White storks in Templin: Dramatic decline in offspring!

White storks in Templin: Dramatic decline in offspring!

In the old Templin district, the year 2025 was anything but positive for the white storks. Wolff-Hasso Seybold and Norbert Bukowsky, NABU's stork representatives, give a sobering report on the offspring of storks. While the storks are now slowly heading towards their winter quarters, this year they had to contend with a reduced success rate in breeding offspring. Only 27 breeding pairs had 53 young, which means an average of 1.69 young per pair. For comparison: last year there were 1.94 young per breeding pair. This is the first indicator that 2025 was a more difficult year than 2024 for white storks, reports nordkurier.de.

There are currently 70 nests in the old district, 36 of which are occupied. A worrying trend is emerging: the reproduction rate for white storks is 2.5 young birds per breeding pair. The forecast is bleak: If the negative trend continues, fewer white storks will be observed in the villages in the future.

Influence of climate changes

Another factor affecting the stork population is climatic changes. Some areas in the Altkreis have sufficient moisture and fodder, but in others things are poor. According to the NABU website, the storks' wintering period has become less risky due to climate change, which primarily leads to milder winters in Europe. This means that the conditions for migratory birds have improved significantly in recent years. More and more white storks no longer overwinter in Africa, but in southern Europe and Germany NABU.

Germany currently has around 12,000 breeding pairs, and the population has recovered well over the last few decades. At the end of the 1980s there were only around 3,000 breeding pairs, while in 2023 at least 13,000 breeding pairs could already be counted, reports welt.de. The majority of these breeding pairs occur mainly in eastern Germany, i.e. in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Nesting aids and nature conservation measures

Nabu employees have also actively contributed to promoting the stork population. In Vietmannsdorf, for example, a new nesting aid was set up, which will hopefully help keep the population stable in the region. In Milmersdorf there are plans to replace an old nest after the breeding season. These small actions can make a difference in the long run. It was also reported that a breeding pair in Neu Placht immediately adopted a new mast and successfully raised three young birds. Such successes provide hope for the conservation of white storks in the region.

Finally, it remains to be hoped that the conservationists' efforts will bear fruit and that our white stork offspring will have a better chance despite the current challenges. Because one thing is certain: the white stork is one of the most impressive birds and is not only a symbol of happiness, but also an important part of our ecosystem.