Every spring, White Storks return to Pairi Daiza to nest. They settle in the trees, on rooftops and in the higher areas of the Park, where they rebuild or reinforce their nests before raising their young.

This year, nearly 130 young storks can be observed at Pairi Daiza. They are currently growing under the watchful eye of their parents, before taking flight in the coming weeks.

Since 2013, the teams at Pairi Daiza have been monitoring young White Storks born in the Park through ringing. This operation is carried out in collaboration with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. It helps improve our understanding of the birds’ movements, survival and population trends over time.

To date, 453 young storks born at Pairi Daiza have been ringed.

The data collected also makes it possible to track some individuals after they leave the Park. So far, 90 storks ringed at Pairi Daiza have been found during their travels, representing a total of 259 observations. These observations were made in Belgium, France, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

These results highlight the importance of Pairi Daiza as a nesting site for White Storks. They also contribute to a better understanding of this migratory species and its movements across Europe and beyond.

During your next visit, remember to look up: you may spot one of these young storks before its first great departure.