Newsademic British English edition 260

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m ig r a t in g
 
storks
Ornithology researchers in Germa­
ny have been following European 
white storks. (Ornithologists are 
scientists who study birds.) Small 
tracking devices were attached to 
70 young storks. The birds were in 
eight separate countries. Readings 
from the devices show that many of 
the birds are changing their behav­
iour. Normally, the storks migrate 
and fly south for the winter. Now, 
many are deciding not to do so.
There are at least 17 differ­
ent types o f stork. European white 
storks are large birds. Adults are one 
metre (3.3 feet) tall. M ost o f their 
feathers are white. Yet, they have 
black feathers along the back edge 
o f their wings. The birds’ wingspan, 
or measurement from one wingtip to 
the other, is 1.5 metres (five feet). 
The storks have long thin legs. So 
it is easy for them to walk or wade 
through wetland areas.
White storks have a long, thin 
bill, or beak. They use it to spear 
their prey. The birds are carnivores, 
or meat-eaters. They feed on frogs, 
toads, insects, fish, earthworms, 
rodents, lizards, snakes, and small 
birds. The birds often make their 
nests near to places where humans 
live. They are made from sticks. 
White storks will build their nests 
in tall trees and on chimneys and 
rooftops. In some countries, special 
platforms are put up for the birds to 
nest on. These are to stop the storks 
building nests on electricity pylons 
and telegraph poles.
European white storks live in 
Spain and Portugal, parts o f North 
Africa, Central Europe, Turkey, 
northern Iraq and Iran, and U z­
bekistan, in Central Asia. These 
are breeding areas, or places where 
the birds mate and lay their eggs.

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