Belarusian field attracts 1,500 storks in rare gathering
Remarkable photos were taken in a field near Grodno in Belarus, where more than 1,500 storks gathered in one place. What could be the cause of such a large assembly of birds? "Storks choose specific places using signs known only to them," says ornithologist Irina Samusenko.
5:14 PM EDT, July 24, 2024
The sight of 1,500 storks in a Belarusian field is impressive. The magnificent birds visited the same place near Grodno for the second time, building temporary nests there. This interesting ornithological phenomenon is being discussed online.
A year ago, exactly 200 large birds were camping in the same place.
Head of the Biological Resources Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Irina Samusenko, believes that this event is unique but notes such large gatherings are not often encountered.
Why do storks favor this particular field? Professor Samusenko states, “storks are capable of reading signs unknown to humans.”
Scientists have long observed that storks choose specific places using signs known only to them. It could be a harvester cutting grain or a tractor with a plow. It's said that storks can sense places where grain or grass has been harvested. Previously, it was thought that their olfactory receptors weren't very good. The latest research proves that this is a mistaken belief, states the Belarusian ornithologist, quoted by the state agency BelTA.
Why are there so many storks? This is caused by the breeding season, which is currently underway.
The flocks may include young birds born last year or two years ago. Storks begin reproducing, nesting, and hatching in their third or fourth year of life, and sometimes even later. There may also be birds that have not nested, including those that started nesting but lost their broods or chicks, explains Professor Samusenko.
It is worth noting that Poles enjoy the largest population of white storks. Spain is in second place, while Belarus, along with Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia, occupies third place.
