Storks so addicted to junk food they’ve stopped flying south
File photo.
Digital Reporter
Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 4:48 PM - Over the past 30 years, an increasing number of white storks have stopped migrating from Europe to Africa during the winter, choosing to stay in Portugal and Spain year-round to dine on junk food from landfill sites.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia say the storks represent a growing number of migratory species that have altered their behaviour due to environmental changes and human activity.
The university published a study Wednesday, confirming the storks are now nesting near landfill sites permanently, because they provide a reliable and abundant food supply.
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"Portugal's stork population has grown 10 fold over the last 20 years. The country is now home to around 14,000 wintering birds, and numbers continue to grow," lead researcher Dr. Aldina Franco said in a press release.
For their study, researchers tracked 48 birds with GPS devices and accelerometers, in an effort to study the stork's movements between nesting and landfill sites.
They discovered the storks are "addicted" to junk food, and they're willing to make 100 km round-trips in order to get their fix.
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"Having a nest close to a guaranteed food supply also means that the storks are less inclined to leave for the winter," Dr. Franco said.
"They instead spend their non-breeding season defending their highly desirable nest locations."
Junk food addiction could put storks at risk
"Under new EU Landfill Directives, rubbish dumps sites in Portugal are scheduled to be gradually replaced by new facilities where food waste is handled under cover," Dr. Franco said.
"This will cause a problem for the storks as they will have to find an alternative winter food supply. It may well impact on their distribution, breeding location, chick fledging success and migratory decisions."
The complete study can be found in the journal Movement on Ecology.
Source: University of East Anglia
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