Storks are commonly seen nesting in large numbers in Portugal — who knew?
We do now as it seems that the country has become home to a large population of white storks (Ciconia ciconia). Their numbers have increased greatly following legal protection granted in the 1980s. In 2024, estimates were that some 20,000 pairs of white storks nest in Portugal annually, nearly doubling in 10 years.
No, they're not delivering babies despite a slight population growth in the country.
How and when did that story start?
There's a number of versions, here's a couple.
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| Internet source |
According to another one from medieval times, storks migrating from Africa to northern Europe in springtime, often coincided with the time babies were born. Storks built large nests on rooftops and became associated with families. This connection led to folklore that the storks delivered newborns which provided a simple, magical, answer to children who asked how babies arrived in their homes.
Myths and folklore aside, multiple stork nests like the one below were commonplace along routes that our tour bus traveled in Portugal.
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| A nesting of white storks in Portugal |
While storks were originally a migratory bird, many now forgo the long journey south and instead, winter-over in Portugal. They survive on a diet of landfill waste and also prey on fish, small mammals and insects. Certainly, the weather is better too.
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| An even large nesting of white storks in Portugal |
The above photo shows impressive multiple nests especially on tall structures like power towers. Although White Storks have no voice box, their mating display is a noisy bill-clattering (beak clacking) that's been compared to distant machine gun fire. A group of storks (or muster) can make quite a racket which, thankfully, we never heard.
Just 🤔 wondering — Were you ever told the stork delivering babies story?
Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone
We start our holiday 🦃 road trip on Sunday
26 comments:
...they deliver babies, don't they?
I have seen these storks nesting in natural areas, but never on a rooftop as is common in various parts of Europe. My loss! It’s good to hear of a bird increasing its population in a time of great wildlife declines across species and around the world.
Those nests are huge. I wonder if they ever cause harm to the equipment? I was never told the stork story.
I never heard the origin stork delivering babies, but I have heard that storks deliver babies.
I was not told that storks delivered babies but I knew the story.
Good morning this was so interesting
I've never seen a stork... not that I knew of. With 5 kids born maybe I have!! haha.
I've never seen birds' nests on pylons before, that's extraordinary! As far as I remember, my parents never trotted out any of the myths about how babies were made (there's also the myth about babies being found under gooseberry bushes).
Dear Dorothy big thanks for such a wonderful sharing 🥰
I really enjoyed your detail and such interesting photos 🤗
I would have never known what was the myth about
You captured the nests awesomely 👍♥️
Amazing to see the nests like that. Great information, as always, Dorothy.
This photo of all their nests on this tower is amazing! And so interesting that they stopped migrating, which I thought was kind of programmed into their brains! I believe they mate for life. No, I was never told that the stork brings babies.
I of course heard of storks bringing babies. I knew it was just a fun story though. My mother had a lot of babies and there wasn't a stork in sight.
that tower with all those storks is incredible and I have never seen this breed of storks. we have storks here, wood storks and I love them because they are ugly. but not like these. wow
Thanks for ruining the one remaining belief that I was holding onto strongly. :)
Goodness, those nests look big!
I was never told the stork story.
Have a happy and peaceful weekend.
All the best Jan
I enjoyed this post and those nests are big!
That Stork "high rise" apartment building on the tower is quite interesting. Surprised they don't compete for territory like the cranes do. I don't recall being told the "Stork story" by any responsible adult, but I certainly heard the story throughout my life by one means or another. I think because I was the baby of the family there was no need to make up any stories about where babies come from. There weren't any more babies! I enjoyed your information about the storks. The only kind of storks we see here are "Wood Storks", and they aren't very handsome. Our Sand Hill Cranes do look a lot like the white storks you showed, however. Such interesting birds!!
I've always wanted to see stork nests on roofs ever since seeing photos in a book when I was a child. Although on power lines it doesn't look quite as romantic as it does on the roof. I'm glad you shared these photos. Have a super weekend.
How cool. I've never seen one in real life.
The origin of the baby story is so interesting—I like the medieval timing one that connects them to springtime births. It’s definitely a magical answer for kids.
I was totally told the stork story, and for a long time, I actually believed it.
Have a wonderful, safe road trip for Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holiday. www.melodyjacob.com
Safe travels on your holiday road trip Sunday.
All the best Jan
I didn’t see any storks during my Portugal trip, so this was really interesting to read! I had no idea the country has such a huge population of them. The myths behind the stork-delivering-babies story were fun too — amazing how these legends evolve over time.
Never heard the first version of the story, but enjoyed it. Wow, never saw that many nests in one place, pretty amazing. We're planning on touring Portugal next fall. I'll be on the look out.
Sandy's Space
I had no idea! That was fun and interesting!
I enjoyed hearing about your travels and looking at your beautiful photos. Yes, the stork story is definitely universal. We have wood storks in South Florida which may be another variety. It is interesting how they build nests in the power lines. Looks like an apartment building. lol
How cool! I don't think I have ever seen a stork's nest, much less several of them together. Myself, I have only heard about storks and babies in cartoons, etc.
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