Storks from Knokke to Comporta: secret migration

Par Gabriel Goldberg 7 April 2026 5 min read

There is something truly magical about looking up in the dunes of Knokke-Heist and seeing, perched on a rooftop or a nest of branches, a white stork. This elegant bird, with its pristine plumage and striking red beak, is an integral part of the Zwin and the Belgian coastline . But what many visitors don't realise is that these very same storks lead a double life — between Belgium and Portugal. Last winter, while strolling under the gentle sunshine of Comporta, south of Lisbon, I looked up. There they were. Perched on factory chimneys, nestled among the golden rice paddies. The same storks. That moment of recognition — finding, 2,500 kilometres away, the birds my children watch with wonder every spring at the Zwin — was one of those rare instants when nature reminds you that borders don't really exist. Spring in Knokke: Love, Battles and Births It all begins in February. The first white storks ( Ciconia ciconia ) return from Africa and the Iberian Peninsula to reach the Zwin Nature Reserve , on the Belgian-Dutch border. This 158-hectare park of salt marshes and dunes is one of the most important nesting sites in north-western Europe. Early spring at the Zwin: a stork couple patiently constructs its nest of twigs The return is not always peaceful. Males often arrive first to defend or rebuild their nest — some weigh over 500 kg and are reused year after year. When the females arrive, it's time for the courtship display: the characteristic bill-clattering echoes across the…