Welcome, Ringed Stork!
The author reflects on the return of a ringed stork to Iğdır after three years, drawing parallels between the bird's migratory journey and his own feelings of longing for his homeland.
Author: Mücahit Özden Hun
In a newspaper dated April 8, 2022, I read the news that Assistant Director of KUŞMER, Lecturer Ayşegül Çoban, and her team began monitoring the movements of storks in nature by ringing their legs in 2019, and that one of these ringed storks returned to Iğdır from Africa after a 3-year absence. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to our instructors who carried out this work.
Reading this news, my heart ached. I stared at the stork's picture for minutes. It has an innocent yet proud demeanor. It's clear that it carries the fatigue of a long journey. It seems to be saying, "Leave me alone, let me rest a bit." It hasn't yet found the strength to stand on one leg. It looks at the new buildings and trees around it with surprise, muttering to itself, "So much has changed in three years."
The Turkish word "leylek" (stork) comes from the Persian word "legleg." Storks migrate south to Africa in August and September. They spend the winters in Africa, in the savannas of the region from Kenya and Uganda to South Africa. They reach Turkey from Africa in March or April after a 50-day journey.
Brother stork, I am also a migratory bird like you. I flew from Iğdır at a young age, traveling far, stopping along the way. The ring on your leg, and the longing for my birthplace in my heart, always reminded us of Iğdır, bringing both of us back. We experienced the same sorrows, the same separations. You understand me, and I understand you. Please, if there's a place in your nest, would you host me?The two tabs below change the content below.
