Record White Stork Breeding Success at Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Wildlife Park is celebrating a record-breaking breeding season after successfully raising 49 White Stork chicks in 2026, helping one of Britain's most ambitious wildlife rewilding projects return this iconic species to the nation's skies.
It is the most successful White Stork breeding season in the Park's history and marks the ninth consecutive year that chicks have been successfully hatched and reared for the pioneering White Stork Project.
The latest arrivals take the total number of White Storks bred at Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens for the project to an impressive 280 birds.
Returning White Storks to Britain's Skies
Launched in 2016, the White Stork Project aims to establish a wild and sustainable population of at least 50 breeding pairs across southern England by 2030.
Cotswold Wildlife Park has been involved since the project's inception alongside partners including the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Knepp Castle Estate and private landowners in Sussex.
As well as the Park's record breeding success, 2026 marks another important milestone as the White Stork Project celebrates its tenth anniversary.
49 White Stork Chicks Hatched in 2026
The Park's latest chicks hatched in May, with its experienced husbandry team carefully monitoring the birds from the egg-laying period through to fledging.
Keepers ensure nests are properly completed before hatching and then provide additional food to help the adults successfully raise their young.
Jamie Craig, Curator and Managing Director of Cotswold Wildlife Park, said: "After approximately 35 days, the chicks will hatch and the keepers then assume the role of 'fairy godmother' to the chicks and the adults.
"Although the adults will bring a good supply of food to the nest for the young, the keepers also assist feed, visiting each nest daily with quantities of finely chopped feed items, usually fish and insects, to ensure that each chick's chance of survival is optimised."
The young storks grow remarkably quickly and at around two months old leave the nest and become independent.
From the Cotswolds to the Wild
Once the juvenile storks have fledged, they are separated from the adults, sexed and fitted with identification rings.
After a two-week settling period to ensure the birds are strong and healthy, they are transferred from the Cotswolds to release pens in Sussex before eventually being released into the wild.
Jamie added: "Watching our young storks hatch, grow at the Park and then be transferred to Knepp is always a proud moment, but when they are finally released and take to the air to soar the thermals, it's a sight that always inspires us for the future.
"It is the pinnacle of what we do and something I never tire of."
New Technology Tracks Every Stork
The record-breaking year also marks an important development in how the released birds are monitored.
For the first time, every bird released this year will carry either a satellite tracker or one of the project's new e-ring nanotags, allowing conservationists to build a more detailed picture of their movements, survival and behaviour.
Beth Peacock, Conservation Officer at Cotswold Wildlife Park, explained that the new technology will make it possible to monitor more birds than ever before.
The Park has also been contributing to research with the University of East Anglia, taking weekly weight, wing-length and beak-length measurements from a sample of chicks from hatching until they were ready for release.
Park-Bred Storks Return to Breed
There are already encouraging signs that the breeding and release programme is working.
Two White Storks bred at Cotswold Wildlife Park have successfully migrated, returned to Knepp and attempted to breed themselves.
Beth said: "It is especially encouraging that two birds bred here have migrated, returned to Knepp and attempted to breed, showing just how important these releases are in helping restore White Storks to the landscape.
"It is a real privilege to be so closely involved in such an exciting project to bring this iconic bird back to our skies."
First Migration Begins
The young birds released in 2026 are expected to begin their first southward migration towards the end of August, although individual storks can depart considerably later.
In previous years, some have remained in the UK until early October before beginning their journey south.
Every bird involved in the White Stork Project carries unique coloured identification rings. Anyone spotting a White Stork in the British countryside can help the project by reporting their sighting to the White Stork Project.
See White Storks at Cotswold Wildlife Park
Visitors can see the Park's breeding group of White Storks in the walk-through area next to the Children's Farmyard.
The White Stork Project is one of several conservation programmes supported by Cotswold Wildlife Park, helping protect threatened wildlife both at the Park and in the wild.
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25 August 2026
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