Bird Watching or Twitching in Andalucia Southern Spain

March 2004, White Stork, Ciconia ciconia

White Stork

This migratory bird normally arrives in the area in March and stays until September. This year we saw the first arrivals during the first week of February. They nest on towers, telegraph poles, and pylons. Special platforms have often to be built for the nests as here on a pylon beside the Algeciras to Ronda road near Jimena. The nest is built of branches and twigs. The White Stork feeds on small animals, frogs, snakes, fish, even small birds and can be recognised at a distance by its characteristic stately walk through low marsh vegetation or in meadows. When two storks meet they greet each other by clattering their bills together. This appears to be a friendly gesture rather than a warning.