Why it represents the country
The white stork has been known as Lithuania's national bird since 1973. It is a traditional and popular symbol rather than one set by law, and it is loved in Lithuania as a sign of spring and of life in the countryside.
Few countries have as many storks as Lithuania. It holds one of the densest white stork populations in the world: studies suggest the country has only a small part of the species' breeding range but a much larger share of all breeding pairs, with around 20,000 pairs counted in 2016. Almost every village has a stork nest on a roof, a tree, a water tower or an electricity pole, and people often put up platforms to help the birds build.
Storks are part of Lithuanian folklore. They were long seen as guardians of the farmstead and bringers of good fortune, and a stork nest near a house was considered a lucky sign. Lithuanians traditionally welcomed the storks back from the south around 25 March, and many still watch for the first stork of the year.
About the animal
The white stork is a large bird, about 100 to 115 centimeters long, with a wingspan of about 155 to 215 centimeters. It is white with black flight feathers, and it has long red legs and a long red bill. In flight it stretches its neck straight out and often soars in circles on rising warm air.
White storks feed in open places such as meadows, pastures and fields, walking slowly and catching food with quick stabs of the bill. They eat many kinds of small animals, including earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers, frogs, lizards, small fish and voles and other small rodents.
Adult storks are almost silent. Instead of calling, they greet each other at the nest by clattering their bills loudly, throwing their heads back as they do it. The nest is a huge pile of sticks that pairs reuse and add to year after year. The female usually lays about four eggs, and the chicks hatch after about 33 to 34 days. The young leave the nest roughly two months after hatching.
White storks are long-distance migrants. Because they rely on rising warm air to soar, they avoid crossing wide stretches of sea. Storks from eastern Europe, including Lithuania, usually fly around the eastern end of the Mediterranean, over the Bosporus, on their way to winter in Africa, and in Lithuania they begin to leave in mid-August.
Conservation
The white stork is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Its numbers fell sharply in parts of western Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, when wetlands were drained and farming changed, and in some countries it disappeared as a breeding bird. Reintroduction programs have since helped bring storks back to places such as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Storks need a mix of wet meadows, pastures and small fields where they can find plenty of food. When meadows are drained or turned into large crop fields, storks lose their feeding areas. They are also at risk from collisions with power lines and from electrocution when they perch or nest on poles.
In Lithuania, where storks live so close to people, simple steps help a great deal: putting nest platforms on poles, making power lines safer for large birds, and keeping wet meadows and traditional pastures in the countryside.
Where to see the white stork in the wild
Wild white storks in Lithuania nest across the countryside, with around 22,000 nests counted nationwide, often on electricity poles and roofs in villages, and the birds return from Africa every spring.
Watch wild animals from a distance, never feed them, and follow the rules and rangers of each protected area.
Fun facts
- Adult white storks have almost no voice, so they communicate by loudly clattering their bills.
- Lithuania holds one of the densest white stork breeding populations in the world.
- A stork nest can be reused and built up for many years until it becomes a huge pile of sticks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national bird of Lithuania?
The national bird of Lithuania is the white stork (a widely recognized national symbol, not set by law). It is a large white bird with black flight feathers and a long red bill and legs, and almost every Lithuanian village has a stork nest on a roof, a tree, a water tower or an electricity pole.
Which country has the white stork as its national bird?
The white stork is the national bird of Lithuania.
Why is the white stork the national bird of Lithuania?
The white stork has been known as Lithuania's national bird since 1973, as a traditional and popular symbol of spring and country life. Lithuania holds one of the densest white stork populations in the world, around 20,000 pairs in 2016, and in folklore storks were guardians of the farmstead and bringers of good fortune.
Is the white stork endangered?
The white stork is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Its numbers fell sharply in parts of western Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, but reintroduction programs have since helped bring storks back to places such as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Where does the white stork live?
Farmland, wet meadows, river valleys and villages with open feeding grounds.
Where can you see the white stork in the wild?
Wild white storks in Lithuania nest across the countryside, with around 22,000 nests counted nationwide, often on electricity poles and roofs in villages, and the birds return from Africa every spring.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Stork.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Ciconia ciconia (assessment 2016).
- European Commission LIFE Programme – Conservation of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Lithuania.
- LRT – Storks have taken over a Lithuanian village.
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
