Although in the coming weeks the chicks may still return to the nest to rest or wait for food brought by their parents, the most important step has already been taken – they have taken their first flight and are beginning the stage of independent life.
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This story began last summer when a storm destroyed the natural black stork nest. It seemed that this pair might lose a safe place for future breeding, but through joint efforts of conservationists, it was decided to install a new artificial nest.
At the turn of 2025–2026, work was planned, and this March, in cooperation with partners, a new artificial nest was erected on a sturdy oak. Already on March 25, symbolically on Stork Day, the first black stork visited it. Soon its mate returned as well; on April 19 the first egg was laid, on May 23 the first chick hatched, and throughout this time, thanks to the nest broadcast, thousands of people had a unique opportunity to observe the secret life of black storks.
Over several months, we watched how the parents carefully incubated the eggs, fed the growing chicks, and protected them from rain, heat, and other natural challenges. July 28 became a special day – the chicks took their first flight from the nest and began to explore the world around them.
This success story would not have happened without the joint efforts of many people. We sincerely thank Darius Musteikis and his team, the Lithuanian Ornithological Society, the State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, and the State Forest Enterprise for their cooperation in installing the artificial nest and creating conditions for this black stork pair to successfully return and raise their chicks.
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We also thank all the friends of the Neris Regional Park who have been following this extraordinary black stork family story since the first days of spring. Together you rejoiced at the first returns, awaited the eggs, watched the chicks grow, and shared the joy of discovering this exceptional species.
The black stork is one of the rarest and most secretive bird species in Lithuania, living in remaining but rapidly shrinking patches of mature forests, so the opportunity to observe its life up close was not only a unique experience for the public but also a valuable contribution to the understanding and protection of this protected species.
We wish the young storks successful first flights, a safe journey to their wintering grounds, and hope that in a few years they will return to build their families in Lithuania’s forests. That would be the most beautiful continuation of this story.
Information prepared by the Dzūkija-Suvalkija Protected Areas Directorate 2026.07.29
*The nest is observed and filmed with permission from the Environmental Protection Agency. We remind that such permission is necessary to film/photograph or otherwise use protected species in their breeding territories.
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