Stork Cam

Live feed from a nest in Lithuania.

Direction

Austria, near the Hungarian border, July 1971. The pair brings good luck.

Evening Nap

Suburban Chicago, June 1972. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, dozes in the chair that stood closest to the TV.

The plaque hanging above the telephone is a relief depicting a stork pair. Dad picked it up during our European vacation. The drapes featured an avocado and gold pattern.

Stork Reunion

Near Šiauliai, Lithuania, August 2011. It's the time of year when storks return to their nests.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

(The sign reads "Private Property." Haha.)

Nesting Reunion

Austria, near the Hungarian border, July 1971. The stork awaits the return of its migrating mate.

Nesting Reunion

Austria, July 1971. We're at the Hungarian border, admiring those storks. Why not? It doesn't hurt to hope for some good luck.

Habits

Lithuania is "the most stork-dense of all the [E]uropean nations." The stork is the country's national bird. When our family traveled to Europe in 1971, my Dad got very excited each time we saw a stork pair because the birds reminded him of home.

Storks, who used to return to Lithuania after a wintering in Africa, are changing their migration habits. Will they become the seagulls of the European continent?

Near Šiauliai, Lithuania, August 2011. Another stork perches on its nest.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Storks mate for life.

Austria, near the Hungarian border, July 1971. Even though these are different storks in a different place, they still send the same message of good luck and fidelity.

Lucky Strike

Near Šiauliai, Lithuania, August 2011. In Lithuania, the stork is a symbol of good luck.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.