White storks in their nest atop the local Town Hall. I have resisted posting photos, as my telephoto lens isn't strong enough to capture detail at such a great distance. But a couple of Twitter friends insisted on seeing the stork pictures, et voila! Click on photos to enlarge. I will try to get better shots of the storks when they venture out of their nest. Watch this space!
Silhouette of the birds atop their nest.
Preening.
Looking rather bedraggled on a foggy day.
At home with a chorus of visitors. Every spring the birds return to the same nest, after wintering in Africa.
These are delightful. Cathie is going to love them!
Posted by: Chris | 09 May 2011 at 20:50
Tara viewing these images of storks brings back memories of my visit to the Alsace region where I saw many of these storks!Great captures way up high!
Posted by: naturegirl | 27 March 2011 at 04:31
I don't think I've ever seen a photo of a stork -- just drawings, generally in flight with a baby hanging from a towel in their mouth! I'm glad you posted -- telephoto notwithstanding!
Hope you are settling in happily!
Posted by: jeanie | 21 March 2011 at 18:29
So they don't use that fire place? Or do they like the smoke? lol
;)
Posted by: amber | 21 March 2011 at 17:43
Love these scruffy, magnificent storks - imagine the stories they could tell of their journeys to Africa! I look forward to more posts about your new city, hope you are well settled.
Posted by: Karen @PasGrand-Chose | 19 March 2011 at 20:32
I did not know that storks settle also in Amsterdam for the summer!
There are hundreds of white storks in the region south of Vienna, at less than an hour's drive, along Lake Neusiedl. Black storks too, but they summer to the east of Vienna.
Best wishes and may your new home be a fountain of happiness,
Merisi
Posted by: Merisi, Vienna | 19 March 2011 at 10:50
Just stopped in on my way to bed. What a way to cap off the day! Totally awesome, and beautiful beyond measure.
Posted by: Limner | 19 March 2011 at 07:26
Marvelous! What a fun, fun subject! So glad you shared these with us!
Posted by: Natalie | 19 March 2011 at 06:13
Oh the pictures are great Tara...you can really see them! I agree your lens must be great, because you were really far from them!
Did you see the Disney/Pixar film, UP? It is fantastic...but before the film on the DVD is a Pixar Short called "Partly Cloudy" and it features a stork...one of the cutest short animated films I've ever seen. Go check it out!
Can't wait to hear what you find out about the history in the area of the bird. Also to see and hear more of your new adventures. xoxo Love you!!!
Posted by: gillian | 19 March 2011 at 04:17
Great shots! Thank you for sharing them!
Posted by: Helen | 18 March 2011 at 21:58
Wow, I'd say your lens is better than you may think, that WAS quite a distance away! How interesting, and not the slightest bit French (must be such a nice change, right?)
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 18 March 2011 at 21:58
What a treat to see storks nearby. Thanks so much for sharing them here. I can't wait to hear more about your move and adventures.
Posted by: Marilyn | 18 March 2011 at 18:55
Wow, that nest is quite the feat of engineering! Your posts are exciting, Tara, thanks. I seem to remember some storybook from my childhood about storks on a roof ... hmmm ...
Posted by: Barbara | 18 March 2011 at 16:53
Thanks, Mary. As the storks return to the same nest every year, the local Town Hall apparently built the platform for it years ago. In an antique shop, I found silver spoons with storks on the crest, so there is more history I must investigate. :)
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 18 March 2011 at 15:27
Beautiful photos. Do the locals help with the birds nests or are the nests not bothered so the birds can return yearly? I noticed the nest looks to be resting on a pallet of some sort.
Posted by: Mary H. | 18 March 2011 at 15:23
I think that I'm going to find your move to The Netherlands to be very informative. Who knew that storks travelled so far on a regular basis? This is cool stuff to know, imho.
Posted by: ally bean | 18 March 2011 at 15:10