The stork pair we hope is already on its way from Africa to Vlaha will have to start this season by building a new nest. On the 19th of February, we removed the collapsed nest from the top of the utility pole. We left behind only a 10–15 cm layer of compacted nesting material on the metal platform that keeps the nest safely above the pole. This will serve as the foundation for the returning storks to rebuild their home.
The intervention became necessary because, over the years, the nest—watched by many through our live webcam—had grown far beyond the edges of its metal support, while the branches holding it together had gradually rotted away. Fortunately, the structure remained intact throughout the breeding season and only collapsed in September, shortly after the storks had left. By then, the outer rim of the nest was already hanging over the power lines, posing a risk both to the electricity supply and to the birds themselves when they returned.
In total, we removed and hauled away ten wheelbarrow loads of decayed branches and soil from beneath the nest.
We have exciting plans for our storks this year, and we look forward to sharing more about them in our next update.