People & Life/Data & Documents
3,185 Nests and “45,000 to 50,000 Pairs”: Counting Ukraine’s White Storks
The international census of the white stork began in 1934, and has been held every ten years since 1974. In the 8th census, in 2024, 3,185 nests were counted in Ukraine, and the organizing association estimated Ukraine's total breeding population at roughly 45,000 to 50,000 pairs. This article traces the difference between the counted nests and the estimate, how nest locations have changed, and stork folklore, drawing on an encyclopedia and census reports.
