passage.
They spend winter in North, Sub Saharian or even South Africa. They spend summer in Europe (mostly in Germany, Holland and Poland).
They are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. Being carnivorous they eat small reptiles, insects, worms, mice and frogs.
They prefer small lakes, ponds and wetlands, their natural habitat is the countryside. Especially the Polish countryside!
Their number varies but it is estimated that there are under 40 thousands pairs nesting and bringing up their young ones in Poland.
Storks are the heralds of coming spring and not only. In Polish folk culture, they bring babies, they are associated with fertility, beginning of new life (as Spring always is).
A pair of storks seen near a house could foretell a wedding or birth and good fortune to the dwellers. It was believed the bird nests on a house, where people are unanimous, pious and hospitable and God loving. When the stork suddenly left such a nest it was a very bad news.
In Polish literary tradition there are numerous songs, nursery rhymes, poems and stories about them. It is not an exaggerations Poles love storks and never harm them. If they have broken wings or legs we provide help in animal hospitals.
These birds built their nests using wooden sticks on top of unused chimneys or roofs of buildings but prefer to use their old “residences”, which can weigh up to over a tonne (1000 kilos). There are villages in Poland where metal constructions are mounted on tops of structures so that it is easier for birds to build. This is where the young ones are brought up by loving parents, food brought day long.
Their loud clatter is heard throughout the day and though cannot be compared to the beauty of some singing birds, it has always been associated with Polish countryside.
When days get shorter and colder they hold their own “parlimentary debates” and for a week or two gather in large crowds flying in circles and happily and when all is said and done, they all suddenly take to wings and fly South for the long journey. A sad view, true, but the first sighting of storks only proves that there is day after night. It is time for Spring to come.
Clatter away!!
If you would like:
- to find out where the storks like to place their nests,
- how they are raising their children,
- learn their ways of living, as well as their travel to Africa and back,
- how and when there are choosing the partners,
- what they really eat,
- and do they really bring babies,
- how to protect the stork breeding areas,
- as well as spend some time on observing or photo shooting in one of the most beautiful region in Poland (Podlasie) just contact us at info@poland4weekend.pl
