Everyone I know seems to like storks. They’re one of those birds that people naturally find endearing. I suppose the idea that they bring babies into the world helps their reputation quite a bit. The truth is, we don’t have any in my village, so many years went by before I saw one for the first time. When you come across their massive nests, it’s hard not to be fascinated, they’re magnificent structures, often built in the most unlikely places. Is there anything more challenging than stacking twigs and straw on top of a narrow pole? Probably not, but for storks, it’s the perfect spot. They muster all their patience and skill, and somehow make the impossible look effortless.
But sometimes their mastery reaches almost absurd levels, like in the case I’m sharing today. Balancing that much weight on such a narrow base is a challenge to both gravity and physics, so despite their skill, sometimes the result is a kind of “shish kebab effect,” where the nests begin to collapse under their own weight. But that doesn’t discourage these incredibly persistent birds. One nest falls? They build another one on top. That one collapses too? No problem, let’s build one more!
I’m genuinely curious to see just how far they’ll go. How many nests can they stack on the same pole? Will it eventually become a kind of towering bird totem? This particular nest is on a rural road in Lugo that I don’t visit often, but I hope that the next time I pass by, maybe even years from now, it’s still there. A living sculpture that evolves and grows with time. Hopefully it keeps rising and gives me the chance to capture an even more impressive photo next time.
