Hamburg Storks Raise Record Chicks, Highest in 100 Years

Hamburg's white storks have achieved a remarkable breeding record this season, raising 129 chicks – the highest number in a century. This success highlights the effectiveness of local nature conservation efforts, according to the Naturschutzbund (Nabu).

Jürgen Pelch, a stork caretaker for 50 years, reported that 46 out of 59 stork pairs successfully bred along the Elbe River. The previous record was 113 chicks in 2024. Hamburg is recognized as a stronghold for white storks, boasting the most in any major German city, according to Nabu's nationwide registry.

Environmental state councilor Stefanie von Berg noted that storks serve as an indicator of successful nature protection. The area's abundance of ponds, meadows, and ditches along the Elbe provides a suitable habitat for the birds, which primarily feed on frogs, mice, and moles. A stork family consumes about four kilograms of food daily.

Pelch manually counted the chicks, even hand-raising two from eggs and rescuing three after finding their mother deceased. Despite recent heavy rain and heat, the weather did not harm the birds. The young storks will begin their migration to wintering grounds in Spain, Portugal, and Africa in late July or early August, with some equipped with GPS trackers to monitor their journeys.

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The storks are an indicator of how well we succeed in protecting our nature.