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Few creatures have such an enduring presence in myth as the stork – and at last they are returning to the UK

Soaring on huge white wings with dramatic black tips, storks are a striking image in the sky. They’re instantly recognisable with their long, pointed beaks, not only stepping across wetlands fishing for dinner or atop roofs in their gigantic nests, but also on greetings cards across the Western world, thanks to their mythical role as nature’s midwives. From a story by Hans Christian Andersen to Disney’s Dumbo, the appearance of this curious creature delivering newborns to delighted parents is prolific. Although the origins are unclear, its staying power is likely due to it serving as a useful answer for parents when children asked awkward questions about the facts of life.

The story is thought to have originated in northern Europe, where storks returning from migration were associated with the return of spring and therefore life. Around this time of year, historically birth rates were also higher, as it’s nine months after the summer solstice celebrations, when couples would be married. Although many birds follow the same migration pattern, storks were perhaps chosen as the birds said to carry new babies because of their size. They’re certainly a visible representation of the coming of spring, and are traditionally associated with purity because of their white feathers.

Amusingly, there’s a significant correlation between stork populations and human birth rates across Europe. The more storks a country has, the higher its birth rate. Researcher Robert Matthews of Aston University, UK, highlighted this oddity to discuss the difference between concepts of correlation and causation in statistics: namely, that just because two things align, it does not mean they are related.