The only nesting place in French-speaking Switzerland, Avenches welcomes every year nearly 30 couples of storks who come to raise their young.
Ideally situated on the migratory route of these magnificent waders, Avenches and the Swiss National Stud Farm site see its stork population increase every year and resound with the characteristic clapping of their beaks.
In 2017, the National Stud had 28 nests, whether on specially constructed platforms, on rooftops or in trees, and the town of Avenches one nest.
After a month's incubation, the young hatch at the end of April and take their first flight two months later.
Easily observable at the Swiss National Stud, it is not uncommon to come across these slender waders in groups looking for food in the surrounding fields.
Important information:
From March to June 2024, the central courtyard of the Swiss National Stud will be undergoing renovation work, which could be noisy and have an impact on the quality of guided and self-guided tours.