Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Pair of storks nest on the bell tower of the church in Bansko

Photo: BTA

For decades, the bell tower of the Holy Trinity Church in Bansko shelters a pair of storks. Elderly local people say that since their childhood they remember the long-legged harbingers of spring that inhabit the top of the tower. Therefore, no one in the resort town, located in the foothills of Pirin, was surprised when this spring the stork couple returned to Bansko and chose the bell tower's nest to raise their offspring again. 
The return of the storks is an event expected by the residents of the towns, Georgi Angelov, who for three years has been among the group of men who ring the church bells for every holiday, told BTA. ‎


For the past three years, he has been the man who puts food on the top of the bell tower for the birds on cold days.
In 2020, nature presented a surprise - abundant snow in the spring. Then local people raise the alarm that the storks have no food, and fishermen and the owner of a fishing shop in the town provide fish, which Georgi delivered to the home of the stork family. This was repeated over the next few years. 


This year, a colder spell is again expected but people always respond and, if necessary, fish will be provided for the storks, Angelov said.‎

Photos: BTA


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Pope Francis in Bulgaria in 2019

Catholics in Bulgaria fondly remember their meeting with Francis – the Pope of peace and mercy

Shepherd of the soul, priest of all with open hearts, modern prophet – these are some of the definitions with which Pope Francis remains in the memory of people regardless of affiliation and faith. In 2019, he visited Bulgaria,..

published on 4/22/25 4:30 PM

Dr. Spas Tashev presents a new study on the Bulgarian diasporas in Albania and Kosovo

"The socio-political processes among the Bulgarian communities in Albania and Kosovo from the early 19th century to the present, and the influence they have on the demographic development and territorial distribution of our compatriots in these..

published on 4/22/25 2:59 PM
Valeri Petrov

105th anniversary of the birth of Valeri Petrov – the Knight of Poetry

Today we mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of academician Valeri Petrov - poet, novelist, screenwriter, playwright and translator. Born in Sofia on 22 April 1920 under the name of Valeri Nissim Mevorakh, he graduated in medicine from Sofia..

published on 4/22/25 1:29 PM