As every summer, the aviaries of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for Injured Animals are filled with young storks that have faced various difficulties and needed our intervention.

Three siblings, who had not yet learned to fly, were left without parents after the pair perished from electrocution. The chicks, coming from a nest in Dătășeni (Mureș County), grew under our care and were ready to test their wings in freedom. Alongside them was another young bird, ringed in Germany, and one that reached us via the Vets4Wild Veterinary Clinic.

On a hill near the town of Sângeorgiu de Mureș, the five were released. The German-ringed stork did not hesitate long and immediately took to the skies, already having experience in flight. The youngster brought from the veterinary clinic gave us a few anxious moments, but after several minutes it spread its wings and flew over the area.

The three siblings stayed close to one another. The eldest tested its wings and then perched on a medium-voltage electricity pole, which, fortunately, was insulated. From there it watched its brothers as they set off onto a meadow in search of insects.

The next day, we returned to make sure the storks had flown away, and indeed they had.

Watch how the release of the five young storks unfolded.

A few more storks remain at our centre. Some are recovering after leg or wing surgery, while others are still growing — but we hope that one day, they too will be able to leave for Africa.