Potsdam: the evil stork of 2022 – the demolition of the chimney and Horst

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Demolition of the chimney in Potsdam: what is happening to the stork’s nest?

Stork on an ayrie – a new mast to be set up in Potsdam.

2022 was not a very good stork year in Potsdam. Had some grandchildren. Now a barn in Bornim also has to give way because the chimney below is dilapidated. But there is good news.

Bornim. Probably the highest residential unit in the Bornim district of Potsdam to be demolished: the chimney and the stork’s nest. The entire rear building complex on Potsdamer Strasse near the confluence with the Priesteracker is dilapidated and would endanger traffic safety, the city administration explained the intervention. The good news: When the storks return from Africa across the Bosphorus in spring, they should have a new home.

Potsdam’s white stork supervisor accompanies demolition

The radical renovation began on Monday. The workers removed the eyrie using a lifting platform, accompanied by the representative of Potsdam’s white stork, Manfred Pohl. The ornithologist has been working for the State Environmental Agency in the state capital since 2003. In addition, representatives of the Lower Nature Conservation Authority in the city administration were present.

Stork nest on old chimney in Bornim.

13 Horst place in Potsdam – a new one is planned

In Bornim, workers dismantle the nest on the twelve meter high chimney of an old bakery piece by piece – the building will be demolished. The stork building had to come down completely. The base is carefully removed. It was stored with a neighbor. Because there is already an interested party in Golm who wants to create a second stork’s nest.

Him too

There would be nesting place number 14 in Potsdam. In addition to Bornim and Golm, there are nests in Uetz, Paaren, Marquardt, Satzkorn, Fahrland, Grube and Drewitz. An eleven meter high prestressed concrete mast with a metal base is to be built on the property on Potsdamer Strasse to replace the old chimney. It is cozy with some old nesting material. “The location must not be more than five meters away from the old square,” explains Manfred Pohl.

Young in Potsdam: 11 young storks

The Federal Nature Conservation Act makes it clear that a builder who intends to demolish must provide a replacement nest. The white stork is one of the strictly protected species in Germany. According to the Nature Conservation Union, there are about 4,300 breeding pairs in Germany – and an ongoing problem with the population and offspring.

Stork representative Manfred Pohl at the ayrie in Bornim.

The last stork year in Potsdam could not change that. Almost all nests were occupied. But only eleven young storks made it through. The front runner is a pair of storks in Drewitz, which alone raised four chicks. According to Manfred Pohl, there were crossbreeding battles in several places – including in Bornim. The stork was there alone at first. Then a female came, not her favorite from the previous year – but male storks are not very faithful. He was involved with her. “But when the partner from the previous year came, there was a fight between the two females,” reports the ornithologist. And apparently a third girl came later. If there was already a nest, it was thrown out of the nest. Unfortunately, after the territorial wars, the storks could no longer give birth to a new child. All the bells didn’t help.

Did a raccoon steal the nest?

The past few years have been difficult. The drought means that there is not much food available. Because storks eat amphibians or worms. “If they find too little food, they throw the young out of the nest. The youngest first,” reports Manfred Pohl. In Bornim, however, he suspects something else behind the young absent in 2021. Stage led up big the tower – formerly to sweep the chimney. “A raccoon must have climbed up there and eaten the two cubs,” the ornithologist surmised. Something like this had already been observed elsewhere.

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