The Soulful Feast of the White Stork in Hima Anjar

By Bassam Al Kantar (Al Hima Magazine 5th Edition) 
Head of Campaign Strategy & Communications
Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)

As the truck retreated across the furrowed fields of Hima Anjar, a quiet miracle unfolded in its wake. The land, freshly tilled and breathing anew, released not only the scent of earth but a symphony of life hidden just beneath the surface. And it was there, amid the disrupted soil and scattered insects, that a lone white stork descended—graceful, curious, and seemingly drawn not only by instinct but something deeper.

Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian

This intimate moment—captured through the lens of renowned bird photographer Tsolag Hergelian—reveals more than just a feeding ritual. It is a scene steeped in symbolism and soul, a testament to the profound interconnection between nature’s rhythms and the timeless traditions of Hima stewardship in the Bekaa Valley.

A Moment Caught in Flight and Feeling

The photograph, now circulating across wildlife circles and social media, shows the white stork mid-motion: beak plunged into the moist soil, wings half-lifted in a dance of balance and grace. Earth clings to its legs. Its gaze is focused, intense—not just on prey, but on purpose.

Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian

“It wasn’t just a stork feeding,” says Tsolag, whose Instagram page has become a visual diary of Anjar’s birdlife. “It felt like it was nourishing itself from the soul of the land. There was something almost sacred in the way it moved, as though recognizing the generosity of the earth.”

Tsolag, who runs the photography pages @macrobirds and @shutterplow, has been documenting avian life in the Anjar region for years. But this encounter was different. “I’ve seen storks feed before. But never like this. The freshly turned soil brought up life from below—and the stork arrived almost immediately, as if called by an ancient memory.”

Where Agriculture Meets Conservation

Hima Anjar is no ordinary farmland. It’s a mosaic of conservation and culture, where traditional agricultural practices are harmonized with ecological protection. Here, tilling is not merely an act of cultivation—it’s part of a living covenant between people and nature.

Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian

When the truck rolled across the field that morning, it wasn’t destroying; it was awakening. Worms, grubs, and insects stirred from their subterranean slumber. The stork responded—not with haste, but with reverence.

White storks are migratory birds known for their long journeys and symbolic presence across cultures. In Anjar, they are not just visitors—they are icons. Their arrival each year signals hope, fertility, and the cyclical wisdom of nature. For locals, seeing the stork feed after tilling is like witnessing the land breathe again.

The Eyes That Witness and Share

Tsolag’s photos are not merely beautiful; they’re invitations to slow down and look closely. His Instagram posts often pair images with poetic captions, drawing followers into the subtle dramas of birdlife—moments of courtship, flight, stillness, and survival.

Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian

“I try to show not just the bird, but the story behind the bird,” he explains. “What brought it here? What does the landscape give it? What does the bird return in its presence?”

The image of the white stork feeding on freshly turned soil is now among his most shared, striking a chord with nature lovers, conservationists, and storytellers alike.

A Story Still Unfolding

Back in Hima Anjar, the land rests for a moment before its next chapter. The stork has moved on, perhaps to another field, another feeding ground. But the imprint remains—not just in the soil, but in the hearts of those who saw the photo, who felt in it something ancient and urgent.

As Tsolag’s images continue to circulate, the story of that morning ripples outward—a reminder that even in a single gesture of a bird feeding, entire ecosystems, histories, and emotions come to life.

Because sometimes, a white stork doesn’t just eat from the soil. It eats from the soul.

Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian
Photo Credit : ​Tsolag Hergelian

We hope you enjoy reading the Magazine

Al-Hima-Magazine-Issue-No.5

Al Hima Magazine 6th Issue

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has released the sixth issue of Al Hima magazine, focusing on the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (October 8–15, 2025), where SPNL will join four key sessions. The issue features an exclusive interview with IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, who emphasizes aligning IUCN’s work with global biodiversity agendas, governance, member responsiveness, multilateral engagement, ethical use of technology, and amplifying diverse voices.

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