UK White Storks (1 Viewer)

[Mono]

An odd situation seems to be developing in Cumbria.

The zoo in Dalton in Furness, it has gone by several names, has closed. Among the rhinos and tigers it had some White Storks. These storks were free flying and often turned up in the surrounding farmland. On closing the animals have been distributed to various other zoos but there is an odd situation with the storks. They have not managed to catch all the storks. The ones at large, thought to be four, are just going to be left. The ones they have caught have been given to Lowther Estate. Lowther is a former country estate that is being rewilded. Lowther have said that the storks will be free-flying and added to by the release of further captive breed birds.

I am, of course, aware of the Knepp project and their White Storks but the situation in South Cumbria seems to be a lot more haphazard. It just seems like there is carte blanche to just release White Storks into the countryside.

 

[Phil Andrews]

There are regular wanderers from a free-flying collection north of Wolverhampton too.

 

[dantheman]

Carte noir for Black Storks would be worse.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

An odd situation seems to be developing in Cumbria.

The zoo in Dalton in Furness, it has gone by several names, has closed. Among the rhinos and tigers it had some White Storks. These storks were free flying and often turned up in the surrounding farmland. On closing the animals have been distributed to various other zoos but there is an odd situation with the storks. They have not managed to catch all the storks. The ones at large, thought to be four, are just going to be left. The ones they have caught have been given to Lowther Estate. Lowther is a former country estate that is being rewilded. Lowther have said that the storks will be free-flying and added to by the release of further captive breed birds.

I am, of course, aware of the Knepp project and their White Storks but the situation in South Cumbria seems to be a lot more haphazard. It just seems like there is carte blanche to just release White Storks into the countryside.

I would say it's less odd now than it was. Now White Storks are being released elsewhere it feels less of an issue that the Dalton birds can wander as far as Scotland unchecked.

Previously a zoo that had been prosecuted for not keeping its population of Sacred Ibis in check was being allowed to do the same with White Storks without being held to account with another species not breeding or being released in Britain. That was more odd.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

There are regular wanderers from a free-flying collection north of Wolverhampton too.

Hi Phil,

Are these birds ringed? For more years than I care to remember the issue with potentially wild White Storks in the north of England is that both the Harewood House, Leeds and more recently Dalton-in-Furness birds have been a mix of ringed and unringed.

Stephen

 

[jurek]

Just in case, white storks in France and the Netherlands are a mix of wild birds and ones from release centers, feeding centers and free-flying colonies in zoos, too.

 

[wolfbirder]

There are regular wanderers from a free-flying collection north of Wolverhampton too.

Where's that Phil? Just curious as that is where I live........North Wolverhampton.
Never seen them.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Where's that Phil? Just curious as that is where I live........North Wolverhampton.
Never seen them.

Actually southeast of Wolves - Wild Zoological Park at Halfpenny Green