In the period between March and May, the female birds fly to the breeding areas to join the males. The male storks, who have waited for this moment, will not take any changes when it comes to courting females. If a female lands near a nest occupied by a male, he welcomes her immediately by clattering with his bill. The male presents himself with somewhat protruding lowered wings and his tail pointed upwards, and he moves his head and neck down to the ground and jerks his body backwards, clattering with his bill. The female returns his calls by clattering in a similar fashion.
On studying the breeding pair, it may seem that the partners have known each other for years, but it is not the case. The proverbial loyalty that is often associated with storks is a myth. Partners tend to stay together for one breeding season but then both go their own ways, although some couples get back together each season many years in row. This has nothing to do with loyalty but rather with the strong connection storks have with their old nesting place.
Several days, or even weeks, following mating, the female lays 3 to 4 eggs. Under ideal circumstances, she may lay up to seven. Incubating starts when the second egg is laid. Both parents take incubating very seriously and take turns to do so.
After 30 days, the first egg hatches. The chick is not fed by bill but the parents spit the food out in the nest so the chicks can choose their favourite food. Parents must find approximately 4 kilos of food each day to be able to satisfy their offspring's constant hunger. This adds up to approximately 250 kilos per breeding season and consists mostly of earthworms, insects, moles, field mice and frogs.
When the chicks are 43 days old, the flying lessons start, and approximately two weeks later they leave their nests. After 10 weeks they are mature enough to support themselves and are capable of flying to sunnier southern climes.