White Stork in the Netherlands
The white stork is one of Europe’s biggest birds. When standing, it measures about 95 to 110 centimetres and it has a wingspan of around 183 to 217 centimetres. The white stork is easily recognisable by its white plumage, its black wing and shoulder feathers as well as its long red bill (measuring 14-19 centimetres) and its red legs. When foraging for food, the white stork strides sedately across meadows and pastures, its neck straight, leaning slightly forward. In flight its wingbeats are slow and regular. Unlike herons, storks fly with both their neck and legs outstretched. As “gliders”, they use thermals to soar, their wings held still, high into the sky. We know from monitoring ringed storks that they can live to be up to 39 years old.
The stork is traditionally regarded as a lucky charm, not only in the Netherlands but also in countries such as Turkey, Morocco, and Greece. They believe the bird to have similarities with humans: it cares for its young and mourns their loss if they die.
In the Middle Ages, people in Germany even believed that the stork could prevent fires and, as a result, storks could be found in practically every German house.
In some parts of the Netherlands the Dutch say that “the stork has visited” when a child is born and some new parents often put a (toy) stork in their front yard. Later, the stork became directly associated with childbirth. Some greeting cards carry an image of a stork carrying a baby.
The Hague’s coat of arms includes a stork (minus the baby).
Storks are the “playboys” of the bird family as they are not monogamous, taking on a new partner every year.
Storks lay a maximum of seven eggs a season and their young ones eat approximately four kilograms of food every day.
After 40 days the young ones get flying lessons from their parents, and after 10 weeks they become independent and are left to fend for themselves.
White Stork in the Netherlands
The white stork is one of Europe’s biggest birds. When standing, it measures about 95 to 110 centimetres and it has a wingspan of around 183 to 217 centimetres. The white stork is easily recognisable by its white plumage, its black wing and shoulder feathers as well as its long red bill (measuring 14-19 centimetres) and its red legs. When foraging for food, the white stork strides sedately across meadows and pastures, its neck straight, leaning slightly forward. In flight its wingbeats are slow and regular. Unlike herons, storks fly with both their neck and legs outstretched. As “gliders”, they use thermals to soar, their wings held still, high into the sky. We know from monitoring ringed storks that they can live to be up to 39 years old.
The stork is traditionally regarded as a lucky charm, not only in the Netherlands but also in countries such as Turkey, Morocco, and Greece. They believe the bird to have similarities with humans: it cares for its young and mourns their loss if they die.
In the Middle Ages, people in Germany even believed that the stork could prevent fires and, as a result, storks could be found in practically every German house.
In some parts of the Netherlands the Dutch say that “the stork has visited” when a child is born and some new parents often put a (toy) stork in their front yard. Later, the stork became directly associated with childbirth. Some greeting cards carry an image of a stork carrying a baby.
The Hague’s coat of arms includes a stork (minus the baby).
Storks are the “playboys” of the bird family as they are not monogamous, taking on a new partner every year.
Storks lay a maximum of seven eggs a season and their young ones eat approximately four kilograms of food every day.
After 40 days the young ones get flying lessons from their parents, and after 10 weeks they become independent and are left to fend for themselves.