In our new paper led by Ursula Heize, we show that >90% of #WhiteStork nests have anthropogenic materials (plastics, paper, etc). Ropes are particularly dangerous: ~12% of the chicks became entangled on ropes, particularly on baler twine! Check out the paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Our baby #WhiteStorks are growing fast! We use a telecopic pole with a camera to monitor the storks' nest and assess breeding success! #ornithology

The breeding season is moving along nicely, and most #WhiteStork eggs have already hatched! Here is 5Y+, a 9-year-old male ringed as a chick in 2016, with his three hatchlings and two remaining eggs. #Ornithology

Storks are amazing birds. Tracking them for many years enabled us to find some cool stuff!

Every year, fewer #WhiteStorks cross the Straits of Gibraltar on their annual migratory journey. In this paper, we unveil the mechanisms driving the recent and rapid loss of their migratory behaviour. 👉https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1365-2656.70035

On the 27th of March, we welcomed our first #WhiteStork hatchlings! And one was still struggling to get out of the egg when we arrived!

It's pouring rain - we can't recall ever seeing this much water around our #WhiteStork nests! But they remain strong, and many clutches are now complete. Let's hope they can protect their eggs as more storms sweep across Portugal 🤞!

The white-stork 2025 field season just started! Some nests already with eggs despite the heavy rains and cold weather across Portugal. Looking forward to another breeding season!