Storks soar over Devon again after '600 years'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp85dynz32po

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Ten white storks have been released at a site in north Devon

Storks have made a "phenomenal" return to Devon after centuries of being extinct in the UK.

The white storks have been released from a privately owned farm in north Devon as a result of a long-term rewilding and species recovery project.

Dorette Engi, who owns the farm, said those watching "all had their breath taken away" when the 10 storks flew free for the first time.

Storks stopped breeding in Britain 600 years ago due to hunting and habitat loss.

'Extraordinary'

Mrs Engi and her children have spent several years rewilding her land, which now includes recreated wetlands, mixed grasslands and restored woodlands.

The storks were raised in two large aviaries at the site, which forms part of a growing network of satellite locations developed by the Keep It Wild organisation.

The storks released in north Devon are not tracked with GPS, but early signs suggest they are staying close, building their strength and confidence before migrating abroad.

"It's extraordinary. These birds haven't lived freely here in over 600 years, yet as soon as they were given the choice, they stepped out into the landscape like it had always been theirs," she said.

The storks are expected to leave in August and fly through France to Spain.

The hope is they will stay in Europe until they pair up and will then return to Devon where they were born, as long as there is a colony to come back to.

In order to achieve this Mrs Engi is planning to get two breeding pairs of flightless storks as an anchor to create a colony and attract them back in.

She said: "It's a dangerous journey but I hope they have a good time and enjoy their Spanish holiday."

The release of the storks 'was a very emotional moment' according to landowner Dorette Engi

"I'm Swiss - there are storks everywhere - so for me they are a little bit part of the landscape," she said.

"We all look up and stop whatever we're doing. They're beautiful."

She said the release was "phenomenal" and "it was completely unexpected how nerve-wracking" it was.

Nick Viney, director at Keep It Wild, said: "My hope is that more and more landowners will see these magnificent birds and be able to reimagine the land in their stewardship, into one where we can all thrive."

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