Storks have taken up residence at the daycare center.
In Neuss, Germany, after approximately half a century, the first stork settlement has been established, according to Kiba director Frank Lammerz. Two Kiba volunteers, Matthias Grunden and Robert Wilmers, played key roles in this historic milestone. Matthias, responsible for woodwork for the past seven years, contributed to the construction of an insect box, shelter, and a "pirate ship." He has been dedicated to the "stork project" for a year, acquiring tips from the Biological Station Haus Buergel in the Urdenbacher Kämpe nature reserve.
Robert Wilmers, a workshop leader at the children's farm, joined the project enthusiastically, designing the building plans and contributing to its realization. Simon Schulte from Kamps Infra GmbH also volunteered to help with the installation of the nest. "I spent much of my childhood on the children's farm, and I am often here with my children now," he said, expressing his connection to the Kiba.
The 15-meter-long tree trunk for the nest was provided by the municipal green space department from the Reuschenberger Wald, while the "nest padding" was sourced from the Weckhoven cemetery. Grounden, now a stork expert, announced that the storks appear to be preparing for offspring. "Each stork can lay up to eight eggs, with two to three young storks usually surviving," he explained. The baby storks may hatch at the beginning of May, with the first outing scheduled around 60 days later. Grounden added that if the storks breed in Neuss, they will likely return next year, and more nests may be needed, especially with two additional storks spotted.
Grunden and Wilmers have proposed the creation of another nesting site on the Landesgartenschau grounds to Sandra Breuer, chairwoman of the Mitmachverein Gruenes Herz Neuss (also chairwoman of the Kiba support association). This idea could align with the upcoming municipal election year, as knocking is not just part of politicians' trade.
However, no detailed information is available regarding the number or locations of additional nesting sites proposed for the stork project in Neuss. For more specific information on the stork project, interested parties might need to consult local environmental or wildlife organizations directly involved in the project.
Matthias Grunden, now a stork expert, spearheads a voluntary effort to create another home-and-garden sanctuary for storks on the Landesgartenschau grounds, potentially enhancing the local lifestyle by attracting more storks. Simultaneously, Robert Wilmers, since joining the project, collaborates diligently to design and realize these voluntary initiatives aimed at fostering a harmonious home-and-garden environment for the storks.
