Hama, Central Syria (SANA) – Tens of thousands of Ciconia white storks are currently flying across Syria on their annual migration from Africa to Europe, with sightings of these birds at more than 80 locations across Syria.

The white storks' trip from Africa to Europe begins in June and ends in August, and they return to Africa in October after laying their eggs and raising their young in Europe. They are monogamous birds that mate for life, and lay around 3 to 5 eggs each year, and feed their young for 8 to 9 weeks, at which point they become capable of flight. The average lifespan of a white stork is 30 years.

An average flock of storks usually consists of around 11,000 birds. They can fly for up to 20,000 kilometers, and they feed mainly on lizards, locusts, frogs, fish, rodents, snakes, mollusks, crustacean, worms and insects, which is why they are considered helpful to man as they feed on vermin that harm agricultural areas and human health.

Despite their environmental significance and their usefulness to humans, these birds fall victim to hunting, pesticide, pollution and the desiccation of humid areas. The decreasing numbers of locusts in Africa due to the use of pesticide and drought has also contributed to the reduction in stork numbers.

Several other bird species fly over Syria during their migration, including various types of eagles, falcons, swallows, storks, ibises, herons and small birds.

H. Sabbagh