Armenia’s White Stork: Using Nest Neighbours for Species and Habitat Conservation, Armenia

Armenia, a landlocked country between the Black and Caspian Seas, is small at only 30,000km2 but is of great importance to birds. More  than 350 bird species have been recorded in Armenia, including  endangered White-headed Duck, Dalmatian Pelican and Great Snipe. Of particular importance are the wetlands of the Ararat valley, only  170km2 of which survive following attempts to drain them during the  Soviet era. Today a new threat has emerged in the form of a £100 million Millennium Challenge Award for infrastructure development, which includes a proposal to drain the remaining wetlands at the base of Mount Ararat.

Faced with such a huge threat, it is perhaps surprising to hear that the White Stork, a bird that breeds in open farmland areas with access to marshland, may hold the key to engaging local communities on wetland drainage. Dr. Karen Aghababyan, 34, leads efforts to increase awareness of the importance of wetlands in communities across Armenia. Karen’s studies have showed that whilst many Armenians feel indifferently towards wetland, White Storks are seen as a cultural icon. They are seldom persecuted and often nest close to people, on anything from telegraph poles to roofs. A stork nest on your house is seen as a sign of good luck. 

Karen has launched a community focused program ‘Nest neighbours’, aimed at increasing public understanding of storks and their habitat. Central to the program is the participation of villagers who are helping monitor the White Stork populations. By getting involved in conservation, Armenians are building on their love of storks and starting to take notice of what is being decided for the wetlands where they feed.

Key facts:

• By the 1960’s, the Ararat wetlands had decreased from 370km2 to 200km2. Today only 170km2 remain.
• The Ararat wetland area supports 137 species of breeding, migratory and wintering waterfowl and its valleysupports 527 pairs of charismatic White Storks.
• In mythology, Storks bring babies to young couples. 500 families are involved in the ‘Nest neighbors’ programme.