White storks begin gathering for migration to Africa

The first white storks are already gathering ahead of their annual migration to Africa, the Poda Nature Conservation Centre on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast said.

The first to leave are young birds and adults that did not breed successfully this season. Stork families with fully grown chicks begin their journey later. Ornithologists say the first flocks can be seen from late July, but around 95% of Bulgaria's white storks depart during August, with the last birds leaving in early September.

Bulgaria's Black Sea coast lies along the Via Pontica migratory flyway, one of Europe's main routes for migrating birds. The Poda visitor centre near Burgas is among the country's best-known locations for observing the autumn migration.

Editor: Desislava Semkovska