White Stork Population Soars in Switzerland After 75-Year Absence

• White storks were extinct in Switzerland 75 years ago.
• Only half of the storks breeding in Switzerland migrate for the winter.
• Migrating storks often stay in Spain and Portugal due to the availability of food in open garbage dumps.
• The population of western storks in Switzerland, France, and western Germany has increased due to safer migration routes via Spain.
• Eastern stork populations face greater dangers like power lines and hunters on their longer migration route to South Africa.

By The Numbers