The oldest stork in Romania turns 21. Biologist: "It commutes every year to Africa and back"
The oldest stork in Romania turns 21. It's a male, who for many years, returns every spring to the same nest in Bihor.
Specialists who have monitored the bird say that over time it has contributed to the increase of the species - with at least 60 offspring.
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The stork came to the attention of specialists 21 years ago when it was found in a nest in Satu Mare. Reaching maturity, the winged creature returned to our lands, but in the commune of Tarcea in Bihor, a place it considers "home" because it returns there every time.
Dr. Szabó D. Zoltán, biologist: "The male nests in the same nest and produces on average 3-4 chicks each year. It commutes every year to Africa and back".
Papp Tamaş, ornithologist: "The age of storks cannot be determined by their appearance, they're not like humans where we look at someone's face and we can tell they're 80 years old; we can only tell by the stork's ring. Because if it's ringed then we know immediately, we can tell by reports when it was ringed".
Although it has reached an advanced age, the bird already has eggs with its partner.
Papp Tamaş, ornithologist: "It's with its mate this year too. It's been nesting since it was four, it has contributed to the species' success".
The lives of storks are closely followed not only by ornithologists but also by locals.
Local resident: "We eagerly await their arrival, ensuring their well-being. Each year, we keep track of those that return and those that do not. We rejoice".
In the wild, storks live between 15 and 20 years. The record is held by a winged creature from Switzerland, who turned 43.
