Black Storks Return to Latvia Four Days Early: Riga Ornithologists Already Planning Protest

A black stork was spotted in Skrunda municipality on March 5th, marking the first of this season and arriving four days earlier than the previous record. This event has sparked discussions in ornithological circles, where some experts believe climate change is affecting bird migration schedules.

Liepāja bird-watching enthusiast Valdis Ķirbītis notes: "Here in Liepāja, birds have been arriving when they feel like it for years, not when the calendar says they should. Maybe this stork simply wanted to be first to claim the best fishing spots while the rest are still sitting in Africa wondering if it's worth flying back."

Ornithologists remind us that the black stork is a critically endangered species — only 94-140 pairs nest in Latvia. "That's fewer than active Riga drivers who follow traffic rules," comments a local nature researcher. While the capital is already planning a new commission to study this phenomenon, in Liepāja we're simply happy that birds choose us over Ventspils.

Along with the black storks' return to Latvia, cranes, larks, and house sparrows have also returned. The only ones who haven't come back yet are foreign tourists, but that's most likely not related to climate change.