The disappearing black stork
The already rare and protected black stork (Ciconia nigra) population is on a steady decline in the Baltic states and Poland. Unlike its more sociable relative, the white stork, the black stork thrives in remote, undisturbed mixed forests. The reason for the population decline is largely due to humans encroaching on their habitat, making breeding tricky for the shy black stork, which is extremely sensitive to disturbances and avoids proximity to people.
Efforts to protect the black stork therefore focus on preserving undisturbed forest habitats, for example, by protecting areas around the existing nests and constructing new artificial nest platforms. Other efforts to protect these storks include protecting them from invasive predators, like raccoons, by installing protective barriers made from metal or plastic sleeves around nesting trees. However, in Latvia, despite all efforts, there are about 100 pairs of black storks left, but not all are fertile and can reproduce.
The black stork’s decline in the region highlights the delicate balance between human activity and wildlife conservation. The news is particularly alarming considering the recent warning of a global 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations over the past 50 years. Minimising human disturbance near their nesting sites and delaying forestry operations, especially during sensitive periods such as their arrival, mating, and early nesting, are crucial to the conservation of black storks. However, at the current rate of population decline, it is likely to become a bird of the past in the Baltics.