So…you know how small my country is. And even smaller is the part where I come from. We are different. 😂 Really different. Our dialect is so unique that if you drive just 20 km away, people already tell me: “Hey, speak Slovenian!” And yes, I speak, but my dialect is my treasure. If you don’t like it…well, just don’t talk to me 😂
But today I don’t want to talk about dialects. I want to share something truly beautiful. Something that feels like a privilege. Every summer, we are visited by a magical bird...the white stork.
Do you remember when we were kids, and we asked: “Where do babies come from?” And parents would say: “The stork brought them.” Oh my 😂 I don’t even want to know how many years I believed that! Especially because, in our town, storks have a real nest directly above our house, on a street lamp. When I asked my mom where my brother came from, she just pointed at the nest: “From there, a stork brought him.” Yep…childhood innocence 😂
But maybe it makes sense. Storks often build nests close to people, and they raise their chicks in spring...the same time when many babies are born. So people thought: “Aha, it must be the stork delivering them!” And the legend was born. Honestly, it’s much easier to imagine a big white bird flying in with a baby bundle than to explain biology to children, right?
I always try to take photos of them, but I’m never lucky. 😂 Once, while driving, I saw a group of storks. I started screaming: “Stop the caaaar!” My poor husband had to stop in the middle of the road so I could jump out and take pictures. Real professional photographer vibes right there 😂
White storks are among the most loved birds in Europe. And no wonder...they are big, elegant, and at the same time a little clumsy. They walk like serious gentlemen with their long red legs and beaks. But then they start clattering their beaks so loudly that it sounds like bird laughter.
They live across Europe, Asia, and Africa. And yes, we are lucky in Slovenia, they love our fields, meadows, and friendly villages. They don’t mind people at all. Some even build their nests above houses, on chimneys, church towers, and street lamps.
Their nest is like a palace. Huge! Sometimes it even weighs more than a car. And they use the same nest year after year. Every spring, storks return from Africa, traveling thousands of kilometers, like true world travelers. Yet, they always find their way home. Amazing, right?
And here comes the part I love most...storks are birds of love. Usually, they stay with one partner for life. The male arrives first in spring and waits. When the female arrives, they greet each other with a loud “clattering kiss” of their beaks. Romantic stork-style.
Baby storks are raised with great care. Both parents bring frogs, insects, and little fish to feed their chicks until they are strong enough to fly. Watching them in the nest feels like watching a fairytale.
But not everything is perfect. In some places, storks struggle because of lost wetlands and dangerous power lines. Luckily, here in Slovenia, people care. We protect their nests, sometimes move them to safe poles, and farmers keep fields stork-friendly. Thanks to this, every spring we can look up and see them again.
For us, the white stork is not just a bird. It is a neighbor, a traveler, a symbol of love, and a bringer of new life.
The love story of Malena the stork ❤️
Now comes the part that touched my heart the most.
In a small village in Croatia lived a stork named Malena. She was different...one of her wings was broken, so she could not fly to Africa in winter. While other storks left, Malena stayed. A kind man named Stjepan took care of her. He built her a little shelter, kept her warm, and fed her every day.
Then one spring, something magical happened. A strong male stork named Klepetan landed in her nest. He fell in love with Malena. Every year, he returned to her. In autumn, he flew thousands of kilometers to Africa, but in spring, he always came back. They raised more than 60 chicks together in their lifetime.
One year, he didn’t return on time. Malena waited, refused food, and even lost her feathers. But finally... he came back. Their reunion was pure love.
Malena passed away in 2021, after many beautiful years. Klepetan still lives, and people say he sometimes visits her grave under an apple tree in Brodski Varoš. Their story touched the whole world because it showed true love, loyalty, and hope.
Malena reminds us that love has wings...even if one stork cannot fly.
Storks are truly amazing. Every time I hear their clattering above the roof, my heart feels lighter. They remind me of love, family, and the beauty of coming home.
And yes…next year, I promise I’ll take better photos! 😂
With love, @tinabrezpike ❤️