Storks Return to Rome: Rescues Rise as Urban Food Draws Migratory Birds

A white stork found injured in Rome is recovering at a Lipu wildlife center and is expected to be released back into the wild within a week. The bird was brought in debilitated with head and neck wounds, likely from a predator attack. Stork sightings are increasing in Rome's Tiber Valley, a key stop on the Mediterranean migratory route, though accidents occur, including a pair recently electrocuted on power lines in Ciampino. Experts attribute the rise to successful repopulation programs that have brought the species back from extinction in Italy. Warmer winters and abundant food in urban areas and landfills are making storks more sedentary, drawing them to city outskirts and waste sites. However, feeding on scraps exposes them to plastics and heavy metals, creating an ecological trap that threatens their health and migration patterns.