Rühstedt - The European Stork Village
Rühstädt is the village with the most storks in Germany. In some years up to 40 pairs of storks breed there; there are also numerous individual storks.
As early as the 1970s, nesting aids were used to support the natural abundance of storks, which is favored by the richly equipped feeding grounds on the Elbe and Havel meadows. Sometimes up to five stork nests can be seen on a roof.
In 1996 Rühstädt was awarded the title “European Stork Village” by the European Natural Heritage Foundation. In the same year as many as 44 pairs of storks nested here. Information boards have been put up for each nest, informing about when the individual storks have arrived from their winter quarters or have then flown off again, as well as how many offspring have been raised in each case. The community laid most of the overland power lines underground to reduce the risk to the storks. Regular mowing of the meadows provides enough food for small animals, insects and earthworms.
The state of Brandenburg built a visitor center made of the typical regional red brick on the outskirts near the Elbe. The center is operated by the Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), which depicts a stork in its coat of arms, and the Brandenburg nature reserve. In addition to the exhibitions, visitors can also observe the brood care and territorial behavior of the storks up close with the help of cameras in spring and summer.
Rühstedt - The European Stork Village
Rühstädt is the village with the most storks in Germany. In some years up to 40 pairs of storks breed there; there are also numerous individual storks.
As early as the 1970s, nesting aids were used to support the natural abundance of storks, which is favored by the richly equipped feeding grounds on the Elbe and Havel meadows. Sometimes up to five stork nests can be seen on a roof.
In 1996 Rühstädt was awarded the title “European Stork Village” by the European Natural Heritage Foundation. In the same year as many as 44 pairs of storks nested here. Information boards have been put up for each nest, informing about when the individual storks have arrived from their winter quarters or have then flown off again, as well as how many offspring have been raised in each case. The community laid most of the overland power lines underground to reduce the risk to the storks. Regular mowing of the meadows provides enough food for small animals, insects and earthworms.
The state of Brandenburg built a visitor center made of the typical regional red brick on the outskirts near the Elbe. The center is operated by the Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), which depicts a stork in its coat of arms, and the Brandenburg nature reserve. In addition to the exhibitions, visitors can also observe the brood care and territorial behavior of the storks up close with the help of cameras in spring and summer.