Share your thoughts on reintroducing white storks

Citizen Zoo and the University of Brighton invite residents to take part in a short survey about white storks in London.

Throughout history, white storks have symbolised hope, regrowth and new life in European folklore and mythology with their yearly spring return from overwintering in Africa, heralded across the continent. While native to these isles, storks have been absent from the UK for centuries. Despite this, the species persists in the popular imagination, from Aesop’s fables to Dumbo, and remains widely recognised and admired.

Citizen Zoo and the University of Brighton are exploring public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards the white stork, as well as recent efforts to assess its potential to live and breed within Greater London. Your input will help inform future decisions around white stork initiatives in the region, aiming to deliver mutual benefits for both people and nature. Share your thoughts in the survey. 

If you spot white storks in London, don’t forget to submit your sighting via the White Stork Recording Form. If you know of any sites in London that could be suitable for their reintroduction, contact digby@citizenzoo.org.

The London White Stork Project

Since 2016, the White Stork Project in Sussex has demonstrated the possibility of establishing breeding white storks in the UK. Following the growing success of this project, Citizen Zoo are committing to their vision to one day return breeding storks to the capital, through the launch of the London White Stork Project.