For hundreds of years now, the European white stork has been nesting 
close to people. They are not especially afraid of humans and can be 
found nesting on chimneys, tall buildings, telephone poles, and even 
structures specially built just for them. 
They also nest in the usual places one might find birds, such as trees or the 
sides of cliffs.The European white stork is found throughout Europe in 
several distinct population groups, and one of these groups migrates a great 
distance yearly, from as far north as Denmark to as far south as South Africa 
- virtually all the way down the globe and back!
The European white stork is a large bird, an average of over 2 feet tall and 
weighing in at 10 lbs or more, with distinctive black and white feathers and 
a reddish beak and legs. Their vocalizations may sound like a gun firing rapidly 
and involve clattering their bills rapidly. They can live for 30 years or more. 
Their eggs, once laid, incubate for 30-50 days. Both male and female share 
nesting duties such as caring for the eggs and feeding the young. After the 
young have hatched, they are nest-bound for about 8 weeks before "fledging,"
i.e. leaving the nest.
There has been a severe decline in numbers in Europe since the II World War 
and the biggest concentration remains in the Iberian Peninsula.
However, it is generally well protected given the reputation it has for being 
a lucky bird. The myth about storks bringing babies probably arose because 
they arrived back in Europe on fairly predictable dates and almost exactly 
9 months after the previous mid-summer.