XIII Meeting of the White Stork Research Group in Ląd – event recap

Between 24 and 26 October 2025, the 13th Meeting of the White Stork Research Group (GBBB) was held at the Nature Education Centre in Ląd, under the honorary patronage of the Rector of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, Prof. Krzysztof Szoszkiewicz. This year’s meeting was organised by members of our Department: Dr Marcin Tobółka – Chair of GBBB, and Dr Joanna Białas – Secretary of GBBB, with invaluable support from the Wielkopolska Landscape Parks team. Presentations were delivered by Prof. Piotr Tryjanowski, Dr Marcin Tobółka, and Dr Joanna Białas.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies used in stork research, including new GPS–GSM transmitters with a built-in camera, presented by Prof. Piotr Tryjanowski:

as well as a brand-new method of electronic ringing, introduced by Dr Joanna Białas and Dr Marcin Tobółka:

Dr Marcin Tobółka also presented the results of the 8th International White Stork Census in Poland.

One of key parts of the Meeting focused on monitoring and conservation of the White Stork. Stanisław Czyż from the Małopolska Ornithological Society (MTO) summarised another year of activities within the Programme for the Study and Protection of the White Stork in Poland. We also commemorated Dr Kazimierz Walasz – former President of MTO, distinguished member of GBBB and founder of the programme – who passed away last year.

The White Stork population in Polesie was discussed by Prof. Grzegorz Grzywaczewski, Director of the UMCS Centre for Climate and Environmental Change Research. Paweł Łapiński, Director of the Lublin Landscape Parks, presented the results of inventories and monitoring in selected protected areas of the Lublin region. Joachim Siekiera and Artur Siekiera shared findings on natal dispersal of storks and their offspring. Paweł T. Dolata summarised twenty years of the “Close to Storks” project in Przygodzice – the longest-running online wildlife monitoring initiative in Poland. Ewa Głogowska spoke about similar stork monitoring in Ustroń, while in Orzechowo the project was presented by Aleksander Warczygłowa, the village leader.

Dr Ireneusz Kaługa from the EkoLogiczna Group introduced a new spot on the stork map of Poland – the “Stork House” in Krzesk.

Speakers from the Wielkopolska Landscape Parks – Kornelia Knioła and Michał Białek – also presented conservation activities carried out within the Parks. The Meeting concluded with a field trip to areas of active conservation in the Warta River Landscape Park.

As always, the Meeting was a great opportunity to exchange experience and present the latest research results – and this time also to formalise the structure of our Group, about which we will share more announcements soon. We thank all participants for their engagement and inspiring discussions!