Latvia · Stork

The black stork is considerably more elusive than the white stork. It generally avoids settlements and breeds in mature forests with little disturbance, often near streams, ponds, marshes or wet meadows. It usually builds its large nests in sturdy old trees and often uses them for several years. Its diet consists mainly of fish, amphibians and other small animals from bodies of water and wetlands.

As a migratory bird, the black stork is present in Latvia and other parts of Europe only during the breeding season. European birds spend the winter mainly in Africa. Its protection therefore cannot be ensured within national borders alone: breeding sites, stopover areas and habitats along the migration routes must be preserved. Threats include the logging or extensive alteration of old forest stands, disturbance near nests, the drainage of wetlands and collisions with power lines.

Latvia has extensive forests and wetlands that provide suitable habitats for the black stork. At the same time, the species is sensitive to interventions in these landscapes. Its presence therefore provides an indication of whether forest waters, wetlands and remote breeding territories are still sufficiently intact and interconnected. Conservation measures for the black stork also benefit numerous other species that depend on the same habitats.

At European level, the black stork is one of the bird species for which special conservation measures are provided under the EU Birds Directive. These include, in particular, securing suitable habitats and designating protected areas within the Natura 2000 network. The choice of the motif was not linked to a historical anniversary. Instead, Latvia used the coin circulating throughout Europe to draw attention to a shy native breeding bird and to the cross-border task of protecting species and habitats. The design thus combines a specific element of Latvian nature with European nature conservation policy.