The breeding stork population in Belgium set a new record this year, with 221 nests occupied, the Flemish environmental group Natuurpunt reported on Monday.
The unprecedented number of nests caps a series of consecutive annual records. Based on sources dating back several centuries, Natuurpunt claims this is the highest number of pairs ever registered in Belgium.
About 73% of this year's breeding pairs are in Flanders, with most of them nesting in two areas. The first is in the province of Antwerp, in and around the Planckendael Wildlife Park. The second is in the province of West Flanders, in the municipalities of Knokke-Heist, Zwin and surroundings and Damme.
Until a few years ago, the nesters were concentrated in Zwin and Planckendael, the original breeding sites. This is changing, according to Natuurpunt, which stated that storks now nest in every Flemish province.
Their numbers are also increasing in Wallonia, especially in the province of Hainaut, where they have a large, growing population in and around the Pairi Daiza animal park.
Natuurpunt also counted seven breeding pairs in the province of Liège.
In total, 373 young storks left their nests in 2022, 139 more than the previous year, according to Natuurpunt.
