These birds are well-known for their black and white plumage, long legs (almost 1m in height), up to 2m in wing span, and reddish beak. They are regarded as a symbol of good luck and the bearer of babies to people of central and western Europe.

Storks usually associate and breed in colonies, often on rooftops or chimneys of human buildings. However, storks in the Nature-Reserve Marchegg nest on old oaktrees in the floodplain forests of the river March.

In March/April the female lays 2 to 6 white eggs and both parents share incubation duties. The young hatch after a 33-34 days, and fledge within two months. By the end of august the young birds leave for Africa, their parents following a few weeks later.

The White Stork diet consists of big insects, small reptiles, mollusks, frogs, and small rodents. There is a characteristic greeting between the mates of this species. Each bird bends its neck back until the head rests on the top of the body. Then they shoot their heads forward while rattling their bills, raising their tails, and spreading their wings.