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

Bulgarian electric yacht among finalists in international competition

A Bulgarian-designed electric vessel has gained international recognition , reaching the final round of the prestigious Gussies Electric Boat Awards 2025 . The awards celebrate the world’s most innovative and sustainable electric boats and yachts,..

published on 11/14/25 8:10 AM

Another case of animal cruelty mobilizes civic energy

A case of a dog run over by a doctor in a district of Sofia has caused a wave of public indignation and a protest in Sofia, which will take place today in front of the Military Medical Academy - the medical institution where the medic..

published on 11/13/25 1:45 PM

The Bulgarian community in USA is extremely vibrant and fruitful

Forty Bulgarian schools in 22 US states have become a second home for the children of Bulgarian emigrants. They create continuity between generations and teach about Bulgarian history, traditions, and culture. They also create..

published on 11/12/25 3:45 PM