Krutek, a stork from the Masurian Landscape Park in Poland, began his latest migration to his wintering grounds on August 16. The bird's journey, which will cover approximately 5,000 kilometers, is being tracked via a GPS device.
On Tuesday morning, transmitter data showed that the stork had already crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border and was near Złoczów, about 70 km east of Lviv. Ornithologists note that the current route is of particular interest, as it is unclear whether the bird will follow its usual path through the Bosphorus to Egypt.
Krutek rose to fame due to his backstory: as a chick, he fell from his nest, was rescued by humans, and raised by specialists. This year marked a major milestone for the stork as he became a father for the first time, successfully raising four chicks. Previously, in February, the bird nearly perished while returning from Africa but was rescued and returned to his nest with human assistance.
Today, thousands of fans follow Krutek's flights, and his return in the spring is traditionally considered one of the primary symbols of the arrival of warmer weather in Poland.
