Despite being in good health and with the rest of its family already having departed, the stork opted to remain in the village, relying on the generosity of locals rather than making the long journey south.
However, the Ostoja Rehabilitation Center, which had been caring for the bird, is now urging residents to stop feeding it. In a post on Facebook, the center said, “We kindly ask residents to ignore and especially not feed the white stork, which decided not to undertake the hardships of migration, as a result of which it remained mainly in the vicinity of the center.”
The stork has become a regular visitor to places with large crowds, especially favoring schoolyards. It has also been spotted frequenting restaurants, gas stations, playgrounds, church grounds, and railway stations, where it is often seen begging for food.
The rehabilitation center warned that feeding the bird could hinder its independence and reduce its natural instinct to migrate. “Each feeding of the stork impairs its independence and its tendency to migrate south. In extreme situations, contact with it may pose a risk of injury to the person feeding it,” the center added.
Locals are now being encouraged to let the bird fend for itself as winter approaches.
(jh)
Source: TVN24