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Portugal: why storks are migrating less and less to Africa
Many storks are present in the south of Portugal. However, they are migrating less and less towards Africa. What are the reasons ?
(Franceinfo)
Many storks are present in the south of Portugal. However, they are migrating less and less to Africa. What are the reasons ?
They particularly appreciate high-voltage electricity pylons. It is on these structures that storks like to breed and build their nests. We find more and more of them in the south of Portugal in spring coming from northern Europe. A proliferation that is starting to worry technicians in charge of network security. “We counted 4,500 stork nests on the pylons”explains Francisco Parada, head of electrical safety.
Storks closely monitored
In Portugal, storks are closely monitored by scientists. Their observations confirmed a change in behavior. Previously, this bird migrated in winter to Africa, more precisely to Senegal, 2,500 kilometers away. Today, they make this long journey less and less because they have found a dry and hot climate in southern Europe. Global warming is the reason why the species is migrating less and less.
