White storks are iconic migratory birds whose welfare depends on conditions across their European breeding range and African wintering grounds. Climate and land use change threaten both.
Stork welfare in breeding areas depends on invertebrate prey availability that is declining with agricultural intensification. Stork pairs that cannot feed adequate prey to chicks face the welfare dilemma of partial brood reduction — ejecting weaker chicks from the nest to improve survival of stronger siblings. This natural behavior becomes more frequent under food stress. Power line electrocution kills adult storks and causes the loss of dependent young. The shift in migration timing driven by climate change creates new welfare risks as shorter migrations and European overwintering expose storks to cold weather events. Meadow restoration and extensive livestock grazing that maintains insect-rich habitat provides the food base stork welfare depends on.