Domokos Tamás szerk.: Pro Natura. A Dél-Tiszántúl természeti értékei (Békéscsaba, Munkácsy Mihály Múzeum, 1999)

THE WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia) This Diorama elevates us in level with a white stork nest situated on the top of one of the farmhouses in the Nagyrét (Great meadow of Békéscsaba). We can peep into the nest and observe this magnificent bird, weighting 3-4 kilograms, from close range. From the top of the farmhouse an outstanding view can be enjoyed, one might see the whole Nagyrét, which yielded copious food for the birds inhabiting this wetlands till the water regulations. After the water regulation of this area arable lands replaced the wetlands, and later as the town was enlarged even the arable lands started to shrink. There will be a time, when the original meadow characteristic of this area will only be suggested by the name of this place. In Hungary there are approximately 5000 pairs of white storks, from these at least 300 pairs breed in the Körös-Maros National Park. In the course of the autumn migration they follow the Bosporus-Suez-Nile route to their African wintering sites. They can even reach SouthernAfrica, located 13.000 km from Hungary. The nest building of White storks was influenced by humans to a great extent, as the majority of pairs place their nests, weighing several hundred kilograms, most of the time on platforms fitted on the top of electric poles. The older, usually five year-old, pairs start breeding in the second half of April. From the average four-five egg clutch usually 2-3 viable chicks hatch by the end of May. The nestlings usually fledge at the age of around two months, and gradually start to fend for themselves, eating insects, reptiles, frogs, and small mammals. After about a month of feeding the young also take to the wing and accompany their parents on the long migration.