Where are our Storks?
The live map for 2025 is now up and running! Thank you to all the supporters who have made this possible.
The map below shows the live location of storks satellite tagged in and 2023 and 2024. ACE Nature have been working to calibrate and display this data and we are still making some adjustments and improvements.
- If the map is slow to load, please refresh your page
- Hit the Play button on the left panel to see the collective journey of all storks over time.
- Pause and restart flights by clicking on the date/time at the top of the left panel.
- For individual exploration, return to the start time, then use the selection boxes to toggle specific birds on or off.
- Left-click and drag to tilt and rotate the map, offering a bird’s-eye view of the storks’ flight heights.
- Right-click and drag to navigate the map on your screen.
- Use the mouse wheel or drag two fingers on your mouse pad to seamlessly zoom in and out.
- Click on the map in the bottom right to toggle between the satellite image and a map view.
- Easily return to the satellite view by clicking the satellite image again.
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Note: Currently featuring storks from this year, with more additions and details planned for the future. Stay tuned for updates.
Stork Profiles
All of our storks are equipped with identifying rings: blue project rings on the left leg, starting with ‘GB’, and smaller metal BTO rings on the right ankle. However, to foster a deeper understanding of our storks, we have named some of them. As you observe our storks, you’ll notice a pattern in their names. The project commenced in 2016, and storks introduced that year have names beginning with the letter ‘A’. Those from 2017 carry names starting with ‘B’, and this pattern continues. For instance, storks hatched in 2023 are distinguished by names beginning with ‘H’ as you’ll see below.
The Adventurous Explorers
GBY8 and GBY9
GBY9 and GBY8 on their nest in June 2025.
GBY9 and GBY8 (Jeff) both hatched from the same nest at Knepp in 2025. The mother is a non-flying bird so their nest was built on the ground, but the father can fly.
This nest has been in use since 2023 and is the same nest that GBC6 (Snappy) hatched from that year. Both chicks hatched by the May 6th and were later satellite tagged in June when they were fully grown. Genetic sexing determined that these were both male storks and the two brothers left for migration together in August.
These brothers were the first storks recorded migrating in 2025. After moving with a large group of young storks across Sussex, they broke away from the others and crossed the channel from Dover into Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France. They explored France before taking flight into Italy until they eventually went their separate ways. This is the first time a stork from this project has been recorded in Italy and is not typically part of the expected migration route to Morocco. They headed further East in different directions, GBY9 staying further north and GBY8 moved south into Sicily.
The first birds of the project to migrate into Italy, travelling across the Alps together. Data from the satellite tags recorded flights at staggering altitudes of 4,500m.
cotswold wildlife park Storks
GBZ3, AC, Z8, AR, AD, AT and AK
Of all the birds satellite tagged in 2025, 7 of them hatched at Cotswold Wildlife Park, a key partner of the project. Here, they were bred in captivity under the expert care of the CWP team before they were released into the wild at our site in East Sussex. This provides a boost for the UK population and encourages natural migratory behaviour among the colony.
The CWP ring numbers are: GBZ3, GBAC, GBZ8, GBAR, GBAD, GBAT, GBAK
All of the CWP birds travelled around the South Coast of England alongside 40-50 young storks, many their wild hatched counterparts. Moving as a group they went west into Dorset, before heading back east and crossing together across the channel into France. Here, they dispersed each of the birds paving a different route, with some heading south into Spain, while other remain in France.
These young storks stayed together foraging around Sussex and Kent before crossing on the September 10th. While the majority stayed in France, the first bird, GBAT, made it to Spain by 24th September, with GBAD closely following.
The Ground Nest Pioneers
Hugo ‘Snappy’ (GBC6) and Hazel (GBC7)
Two very special chicks with completely different personalities hatched within a ground nest at Knepp.
Ground nest pioneers GBC6 and GBC7, hatched in Knepp’s first-ever ground nest in 2023. Both storks resulted from rehabilitated parents GB56 and GB05, unable to fly due to previous injuries. The siblings showcased distinct personalities from the start. GBC6 became known to project staff and volunteers as ‘Snappy’ as he would lunge at anyone who got close to the nest. This is quite unusual behaviour for a stork chick, more typically they will play dead when approached which is what nest mate GBC7 used to do.
Snappy’s tag is still transmitting and we’re going to include a special ‘Snappy Map’ on the website soon!
Satellite tagged on July 7, 2023, both chicks fledged the same day. The siblings migrated across the channel after exploring the south coast, affirming the project’s success in fostering natural instincts in rehabilitated storks.
Interestingly, GBC6 spent his first year in France, not venturing very far until his second year when successfully made it all the way to Morocco and was photographed in Kenitra.
GBC7, the female, displayed wariness toward humans, often playing dead upon observation. This is common behaviour for stork chick. In contrast, GBC6, the confident and vocal male, eagerly snatched up food. Close monitoring through a camera trap allowed the team to understand and appreciate the unique traits of each chick.