Storks in the Netherlands
June 10, 2016 10:37 AM Subscribe
The Stork is a bird that is closely linked to the Netherlands and the traditional Dutch landscape. But it very nearly died out in the Netherlands in the first half of the twentieth century. Many volunteers and the Dutch bird protection society Vogelbescherming Nederland have worked hard for the last forty years to get the stork to come back to the Netherlands to breed. At present, things seem to be going well. The number of breeding pairs has increased, more young birds survive, and the breeding areas are expanding.
Live stork nest webcam. Best viewed during (Dutch) daylight hours.
Another stork nest webcam, and some nice pictures.
Why the Stork loves Holland [sic]. From Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks, 1918
The stork is the symbol of the city The Hague. Hence: Stork Hunting in the Hague. And Museum Petershuis in Gennep has a nice exhibition planned on Storks in Art.
Live stork nest webcam. Best viewed during (Dutch) daylight hours.
Another stork nest webcam, and some nice pictures.
Why the Stork loves Holland [sic]. From Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks, 1918
The stork is the symbol of the city The Hague. Hence: Stork Hunting in the Hague. And Museum Petershuis in Gennep has a nice exhibition planned on Storks in Art.
Your robins are more impressive, though.
I do love storks. In fact I posted this because I just saw a bunch of them striding over a wheat field that had just been mowed. Lots of mice, I reckon.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:06 AM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I do love storks. In fact I posted this because I just saw a bunch of them striding over a wheat field that had just been mowed. Lots of mice, I reckon.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:06 AM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
On a vaguely related note, I learned the other day that the stork was the elegant mascot/hood ornament used between the wars by the luxury car & aero-engine manufacturer Hispano-Suiza: ‘the symbol of the French province of Alsace, taken from the squadron emblem painted on the side of a Hispano-Suiza powered fighter aircraft that had been flown by the World War I French ace Georges Guynemer.’
posted by misteraitch at 1:41 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by misteraitch at 1:41 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wonder how their babies get delivered...
posted by ovenmitt at 2:04 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ovenmitt at 2:04 PM on June 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
When I was young and growing up in Michigan you hardly ever saw a bald eagle and if you did it was real news. By the time I moved away from the state (ironically winding up in a place where you can hardly look out the window without one being *somewhere* in your field of view) they were a regular (though far from everyday) sight.
I remember how thrilling and encouraging that was, in its own right but also very much as a powerful emotional symbol demonstrating that ecological protection measures aren't futile.
I wish the Dutch the same success and pray that it inspires them to hope and work for further rehabilitation of the habitat that supports their ecology.
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:46 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
I remember how thrilling and encouraging that was, in its own right but also very much as a powerful emotional symbol demonstrating that ecological protection measures aren't futile.
I wish the Dutch the same success and pray that it inspires them to hope and work for further rehabilitation of the habitat that supports their ecology.
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:46 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
One of my favorite fairy tales had a gorgeous illustration of a white stork.
I've always been jealous of them, they are so much better looking than our American Wood Stork, an imposing bird, but rather ugly.
The Wood Stork may not be very impressive, but it's pretty neat to watch.
I'll see the White Stork and raise you a GBH.
They hang out by the river, and boy howdy, they are impressive birds.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:38 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've always been jealous of them, they are so much better looking than our American Wood Stork, an imposing bird, but rather ugly.
The Wood Stork may not be very impressive, but it's pretty neat to watch.
I'll see the White Stork and raise you a GBH.
They hang out by the river, and boy howdy, they are impressive birds.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:38 PM on June 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Awww! I live in The Hague and I like spotting our little storks everywhere. (Just like I like the Chicago Y everywhere, back home.) One of my favorites is this building in the center that was just renovated last year sometime, with the elegant little storks all around it.
posted by sldownard at 11:24 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by sldownard at 11:24 PM on June 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
I spotted one from the train when heading to Den Bosch and was very excited. My wife was totally jealous as she was looking out the wrong window.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 12:25 AM on June 11, 2016
posted by gnuhavenpier at 12:25 AM on June 11, 2016
OMG, this thread has resurrected the memory of a book I loved as a child: The Wheel on the School.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 10:42 AM on June 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mon-ma-tron at 10:42 AM on June 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by Bee'sWing at 10:57 AM on June 10, 2016