More and more white storks wintering in Hungary

Budapest (MTI) – From year to year, more and more white storks are wintering in Hungary, and the chances of survival of birds that stay rather than migrate is greatly increased if they are fed, according to the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society.

During the autumn, the society received more and more reports of white storks sticking around rather than doing the 20,000km migration back and forth, they said in a statement. And most of them are perfectly able to fly. So the reason is more likely to be found in evolutionary change than illness, they added. Due to the changing environment storks are finding it easier to stay put in Hungary.

Among the birds that stick around are “veterans” that have spent several winters here, the experts said. These have refined their strategies for survival and have a greater chance of surviving the cold.

But one thing we can do is help them by feeding them, and past experience suggests the birds themselves count on our help, the ornithologists said. Quantities depend on how cold it is, they added.

Photo: ujkigyos.hu

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters