Photo by Anonymlithuania / CC BY-SA 4.0
🌅 Seasonal WondersMarijampolėEasy access
Stork Villages of Žuvintas
Lazdijai, Marijampolė2-3 hoursBest: June-August
Villages around the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve where white storks nest on nearly every rooftop — Lithuania has one of the densest stork populations in the world.
The villages surrounding the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve in southern Lithuania are home to one of the highest concentrations of white storks in Europe. Nearly every house, barn, and telegraph pole sports a massive stork nest, and in spring and summer the air is filled with the distinctive bill-clacking sounds of these beloved birds.
Storks are deeply embedded in Lithuanian culture. They're considered symbols of good luck and fertility, and harming a stork or its nest is taboo. The birds return each spring from Africa, and their arrival is celebrated as a sign that winter is truly over.
Why Visit
A quintessential Lithuanian experience — seeing dozens of stork nests in a single village. The Žuvintas wetlands provide the perfect feeding grounds for these magnificent birds.
54.4667, 23.6167
Visitor Tips
- 1Late June is best when chicks are in the nests
- 2Bring binoculars and a telephoto lens
- 3The Žuvintas reserve visitor center has information
- 4Quiet approach — don't disturb nesting birds