One of the newest black stork micro-reserves is located in the forest of Kastuļina parish in the Krāslava municipality. This spring, a nest with four chicks was found in a 70-year-old stand of aspen near an abandoned farmstead.
Gaidis Grandāns, an environmental expert at Latvian State Forests, said: "Currently, the breeding population of black storks in Latvia is estimated at around 100 pairs, but it should be taken into account that of these 100 pairs, far from all are successful, so those nests with young birds should be protected as a priority."
The black stork is a specially protected species in Latvia, most common in South Latgale and South Kurzeme, but populations elsewhere have been declining in recent years.
"Globally, the species is not endangered and the population of black storks in Western Europe is even increasing, but in the Baltic States and Poland we are now seeing a long-term decline," Grandāns said.
Ornithologist Māris Strazds is blunt: it is almost impossible to maintain the population of black storks in Latvia. When asked how the black stork is doing in Latvia, he said: "Terrible, and there is no chance that something will seriously change for the better."
Latvia currently has about 330 micro-reserves for the black stork, covering more than 6,000 hectares.
"There are more micro-reserves than actual nests, but you also have to understand that any place where there has not been long-term forestry activity, there will inevitably be other natural values," Grandāns explained.
Micro-reserves on private land are currently compensated at €196 per hectare. The State Forest Service (VMD) has said that it plans to increase compensation in the near future.
Environmental experts recommend keeping an eye on the microreserve areas marked "Birds" on the "LVM GEO" website and avoiding visiting them in April-September, as black storks are sensitive to noise.
