White storks are native to the British Isles and evidence suggests that they were once widely distributed. Archaeological evidence dates back at least 360,000 years to the Pleistocene. More recently, nesting white storks were recorded on the roof of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in 1416.
Other literature sources suggest that later breeding attempts could have occurred elsewhere (Edgcumbe & Gow 2015). Rare Birds Britain recorded White Stork sightings from 1958 until 1983 when the species was considered to be a regular species to the UK and no further sightings were officially recorded. Although there have been regular sightings (20-30 records a year) and suitable habitat, due to their strong natal philopatry they are unlikely to return as a breeding species without intervention.
It is likely that a combination of habitat loss, over-hunting and targeted persecution all contributed to their decline in Britain. A contributory factor may be that storks were persecuted in the English Civil War for being associated with rebellion.
Habitat
White Storks often live in close proximity to people, building their large shaggy nests on roofs and church towers. In Europe, where they are considered a sign of good luck, they are so beloved that people erect cartwheels on their roofs to attract them. Their nests provide opportunities for colonies of other birds such as tree sparrows and house sparrows.
Storks fly far and wide to feed. Omnivores and opportunists, they seek out small mammals, earthworms, snails, crickets, and other large insects in water-meadows, grasslands, and arable fields. We hope that the White Stork reintroduction will provide inspiration for restoring wetlands and river catchments such as the Arun and the Adur so that people in towns and villages will regard this bird as a charismatic emblem for the regeneration of nature.
History in a name
In 1185, the Sussex town of Storrington (in the Arun Catchment), was called ‘Storketon’ which has been explained in Old English as Storca-tun being "homestead with storks".
The town sign showing a pair of storks is still on display today, an indication of a species that may have once been abundant in the area. The surrounding wetland would have been perfect for foraging storks.
In addition, a small farm called ‘Storwood’ once abutted the east end of Oreham Common near Henfield. The Place Names of Sussex (Mawer and Stenton) additionally mentions a 15th century Storgelond in Wartling, on the edge of the Pevensey Levels. White Storks are now regularly seen in Sussex, with 34 recorded in the period between 1995 to 2011 (Birds of Sussex).
Storks in stories
Storks feature in Aesop’s Fables ‘The Fox and the Stork’. In this story, a fox invites a stork over for dinner which is served on a shallow plate, leaving the stork unable to eat with it’s long beak. The fox is amused at the trick as the stork goes hungry. This is until the stork returns the favor by inviting the fox over, serving soup in a long flask.
The story has inspired artwork across the Europe, including a statue of fox and stork in a fountain in Barcelona,
Storks in folklore
Across northern Europe throughout the Medieval era, there was widespread folklore surrounding storks delivering babies. Particularly in Germany, there were stories about the souls of unborn children being said to live in caves, marshes and ponds, in the form of Adeborsteine or ‘stork-stones’. The storks would bring them back to households to their expectant parents and either hand them over to the mother or drop them down the chimney.
The project release sites
The estates have constructed purpose-built predator-proof pens covering about six acres each. A total of 166 rehabilitated wild-fledged White Storks from Poland, as well as a small number of others from northern France, have been released into these pens over the course of the last three years, in order to establish local breeding populations. This is based on the successful approach used to restore White Stork populations in many parts of Europe over the last 50 years.
Many of these birds are now free-flying and living in the local area. This includes several pairs that have built nests in the top of oak trees at Knepp. In time it is hoped that up to twenty breeding pairs will become established at each site.
In addition, captive-bred first year birds raised at Cotswold Wildlife Park will be released in late summer to boost the establishment of a population and to encourage migratory behaviour. A similar methodology has been used successfully in southern Sweden which, like England, lies at the northern edge of the White Stork’s breeding range.
The pens will become the focal point of future stork populations and it is encouraging to note that passing wild storks have already been attracted in by the presence of the released birds. This indicates that, in time, wandering storks from Continental Europe will give a further boost to the local population.