Writing prompt: Storks on the roof

White Stork in Morocco

White Stork in Morocco

A few years ago my  wife, daughter and I travelled through magical Morocco. It was an amazing experience which assaulted the senses in every way. I still look back with amazement at my photos which beautifully encapsulate some of the sensory experiences of that trip.

I also took more than a passing interest in the wildlife, the birds in particular. I write about Australian birds here. In many places we saw plenty of White Storks, shown in the photos above and below. They are amazing birds, and their nests on chimney stacks and on roofs are enormous. They make quite a picture against the sky.

The photos I have included were taken in the village of Ifrane, one of Morocco’s main skiing resorts. That’s snow skiing, by the way. Not many people I know realise that Morocco has extensive snow fields in the Atlas Mountains. The village felt as though we had stepped right into the Swiss Alps, complete with ubiquitous chalets (see last photo).

Writing prompts:

  1. Write about skiing trips you have been on.
  2. Write about the most interesting birds you have ever seen.
  3. Imagine living in a house where a pair of storks have made a nest. Describe your reaction and how they impact your life.
  4. Describe a wild storm which destroys the storks’ nest on your roof. Imagine how you deal with the orphaned chicks. Turn your writing into a short story or a series of poems.
  5. Have you had birds nesting on or near your house such as a tree or bush in your garden? Describe your feelings and how the presence of the birds affected you.
  6. Research the mythology associated with storks and write an article or blog post about them.
  7. Explore the relationship between storks and humans in different cultures and write a short story featuring storks.
  8. Write a series of poems about storks and how they influence or interact with humans.

Good writing.

Trevor

White Storks on nests in Morocco

White Storks on nests in Morocco

Chalet in Ifrane, Morocco

Chalet in Ifrane, Morocco