Stork-Watching in Silves

Stork-Watching in Silves

Silves is a traditional town located in Western Algarve. Historically, the town served as the capital and defensive stronghold of the entire region during the rule of the North African Moors (700 – 1200 AD). You can see remnants of this Moorish era in the town’s huge 7th-century red brick castle, 12th-century city walls, and defensive gates. The castle was the stage for many battles and sieges in the 12th century. Are you looking for taxi service in Albufeira ? click here

Today, this charming town’s most notable residents are white storks. Their giant nests are prominently positioned on columns, old chimneys, and buildings all over town. It’s illegal to disturb or destroy a Stork’s nest in Portugal, as storks return to their nest each year to raise their families. When we visited in early June, we saw dozens of storks flying, foraging, and feeding their young. Still confused? Book online taxi in Albufeira

The magnificent sight of a White Stork in full flight is one of the most amazing sights for us here in the Algarve.

Although we know a little about these beautiful birds, who are believed to bring good luck and fertility to the home over which it built its nest, we thought we would research them a little more – and found out some very interesting facts about them.

Storks from all over Europe (that used to migrate to the sub-Sahara in the winter) have flocked to Portugal in the last 20 years to the point where the population has grown from about 1,000 in 1995 to 14,000 in 2014. In the past the storks would fly south to Africa in the summer, and return to Europe at the end of the winter, however in the last 20 years white storks have begun to stay here all year round. Want to have a airport transfer ? click here

Leave a Comment