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Migratory storks and their newly hatched chicks are seen in their new nest built atop the dome of the mosque in the rural Tinazli neighborhood of the Aziziye district in Erzurum, Türkiye, on June 09, 2026.
The migratory birds, which have been nesting in the same village for decades, moved their habitat this season from a rarely used traditional tandoor bread-oven chimney to the crescent-topped mosque dome.
This striking move has turned the avian families into a cherished symbol of the local community, bringing immense joy to the residents of the Aziziye district.
Parent storks take turns guarding the prominent nest on the dome while the other flies across the Erzurum plains to forage for food.
The adult storks regularly engage in a distinctive bill-clattering behavior that echoes across the neighborhood as a greeting whenever a partner returns to the mosque.
This successful seasonal relocation ensures that a beautiful, decadeslong migratory tradition will safely continue in the heart of the village.
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