Ooievaars Ciconia ciconia in ZW-Drenthe

The White Stork has almost disappeared as a breeding bird in The Netherlands, Since 1969, White Stork stations were therefore established in several parts of the country (fig. 1) in order to increase reproductive output. The fledglings were released. One such station was established near De Wijk in the province of Drenthe in 1982. In 1982-92, 276 nestlings were ringed here (and some remained unringed). The number of pairs increased to 24 in 1991, 31 in 1992 and 35 (producing 92 young, cf, table 1) in 1993. In the latter year, the majority bred outside the confines of the station. These pairs remained within a radius of 10 km of the station, viz. the maximum distance that breeding birds were willing to fly to receive food at the station during periods of food shortage. Ringing recoveries were received from all over Europe. The present population is partly resident and overwinters partly in southern Europe. Two birds were recovered in Mali.