The birds remained for wintering in Buynichy, three kilometers from the regional center.
Four storks settled here at once. However, local residents claim there are more birds – six were seen foraging, writes "Mogilev Online".
The birds look almost tame: they let people get quite close, especially if there's a treat.
Lately, city residents have been feeding the storks, although until recently they had hoped the birds would set off on their journey.
According to one of the local residents, at least one bird appeared injured – its wing was drooping. Now all of them look completely healthy, but whether they can fly is difficult to say. Mostly, the birds move by walking and hopping.
Residents of Buynichy are worried: what will happen if frost hits? They are already thinking about who to contact if the birds need help.
Ivan Nizhnikau, head and deputy director for commercial affairs of the Mogilev Zoo, says: if the birds need help to survive the winter, they are ready to take them in – there are enclosures for this. But it's not a given that everything will work out: storks might fly away if someone tries to catch them.
This already happened last year when another stork wintered in Buynichy – a timid one, with healthy wings. They couldn't catch it. As a result, the bird settled on the roof of the local "Euroopt" store, warmed itself by a pipe, and caring people fed it.
By the way, that stork successfully survived the winter, even though the thermometer sometimes dropped to minus 30 degrees Celsius. With the arrival of warmth, it flew away.
Why didn't the storks fly away this year? The reasons can be varied, notes Ivan Nizhnikau. The birds are young – perhaps it's a late brood. Or maybe the young storks' parents died and didn't have time to teach their offspring. Injuries and human feeding could also have played a role.
Such attempts to show kindness can turn into a "bear service" (a backhanded favor), notes the specialist: the bird quickly unlearns how to forage for food independently and stays, expecting humans to feed it.
Be that as it may, Ivan Nizhnikau says that for now he sees no reason for intervention. Currently, local residents are feeding the storks, and at current temperatures, the birds feel good.
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