Happy couple from Cáceres and Madrid are no longer ‘waiting for the stork’ as new chicks are born in Benidorm nature park in Spain

A PAIR of storks who had been being cared for in two recovery centres in Cáceres and Madrid managed to nest and have four chicks in the aviary area of the Terra Natura Benidorm nature and animal park. The veterinarians of this centre dedicated to animal conservation, so far, have not carried out any veterinary examination of small birds to avoid possible rejection by their parents. As soon as they get a little older, they proceed to conduct an in-depth review and determine their gender. The parents arrived at Terra Natura Benidorm in 2006 and 2008, from recovery centres. They are very attentive and protective of their four chicks. Both have spent time incubating the eggs until hatching. Now they are in charge of feeding the young and protecting them.

Despite the fact that the conservation of this species is not a concern, it should be noted that a few years ago its populations were reduced due to the use of pesticides. However, thanks to conservation efforts and better use of land and wetlands, their populations have recovered with a slight increase. Currently, Terra Natura Benidorm has a group of four common storks, plus the four new chicks.