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White stork standing tall on its nest, castle towers and battlements beyond

Selçuk

White Storks Nesting in Selçuk

July 2006

Selçuk, in İzmir Province near Türkiye’s Aegean coast, supports a long-established breeding population of white storks (Ciconia ciconia). These photographs, taken in 2006, document adults and young in a large stick nest, with the walls of Ayasuluk Castle behind them.

White storks feed in open farmland, grasslands, wetlands, and shallow water. They commonly build their nests in trees or on elevated human-made structures, including rooftops, chimneys, utility poles, and purpose-built nesting platforms. Pairs often return to the same breeding area and may reuse substantial nests over successive seasons. Both adults share responsibility for incubating the eggs and feeding the young.

The species may nest alone or in loose groups rather than following one fixed breeding pattern. Most populations are migratory, using rising columns of warm air to soar along predominantly land-based routes between Eurasian breeding areas and wintering grounds in Africa.

Developments Since the Photographs Were Taken

Beginning in 2010, researchers and municipal partners in Selçuk ringed hundreds of young storks to study their movements. Local conservation work has also included maintaining nests, installing safer nesting platforms, and removing plastic, cord, and other hazardous material. The white stork is now recognized as one of Selçuk’s symbols.

Adult white stork preening its breast feathers beside a chick in the stick nest
White stork with wings drooped and neck bent, working its bill through ruffled plumage
Three white storks on a broad stick nest with the walls of Ayasuluk Castle behind
Two white storks side by side, one head raised and the other tucking its bill down
Black-and-white portrait of a white stork against blurred castle battlements
Detail of a white stork's outstretched wing, tail and single leg above the nest
Pair of white storks standing on their nest below the crenellated walls of Ayasuluk Castle
One white stork lifts a wing while another lowers its head to preen alongside it
Close view of a white stork's belly, tail feathers and long legs mid-step
Single white stork on a stick nest in front of Ayasuluk Castle's stone walls
White stork standing tall on its nest, castle towers and battlements beyond
White stork with wings spread above another on the nest, Turkish flag flying over the castle
Young white storks crowding around an adult's red bill on the stick nest
Adult white stork lowering its bill to three begging young, wings half raised
Young stork gripping dark elongated prey in its bill, ruined stone walls behind
Dark elongated prey dangling from a juvenile stork's bill as it spreads its wings
Juvenile white stork holding a fish in its bill while adults stand alongside
Stork facing the camera with prey in its bill, siblings pressed close on the nest
Wings spread wide, a young stork holds prey crosswise in its bill
White stork tipping its head back with bright red bill open, wings partly lowered
Two storks lean toward each other, bills almost touching over the twig nest
Adult white stork standing on the nest above crouching young, castle wall blurred behind
Four white storks on a broad stick nest below the walls of Ayasuluk Castle

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