A Scary Stork Story to Tell in the Dark

This creepy tale led to a big revelation in migration science. Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our [web version](. [National Audubon Society]( [The pfeilstorch, or “arrow stork,” was a White Stork that changed our understanding of migration.]( [What This Gruesome Stork Taught Us About Bird Migration]( Migrating birds employ skills far beyond human abilities. They depart on time without the use of a calendar, fly for days with few pit stops, [all while enduring a 30-inch spear in their neck](. Wait, what?! In the spring of 1822, German villagers discovered a White Stork that had apparently been impaled by a large spear made of African wood. Dubbed the “pfeilstorch” (or “arrow stork”), this unfortunate bird provides some of the first concrete evidence of migration between continents. Before satellite tracking technology, we had no clue where birds go and when. This Halloween, [learn more about the pfeilstorch]( and how this gruesome finding changed our understanding of bird migration for years to come. [Happy Halloween!]( The pfeilstorch, or “arrow stork,” was a White Stork that changed our understanding of migration. Photo: Zoologische Sammlung der Universität Rostock/Wikimedia Commons CONNECT WITH US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [DONATE]( [ADVOCATE]( [GET TEXT UPDATES]( National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 USA [(844) 428-3826](#) | [audubon.org]( © 2023 National Audubon Society, Inc. [Update your email address or unsubscribe](