After a Year of Planning, Photographers Capture Eclipse With Stork Landing 30 Seconds Before Totality

In August 2026, Liron Gertsman, a Canadian photographer, along with Texas bird photographer Tobias Yoder, documented a total solar eclipse in Spain, featuring a church belltower with a white stork arriving just 30 seconds prior to totality. They dedicated over a year to mapping stork nests along the eclipse's trajectory. Yoder developed a specialized web application for accurate sun alignment. After a week of scouting, they identified an ideal church. Their friendship began following the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024, where Gertsman’s photo received an award. On the day of the eclipse, the stork appeared 90 seconds before totality, which lasted for 76 seconds, as both photographers utilized telephoto lenses and backup cameras for extra shots.