Photos: why there are so many more storks in france now

BIRDS USUALLY MIGRATE SOUTH TO AFRICA BUT MORE ARE OPTING TO STAY - AS THESE IMAGES SHOW The number of storks spread throughout France has tripled in recent years, with more and more reports

of the long-legged birds staying in the country throughout the year. The birds, which usually migrate southwards to Africa for winter, now often opt to stay in France instead of making the

voyage due to the warmer climate and an increased abundance of food during the season. Formerly only present in the Alsace region, storks have become more common across all of France, even

deep into the south west, as the winter weather in France becomes more hospitable for them. In addition, they are becoming more used to living in close proximity to humans and are often now

seen in gardens or flying over houses. STORKS CHOOSING NOT TO MIGRATE Generally, storks breed and spend their summer months across Central and Eastern Europe, parts of the Iberian peninsula

and North Africa, but not France. The changing climate in France, however, means more are staying permanently in the country. “There is the desert crossing, the Mediterranean crossing.

It's a very energy-intensive ordeal, where you can't be sure of surviving,” said Enzo Vignon, a member of the _Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux_ (Bird protection league). “If

it can be avoided by spending the winter in a place where there is still enough to eat, it is much better,” he added. Although many thousands of storks still fly over France on their annual

migrations to Africa, the number staying in the country has tripled in ten years. Currently around 9,000 storks live in France on a permanent basis. READ MORE: SPOT STORKS FLYING ACROSS

FRANCE AS MIGRATION SEASON PEAKS A ‘MAJESTIC ANIMAL’ Until 15 years ago “there weren’t any” storks in the skies near Saint-Laurent-des-Hommes, a village in the Dordogne. However,

“They've been here permanently for ten or 15 years,” said one resident to news outlet _TF1_. For those living close to the birds for the first time, they have been a welcome addition.

“It's really impressive. They are majestic animals. They are really wide [have a long wingspan], especially when they fly,” said one resident in another Dordogne village. “When passing

right over the house we are quite amazed to see them,” she added. The video below posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows storks flying in the skies above Paris. > Voisins parisiens, levez 

le nez aujourd'hui ! Les cigognes survolent > la capitale. Direction Africa. #cigognes #migration #Paris > #Montmartre pic.twitter.com/7buccvtngp > — Vahn Petit  🎤👩🏻‍💻 

(@vvocalize) September 6, > 2023 The photos below show storks resting in Donzère, Drôme, close to Avignon. > Cigognes #donzere pic.twitter.com/mCcmtXLS0g > — ninie0710 👩‍👧🥰🏍️ 

(@ninie2610) September 5, 2023 They have also recently been spotted in Besançon. This close up shows storks in a new location. > Surprise du soir, bonsoir ❤️ hier une vingtaine de 

cigognes ont > élu domicile dans le hameau pour la nuit, une première en 23 ans > 😱 un rien suffit à rendre heureux et à s'émerveiller > 👌(crédit photo Fabienne Bourdil 😎) 

pic.twitter.com/gDdYePAGEU > — Hotas 01 (@TBourdil) September 5, 2023 “Around 20 storks took up residence in the hamlet for the night yesterday, a first in 23 years,” the poster said

alongside the photo. KEEP CALM IF YOU SEE THEM IN YOUR GARDEN If you are lucky enough to see a stork in your garden, advice is to leave it alone and watch from a distance. “From time to time

we get people calling us, more or less panicked, to tell us they've got a stork in their garden and they are not sure what to do,” said Mr Vignon. “There is nothing specific to do,

it's just there, feeding. After that, it'll be on its way again,” he concluded. YOUR PHOTOS With the storks venturing further south in France in recent years some readers may have

photos of storks in their gardens, which we would love to see. If you have any photos, or any stories about storks visiting your home, please send them to us via [email protected].

RELATED ARTICLES: BIRDWATCHER’S GUIDE TO FRANCE: NATURE RESERVES, PARKS AND TRAILS ORIOLES, BUTTERFLIES, BROOM: SEE ALL THINGS YELLOW IN FRANCE