Well we're still here so here are some pictures of storks in their nests. It seems they like to built their nests up high. Disused chimneys, old palm tree stumps, electric pylons, castle walls and the join between walls are some of the places we've spotted these birds. Once the nest is built the chimeys can't be knocked down as the birds are a protected species and it's against the law to destroy their nests; hence lots of chimney stacks randomly dotted around with the building they were once attached to knocked down. In places the new builds have incorporated the chimney into their design, such as a new block of offices and apartments in Portimao which features a chimney complete with nesting birds in the middle of it.


On top of a pizza restaurant's oven chimney

on the corner of castle walls

On top of an old tree stump

On the join of a house wall


Their like to build their nests near to marshy areas so they can feed, hence there are quite a few nests in the area just to the north of Lagos marina and on a trip to Pingo you might see them digging around for frogs and fish in the salt marshes that run along the side of the supermarket. The storks used to migrate away for the winter but many now stay year round - a sign of global warming maybe?

The storks mate for life, hopefully we'll get to see some fluffly chicks in the nests soon.