Look Up! Cornwall’s Storks Are on the Wing
There’s a new and rather spectacular reason to keep your eyes on the skies when you’re staying at Helsbury Park – white storks have been released into the Cornish countryside!
In August 2026, 21 young white storks were released into the wild at Wild Hamatethy, near Bodmin Moor, in a landmark moment for the Cornwall Stork Project. The birds were mostly hatched in Cornwall and have now taken their first steps towards a life in the wild.
And that means you could be lucky enough to spot one during your stay.
White storks are unmistakable birds. They’re large, elegant and surprisingly impressive when seen flying overhead, with white wings, black flight feathers, long legs and a long red bill. They can travel considerable distances, so although the birds have been released near Bodmin Moor, sightings could happen across a much wider area of Cornwall.
For now, the young storks are expected to spend the late summer exploring Cornwall and getting used to life outside their enclosure. Later in the year, they’ll head south for the winter, potentially travelling as far as southern Spain or Morocco. The exciting part is that the project hopes they’ll return to Cornwall in a few years, when they’re mature enough to breed.
So when you’re out walking, cycling or simply enjoying the garden at Helsbury Park, remember to look up! You might see one of Cornwall’s newest residents soaring above the trees.
And if you do spot a stork, the Cornwall Stork Project has a dedicated sighting map, where you can report your encounter and see where other people have been lucky enough to spot them.
https://thecornwallstorkproject.org/
It’s not every day you get to say you’ve seen a stork in Cornwall – so keep your camera ready!