Volunteers are currently being recruited for a nationwide initiative to count white storks in Poland, a crucial effort that unfolds only once a decade.
The aim of this campaign is to collect data vital for the active protection of these iconic birds. Participants will be tasked with precisely determining the number of storks and their chicks within a chosen municipality.
Marcin Tobółka, the campaign’s coordinator from the Poznań University of Life Sciences, western Poland, emphasizes that volunteers will need to thoroughly explore their selected municipality, meticulously checking each nest before submitting their findings to a national database.
The role of volunteer observer is open to almost anyone, given the white stork’s status as a widely recognized bird in Poland, which should simplify its identification.
“Monitoring of birds living in Poland shows that the stork population has been declining in recent years. Between 2004 and 2014, the number of storks in Poland declined. From about 52,000 pairs to about 45,000-46,000 pairs,” polishscience.pl reported in late February.
Timing is crucial
Due to the storks’ earlier return to Poland this year, the census is scheduled between the last weekend of June and July 10.
This timing is deliberate, allowing volunteers to easily count and assess the health of the young storks, sufficiently grown yet still too young to leave the nest, thereby avoiding enumeration errors.
This initiative not only contributes to the conservation of the white stork but also engages the community in a meaningful way, blending scientific research with public participation.
Marcin Tobółka, the campaign’s coordinator from the Poznań University of Life Sciences, western Poland, emphasizes that volunteers will need to thoroughly explore their selected municipality, meticulously checking each nest before submitting their findings to a national database.
The role of volunteer observer is open to almost anyone, given the white stork’s status as a widely recognized bird in Poland, which should simplify its identification.
“Monitoring of birds living in Poland shows that the stork population has been declining in recent years. Between 2004 and 2014, the number of storks in Poland declined. From about 52,000 pairs to about 45,000-46,000 pairs,” polishscience.pl reported in late February.
Timing is crucial
Due to the storks’ earlier return to Poland this year, the census is scheduled between the last weekend of June and July 10.
This timing is deliberate, allowing volunteers to easily count and assess the health of the young storks, sufficiently grown yet still too young to leave the nest, thereby avoiding enumeration errors.
This initiative not only contributes to the conservation of the white stork but also engages the community in a meaningful way, blending scientific research with public participation.
Source: regiony.tvp.pl, TVP World
More In Nature & Travel MORE...
