Stork chicks hatch again in Prinsenpark after years of absence

The Prinsenpark in Retie is once again a beacon of natural success, with storks hatching three chicks this year, marking the second year in a row for this joyous event. This follows a nine-year wait after the installation of a special stork pole, which finally saw life return last year.

Domeinwachter Noach Janssens, who has been closely monitoring the birds, suspects it's the same pair as last year. The male is ringed, confirming his identity, and the team believes the female is also the same. This continuity is crucial, as Janssens notes, "It's always a tense wait each year to see if they return."

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It's always a tense wait each year to see if they return.

Last year, the pair produced four chicks, but sadly, only three survived due to the drought. Ooievaars expert Wouter Faveyts from the Ooievaars Observatie Initiatief (OOI) confirms that it's highly probable it's the same birds, as storks can live up to 30 years and often return to the same nesting sites.

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About 15 to 20 years ago, there were no more storks in the Kempen region. At the beginning of the 20th century, they had even completely disappeared from Belgium.

Faveyts provides important context on the stork's resurgence in Belgium. "About 15 to 20 years ago, there were no more storks in the Kempen region," he explains. "At the beginning of the 20th century, they had even completely disappeared from Belgium." This decline was due to habitat loss, hunting, and increasing droughts in their wintering grounds. Fortunately, legal protection and reintroduction programs, such as those at Zwin and Planckendael, have helped the species recover.

The growing number of storks in Belgium is a testament to these conservation efforts. Faveyts notes that newer pairs are less tied to specific reintroduction sites, leading to wider dispersal. The public's fascination with these large, familiar birds is evident, and Janssens encourages visitors to "just enjoy it." Faveyts adds that the stork holds a significant place in local folklore, and this successful breeding could even inspire new birdwatchers.

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Just enjoy it. We had to miss the species for a long time. We have known the animal for centuries, and the stork has always played an important role in local folklore.