The stork was in critical condition when it was rescued from a lake in western Poland. A stork that was found drowning in a lake on the outskirts of Poznań has returned to full strength and is believed to be on its way to Africa. The bird was rescued after it was spotted struggling in Kierskie Lake, a popular spot west of the city center, the local authority said in a social media post on Tuesday. The unlucky stork was very cold and extremely weak when it was found. It was taken in by animal rescue organization Fundacja z Dzikiej Strony, which helped nurse it back to health. “We took on the challenge and began intensive treatment,” the organization said, adding that the bird soon began eating again and gradually regained its strength. Once its condition had stabilized, the stork was moved to an outdoor aviary, where it continued to rebuild its strength, improve its fitness and practice flying. Eventually, the moment came when the bird was strong enough to be sent back into the wild. “The release went beyond anything we could have imagined,” the organization said. “The stork took off almost immediately and flew for kilometers above us. It soared higher and higher, flying in a beautiful and effortless way.” Fundacja z Dzikiej Strony added that the stork is likely already on its way to Africa, where these migratory birds spend the winter. Poland is home to about one-sixth of the world’s white stork population in summer, with around 45,000 breeding pairs nesting in the country. The bird is considered something of a national symbol, intimately tied to folklore and rural culture.
