– Gone to Waste –

Until recently , the white stork was a wholly migratory species in Europe. However, since the 1980s, guaranteed and year-round food at landfill sites has enabled the establishment of resident populations in Iberia. 90% of all wintering storks concentrate on landfills and nest close by.

Landfills also influence migratory decisions and has facilitated colonization of new areas. However, due to EU directives, open-air landfills are being replaced by facilities inaccessible to birds, likely causing important consequences for White Stork winter habitat selection, breeding and migratory decisions. ̌