site.btaGrowing Number of White Storks in Bulgaria

Growing Number of  White Storks in Bulgaria

Sofia, February 11 (BTA) - The numbers of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and their nests in Bulgaria increase, the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds (BSPB) said. BSPB coordinated a white stork counting in Bulgaria as part of the Seventh International White Stork Census in all European countries performed every ten years.

The data collected by the BSPB teams are rather promising. There are 6,805 white stork nests in Bulgaria, of which 5,671 are occupied. This compares with 5,703 nests of which 4,818 occupied from the previous census ten years ago, or an increase of 1,102 nests and 853 pairs of storks. The young storks totalled 13,873.

Poles are the most preferred place for making a nest by storks. Out of the total of 6,805 nests, 5,624 are built on poles, 195 on trees, 444 on chimneys and 279 on roofs. The census found a high number of risky nests, e.g. such built on utility poles, 2,704. The BSPB and the electricity distribution companies work together to render such nests safe, by raising them on special platforms.

The census in Bulgaria, which was performed in two consecutive summers, involved more than 400 volunteers, experts and BSPB employees.