Since moving to Portugal I have been fascinated by white storks and their nesting habits.
White storks are majestic birds about 1m tall. They build their nests on man-made structures such as chimneys, telephone poles, lamp posts, rooftops, towers etc. Nests, as you can see from my photographs, are HUGE and can be up to 1.5 in depth and up to 2m in diameter! Constructed of sticks and branches the nest is lined with twigs, paper, rags, sods, grasses etc.
The pair work together not only to build the nest, which will be used year after year, but also take it in turn to incubate their eggs and feed their young.
Can you imagine having a nest that size perched on your chimney?
Beautiful birds but what happens to the “fallout” if you look up?
Piglet in Portugal 
Wow! I didn’t know you had storks like that in Portugal. We saw a lot of them in southern Germany, where they’ve done all sorts of things to get them to roost. Just incredible… and what a great idea to use this concept for “Home”! Congrats!
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What Awesome photos. A fab post.
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Hi Debbie,
I agree they are fantastic. I love to watch them fly…but as yet I’ve never captured one on camera. Jaime kindly gave us a link
http://static.publico.pt/cegonhasnaweb/
to a webcam showing the babies!
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Wow that is fantastic….I love the photos and could probably sit all day and just watch these storks! Have never seen a white stork Thanks!
Debbie 🙂
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I wonder if that chimney stack is actually in use? Must be nice and cosy if it is!
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Hi Noobcake the chimney used to be in use but from memory they demolished the old building but retained chimney so the storks nest was unscathed. I seemed to remember they errected a temporary platform for the nest when they rebuilt the chimney. I think it was a chimney from a kiln.
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I love the photos of the birds, as birds have always fasinated me. I also love your postings, as I read each of your stories. Photos are beautiful. I will be back often to what other creative stories and photos you have to share.
Thank you 🙂
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Hi Penny,
Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂
Cheers
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Hi Pip,
thank you for this post…I love Stork. Every time I go to Alentejo and Algarve I love to see them…it´s truly fascinating.
As I said to Zura, you can watch them when ever you want here on cam 24/24 hours a day:) http://static.publico.pt/cegonhasnaweb/
this is a program made by some biologist that are runing for 2 years now, and it a web site very popular among children (and not only children:)
Jaime
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Hi Jaime,
I have subscribed to their YouTube site…truly amazing. Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂 I love the wild life in Portugal and Mr Piglet is amazed as I’m always taking photos of insects , birds etc.
Tchau
PiP
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yes Pip, the videos are amazing but what i trully like is the Live cams…and they have chicks right now…you have to see it during the day:)
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Hi Jaime,
Unfortunately I’ve had trouble accesing the webcam 😦
PiP
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Lovely pics PIP…wonder if we get them here?
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Hmmm don’t know. I know they don’t fly far over the sea as they mainly use thermals in flight.
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hi, PiP…
OMG, how could they live up there? what if their baby fall out from the nest! I can’t even think why did they choose that horrible place.. Isn’t that any other comfort zone for them? Or, they are used to live like that in Portugal?
You got an extreme shot, PiP… It’s very thoughtful of you.
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Hi Zura. Oh but this is their natural way…for thousand years they have chosen to do this large nest in Human made structures, In Portugal they nest on buildings, or on purpose built man-made platforms, and they may be used for many many years. White Storks no longer nest in many countries in Europe and Portugal has actually seen it´s stroke population raising in the last 10 years. Here they Only nest in the South of the country because of the weather…they are a bird loved by people, and there is many stories with Storks in Portuguese popular culture. You can see some of their nests Live in here: http://static.publico.pt/cegonhasnaweb/
Enjoy:)
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Hi Jaime
These videos are amazing, thank you! I had to use this link as my PC blocked the pop up. http://www.youtube.com/cegonhasnaweb
I’ve never been able to catch one in flight yet as my zoom lins is not strong enough 😦
cheers
PiP
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Love those photos especially the last one with the do not enter sign just below. Pretty amazing shots, PiP
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Hey faithdream,
I had not even noticed the sign! It is certainly well placed 🙂
PiP
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Fascinating shots and information, PiP! I agree about your thinking outside the box, er, home. And a welcome relief (although I feel guilty for writing this) from seeing the shots of the tragedy–ongoing!–in Japan.
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Hi,
As the events in Japan unfold it makes you realise how lucky we are and appreciate “home”. Those poor people …our thoughts are with them
PiP
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Amazing! Thanks for sharing about these magnificent birds and their homes. It truly shows that Home is where the heart is. Your photos are fabulous! 🙂
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With all the horror that we see on TV and the web with regards to Japan and the other areas of the world affected by the recent disaster…it was so lovely to have a moment of nature at peace…your photos were much appreciated and warmed my soul.
Thank you!!!!
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Thanks Vivian, I know how you feel. There have been so many disasters and so much heartache around the world it has certainly made me reflect on life.
PiP 8)
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Hi Pip, Great pics..and I am amazed at the size of the nests and there locations. Thanks for sharing. My post tomorrow is similar but on a much smaller scale. Have JOYful week!!!
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Thanks Jeanne…I will pop across and have a look 🙂
PiP
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Eagles also do the same thing. They work together to build the nest. And the male does most of the nest sitting. I didn’t realize that the eagle and the stork were so alike. Eagles always build their nests in high places. There are two eagles in New York that built their nestle on side of a tall building. The eagles are famous in New York. Beautiful shots!
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Thanks Gladys,
We also have eagles (I think) here. I wonder what the Eagles in New York feed on?
PiP
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Awesome pictures PIP!!!
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thanks RNP 🙂
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Fabulous pictures, Miss Piglet! And what a wonderful way to use the theme of home. You are an inspired and inspiring one!
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Hi Ellen,
Thanks for your kind comments…but I’ve just checked your blog and you are not taking part in the challenge…:(
You would also be inspired 🙂
PiP
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That´s really amazing! congratulations!
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Thanks Edson…are storks common where you are in Brazil?
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Very unique viewpoint for home. Well done PiP!
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thanks Seashell 🙂
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Great stuff, Piglet!
Take care,
Charlie
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Thanks Charlie 🙂
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Great photos PiP. It’s always amazing the places where birds find to make a nest, but that one on top of a chimney is really different. 🙂
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The chimney in the picture above I think was that from a kiln…not sure. The original building has long since been demolished but the chimney had to remain. It is right on a roundabout and a busy road.
PiP
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Awesome shots!
Reminds me of the ospreys (fish hawks) that nest in aeries at the top of platforms and buoys.
Thanks, PiP!
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I love these birds but have never yet managed to photograph them in flight.
The ospreys you mention look pretty impressive 🙂
Thanks for the mention BTW 🙂
PiP
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Wonderful photos PiP.
I like the way you thought outside the square about ‘Home’! Perfect pics.
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Hi barb,
Pictures of home would be a little to personal 😦 I thought the Storks would not mind 🙂
PiP
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What fantastic photographs, we had jackdaws once and their nest caused such problems but wow, these birds even beat our heron too. x
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Hi Marie,
Thank goodness we do not have a pond! LOL 🙂
PiP
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