The breeding platform in Fier shelters the White Storks even in Winter

𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐑𝐞 π–π‘π’π­πž 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐀𝐬 (𝘊π˜ͺ𝘀𝘰𝘯π˜ͺ𝘒 𝘀π˜ͺ𝘀𝘰𝘯π˜ͺ𝘒) 𝐰𝐒𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐧 𝐀π₯π›πšπ§π’πš? β€œNo!” would reply anyone aware that the White Storks breed in Albania during March-August, leave the country in August-September, travel thousands of km towards Africa where they spend the winter and return in spring at the same place for nesting.

Despite the above, two adult White Storks breeding in Fier seem to have decided to spend the wintering season in a breeding platform built by AOS and OST. From here, the two White Storks undertake daily trips in search of food. AOS had the chance to take pictures of one of them and has the great pleasure to share the pictures of this rare wintering sightings.

𝐖𝐑𝐲 𝐝𝐒𝐝 𝐭𝐑𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐒𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐒𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐧 𝐀π₯π›πšπ§π’πš? There are more and more cases of White Storks wintering in Europe while the majority of them spend the winter in the African Continent.

1. Those wintering in Europe might face a harsh winter resulting in lower survival rates. This is particularly true when the food resources could be missing.

2. In case the winter is mild, White Storks could find enough food, spend the winter without major difficulties and get ready soon for another new breeding season, without facing the multiple migration difficulties including illegal killing, collision with wind turbines and powerlines etc.

We hope on the second scenario and eagerly wait to find out more about the wintering of White Storks in Albania.