Wildlife

White Stork Welfare and UK Reintroduction

White storks were reintroduced to Sussex in 2019 after a 600-year absence. The welfare of reintroduced birds and management of their settlement in the UK is an ongoing story.

Key Facts

White storks bred naturally at Knepp Estate, West Sussex in 2020 — the first UK breeding in 600 years
The reintroduction programme sources birds from Alsace, France and other European populations
GPS tracking monitors movement and welfare of released birds
Storks need extensive wet grassland and rough pasture for earthworm and invertebrate prey
Young birds dispersing from release sites face road collision and power line mortality risks

Welfare Considerations

Reintroduced white storks face the challenge of finding adequate food resources in a landscape transformed since their last presence. Intensive agriculture has reduced the rough grassland and wet meadow habitats they depend on. The Knepp Wildland rewilding project has provided an anchor site, but wider landscape connectivity is essential for long-term welfare. Power line collisions are a documented mortality cause requiring mitigation in key dispersal areas.

What You Can Do

Support Knepp Wildland and White Stork Project conservation and monitoring
Advocate for National Grid power line undergrounding or fittings in key stork corridors
Report white stork sightings to BTO to track range expansion
Follow White Stork Project updates on breeding success and dispersal
Donate to the White Stork Project reintroduction and monitoring fund