Makov Rescue Station in Písek — Online Webcam

Makov Rescue Station: A Haven for Wildlife in South Bohemia

In the South Bohemian town of Písek, approximately 100 kilometers south of Prague, operates the unique Makov wildlife rescue station. This is a place where animals affected by human activity or natural disasters get a second chance at life. Since 1995, white storks with disabilities have lived and nested here — birds that cannot survive in the wild due to their injuries. Since 1995, white storks with disabilities injured by power line collisions have inhabited and nested at the Makov station. Today, tourists and ornithologists from across Europe come here, and thanks to the online camera, anyone with internet access can observe the lives of the station's inhabitants.

How Storks Came to the Station: A Rescue Story

It all started with several white storks that suffered severe injuries — most commonly broken wings after collisions with power lines. In the wild, such birds are doomed to perish, but in Makov they found refuge. Over time, the station turned into a real nursery: over the station's existence, white storks have raised and released more than 30 healthy chicks into the wild, which make annual migrations to Africa. The chicks born at the station know nothing of their parents' free life and grow up fully adapted to the wild.

Honzík and Johanka: A Story of Love and Devotion

The station's most famous resident is a white stork named Honzík. This bird became a true star not only in the Czech Republic but far beyond its borders. The famous white stork Honzík lived at the station for many years and, together with his mate Johanka, raised dozens of chicks before passing away in 2024. Their nest became the symbol of the station, and online broadcasts from the camera attracted thousands of viewers who followed every stage of the feathered family's life — from egg-laying to the chicks' first flight.

Diversity of Fauna: Who Else Lives at the Station

Although storks are the main stars of the rescue station, they are far from its only inhabitants. Alongside the storks, the station is home to squirrels, roe deer, hedgehogs, owls, kestrels, hawks, and other wild animals undergoing rehabilitation. Each of them ended up here for different reasons: some were injured by poachers, some were hit by vehicles, and some were found orphaned. The Makov station is not a zoo but a rehabilitation center where animals are prepared for return to their natural habitat.

Why Storks Choose Rescue Stations for Nesting

White storks are cautious birds that choose safe territories for nesting. Rescue stations are ideal for this: there are no large predators, food access is guaranteed, and humans pose no threat. For birds with limited capabilities — for example, with damaged wings — such places become their only chance to continue their lineage. At the Makov station, storks feel safe, which is confirmed by the annual appearance of chicks.

Stork Species in the South Bohemian Region

South Bohemia is a region where two species of storks can be found. In the South Bohemian region of Písek, white storks (Ciconia ciconia) reside and black storks (Ciconia nigra) are encountered. While the white stork is a familiar inhabitant of Czech villages, often nesting on rooftops and poles, the black stork is a much rarer and more secretive bird. Black storks also undergo rehabilitation at the Makov station, although they are seen less often due to their cautious nature.

Technical Equipment: How Online Observation Works

For everyone who wants to observe the lives of the station's inhabitants in real time, special cameras have been installed. Two webcams are installed at the station: one at the stork nest, the second at the pond/feeding area, where various birds and animals can be observed. The nest camera broadcasts with sound, allowing viewers not only to see but also to hear what is happening — the chicks' calls, the flapping of wings, the communication of adult birds. This creates a sense of presence and allows studying stork behavior in their natural habitat.

Písek and Its Surroundings: Tourist Potential

Písek is a town with a rich history, located on the Otava River. It is known for its stone bridge — one of the oldest in the Czech Republic — as well as the picturesque landscapes of South Bohemia. The Makov rescue station has become one of the region's key tourist attractions, drawing not only bird lovers but also families with children, biology students, and wildlife photographers. A visit to the station can be combined with a walk through the surrounding forests and exploring the town's historic center.

What You Can See on the Camera

The online camera is installed in the enclosure of the rescue station. In the frame is a green lawn where white swans and their grey chicks (cygnets) rest. In the background, a coniferous forest with tall spruces creates a natural backdrop. On the left side of the frame is a wooden structure, a food bowl sits on the grass, and in the foreground, a bundle of dry branches and twigs is visible. The camera is aimed at the pond and the surrounding area where the swans spend most of their time — bathing, resting, and raising their offspring. Although the stream title refers to stork nesting, the main camera actually shows the swan family, making the broadcast even more diverse and interesting for observing wildlife in real time.