Bursa stork Yaren prepares for migration after 15-year bond with local fisherman

In the Eskikarağaç neighborhood of Karacabey, Bursa, a long-standing bond between a fisherman named Adem Yılmaz and a stork known as Yaren is entering a seasonal period of separation. The pair has shared a unique connection for 15 years, with Yaren having nested near Yılmaz’s home for the past four years.

This season, Yaren and her mate, Nazlı, successfully raised five chicks. However, the chicks departed the nest earlier than usual, on August 6 and 7, signaling that the stork’s migration to warmer climates may also occur sooner than the typical end-of-August departure. Yılmaz expressed a mixture of sadness and anticipation, noting that while he looks forward to their return in the spring, he also feels concern for their safety during the journey.