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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Nesting White Storks, Sussex (1 Viewer)

I just assumed it is two of the birds they have 're-introduced' ie let go.

I am all for re-wilding but feel that wildlife should be allowed to find and colonise the areas naturally rather than being introduced. Somehow I think it would have taken a long while for White Storks to do so.

Steve
 
gambirder said:
What's the deal with the Knepp White Storks? Difficult to get clear info on whether the birds that are nesting are true wild birds attracted by the clipped-wing birds, or escapees...

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...me-first-to-breed-in-wild-in-uk-for-centuries
Click to expand...

I imagine that is deliberate. The more they can blur the line, the more they can claim they are encouraging wild birds back rather than conducting a vanity project with a species that could well return on its own if the environment encouraged it.

John
 
A tatty looking White Stork turned up on my patch at Posbrook a year or two back and the fact that it barely reacted when a dog walker got very close to it was not a good sign. It was traced back to Knepp.

Dave W
 
Thanks chaps. As I suspected, despite the suggestions in the Guardian and other national newspapers that this was the first wild breeding in the UK for 600 years...
 
Farnboro John said:
I imagine that is deliberate. The more they can blur the line, the more they can claim they are encouraging wild birds back rather than conducting a vanity project with a species that could well return on its own if the environment encouraged it.
Click to expand...

We are truly in the Age of the Conspiracy Theorist. . .. ;)
 
davercox said:
Apparently Springwatch will tell us all abaht it Monday evening. It'll be interesting to see what line they take.
Click to expand...

OK, so it was Tuesday. I was a bit surprised Chris Packham was so enthusiastic about this project, but maybe I shouldn't have been.
 
dwallace said:
A tatty looking White Stork turned up on my patch at Posbrook a year or two back and the fact that it barely reacted when a dog walker got very close to it was not a good sign. It was traced back to Knepp.

Dave W
Click to expand...

But beware, this one at a French Service station was pretty much eating out of people's hands, with dogs and children in the area. There were about 20 behaving similar,

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1591194880925781&set=pb.100001058541503.-2207520000.1560340259.&type=3&theater
 
davercox said:
OK, so it was Tuesday. I was a bit surprised Chris Packham was so enthusiastic about this project, but maybe I shouldn't have been.
Click to expand...

My thoughts too (on his enthusiasm levels). The fact the birds are 'prevented' from migrating during their first few years only adds to the oddness of this project. I'm hesitant to use the phrase 'vanity project', but it seemed to be heading that way.

Personally, I think projects like this (and similar) are a waste of conservation/private funds and effort. Does it distract us from looking at a whole-habitat solution, by concentrating on some sort of micro-conservation instead (for "almost-native" species!)?

White Storks are cosmopolitan across much of Europe.

Head-started Godwits and Curlews are much more relevant and worth-while projects (in my humble opinion).
 
GWB77 said:
My thoughts too (on his enthusiasm levels). The fact the birds are 'prevented' from migrating during their first few years only adds to the oddness of this project. I'm hesitant to use the phrase 'vanity project', but it seemed to be heading that way.

Personally, I think projects like this (and similar) are a waste of conservation/private funds and effort. Does it distract us from looking at a whole-habitat solution, by concentrating on some sort of micro-conservation instead (for "almost-native" species!)?

White Storks are cosmopolitan across much of Europe.

Head-started Godwits and Curlews are much more relevant and worth-while projects (in my humble opinion).
Click to expand...

Knepp is more than White Storks, vanity project or not, they are rewilding and plenty of species are benefitting it is becoming a great place for birding. I had a great walk round a couple of weeks ago, although look out for the cows they are a bit feisty!!
It is also excellent for Butterflies, with Purple Hairstreak, Purple Emperor and White Admiral all doing well.

Cheers

Paul
 
I applaud the idea of rewilding large areas such as the Knepp estate but I would be much happier if wildlife was left to find and utilise the habitat rather than being introduced.
 
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