Stork of the town

摘要

Over the centuries, human development has spelled disaster for many wild creatures. But some adapt to the changing world, and others, such as the white stork of Spain, make it work for them. As I passed along tile narrow cobbled streets of the smallSpanish village, I felt I had gone back 500 years in time. I was going to meet the cura or priest, to get the key to the church. My mission was to scale the church belltower in order to photograph the white stork nest on the roof. A few minutes later, Iopened the massive church doors with a foot-long key, and the sensation of time travel increased as the light streamed in to reveal the ancient religious relics inside. I must have slipped into another century - surely no one in mine would trust someonealone with such priceless treasures. Scaling the narrow bell-tower required attention so as to avoid the numerous pigeon carcasses and droppings. When I opened the trap-door up to the roof, I felt I had entered another world again. The cool breeze offered welcome relief from the parched streets below. But I was not alone: three half-grown storks stared at me from their nest some 40 metres away. I hid myself, and soon their parents returned to feed them and bring more vegetation to line the nest. Afterseveral hours, my session came to an end with the arrival of a lightning storm and the priest, who was about tO give a service.