A stork named Buся has unexpectedly returned to the village of Sosnove in the Rivne region after failing to migrate south for the winter. Local resident Yuliya Voloskevych shared that her family has been feeding the young bird throughout the cold months.
Buся has been consuming up to 1.5 kilograms of fish daily, which likely contributed to his survival during the harsh winter conditions. Yuliya expressed concern for the stork’s well-being, noting that her mother frequently purchased fish to ensure Buся was well-fed.
According to Yuliya, her mother, Nadiya Kovalchuk-Voloskevych, played a crucial role in the bird’s survival. After the stork’s autumn departure, it surprisingly returned just before New Year’s, prompting the villagers to assist in keeping it alive during the freezing temperatures. The stork was born in the area the previous year, where storks typically nest and raise their young during the summer months.
In the summer, Nadiya and her grandson Artem would fish nearby, and Buся would come to enjoy the catch. As autumn approached, the stork hesitated to leave, possibly due to being weakened or injured. Eventually, he began visiting Nadiya’s home for food, especially as the fields were nearly devoid of sustenance after the harvest.
Buся disappeared at the beginning of September, and Nadiya hoped he had migrated south, wishing him well for the journey. However, on December 30, the stork reappeared, looking gaunt and hungry. Recognizing him by his feather patterns and leg color, Nadiya felt both confused and worried about his condition.
She quickly rallied her neighbors for assistance, and they provided frozen fish to help feed Buся. Nadiya researched the winter diet of storks and began offering him warm water and fish regularly. Although Buся does not approach her directly, he stays close to her yard and mingles with domestic birds.
During the day, he rests on hay provided for him, and at night, he returns to his nest, which was initially covered in snow. As the weather warmed, the nest became more comfortable for him.
Buся visits daily for food, favoring sprats, carp, chicken hearts, and gizzards. Nadiya prepares the fish each evening, soaking it in warm water before serving it to him in the morning.
Nadiya expressed her greatest concern during wet snow and nighttime frosts, often checking on Buся even at night to ensure he was safe. There was a moment when he appeared unresponsive, and she contemplated calling for help, but he eventually stirred and resumed feeding.
As temperatures rose, Buся began to adapt, and Nadiya expressed gratitude to her neighbors and friends for their support, as the stork requires a significant amount of food. Initially weak and underweight, Buся has noticeably gained strength.
Expert Insights
Ornithologist Vasyl Ilchuk noted that wintering storks is an unusual occurrence. Typically, these instances are rare and often depend on human intervention for survival. Last winter, which was milder, saw five storks wintering in the area, with four confirmed to have survived.
Ilchuk mentioned that during heavy snowfall, storks often find food at landfills. However, he has not documented any other cases of storks wintering in the region this season aside from Buся.
Recent reports indicated that Vitaliy Gryshchenko, a candidate of biological sciences and deputy director of scientific work at the Kaniv Nature Reserve, shared a photo on social media of a stork in a nest, suggesting it might be Buся returning home to Rivne.
A stork named Buся has survived the winter in Rivne, Ukraine, thanks to the dedicated efforts of local residents who provided food and care. This unusual case highlights the challenges storks face during harsh weather conditions and the role of community support in wildlife conservation.