Storks Return to Poland 2024

Check out the live stork cams at the end of this post! In Poland, the sight of a stork circling overhead or tending to its massive nest in the spring is more than just a glimpse of nature; it’s a symbol of rebirth, good fortune, and deep cultural connection. For centuries, these majestic birds have held a revered place in Polish folklore and remain an intrinsic part of the country’s rural landscape.

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia), with its striking black-and-white plumage and long red legs, is the most iconic stork species gracing Polish skies. These remarkable birds undertake extraordinary migrations each year. As summer fades in Poland, storks gather in large flocks, preparing for their long journey southward. Their wintering grounds lie in the heart of Africa, thousands of kilometers away.

The stork’s presence in Polish culture runs deep. Their prominent nests, often built atop chimneys, barns, or specially constructed platforms, are a ubiquitous feature of the Polish countryside. Storks are believed to bring good luck and prosperity, their nesting near a household considered a blessing. Legends tell of storks bringing babies, symbolizing fertility and new beginnings.

The above is excerpted from a Poland-24.com article, where you can read more about storks returning to Poland in the spring.

On my first trip to Poland, which happened to be in the spring, catching site of stork nests atop telephone polls, chimneys and rooftops was one of the many things that charmed me — and explained to my satisfaction the genesis of the myth that babies are delivered down the chimney by a stork!

Live Stork Cameras — One of the more fun things to check out are the many live “stork cams” — live camera feeds of storks on their nests. Here are three such sites:
Gmina Polanów, Poland
Podgórzyn, Poland (2 cameras)
Gmina Borowa, Poland

Click the screenshot below to go to the live stork cam at Gmina Polanów, where I’ve seen two storks and five eggs. Hope they all hatch!

UPDATE May 9, 2024 – Checking in on the Gmina Polanów nest this morning (Los Angeles time), three of the five eggs have hatched! I saw the three little guys squawking for dinner (Poland time)!

UPDATE June 18, 2024 – The three little guys are now quite grown. Looks to me like they will soon be flying the nest!

UPDATE August 15, 2024 – Checking in the past two weeks, the nest has been empty with only one or two exceptions, where I saw one pretty full-grown stork was standing on the nest. I think this year’s brood has basically grown up and flown the nest. Perhaps they’ve even started their migration south for the winter.