15.06.2026 14:31
After a 5-year absence, Nazlı, the mate of Yaren the stork known for its friendship with fisherman Adem Yılmaz in Bursa's Eskikaraağaç Stork Village, was photographed landing on the boat. The fairytale-like encounter was captured by nature photographer Alper Tüydeş.
Fisherman Adem Yılmaz (70), living in BURSA, whose friendship was the subject of a film, welcomed Nazlı, the mate of the stork Yaren, who arrived at Eskikaraağaç Stork Village for the 15th time, onto his boat after a 5-year hiatus. Nazlı, a guest on fisherman Yılmaz's boat, was captured on camera by nature and wildlife photographer Alper Tüydeş.
The friendship between fisherman Adem Yılmaz and the stork Yaren in Eskikaraağaç village, Karacabey district of Bursa—the only village representing Turkey in the European Stork Villages Union—has turned into a story followed with interest by millions. Yaren, who comes to the village during each migration and lands on Adem Yılmaz's boat, arrived in the village for the 15th time on February 24. On March 10, Yaren the stork reunited with his mate Nazlı, who had returned from migration, at their nest. This year, Yaren and his mate Nazlı, who have 5 chicks, spend their days in their nest at Eskikaraağaç Stork Village. While Nazlı tends to the chicks in the nest, Yaren the stork lands on the boat every morning to eat the fish that fisherman Adem Yılmaz catches for him at the lake.
"ADEM AMCA IN WONDERLAND" This year, Nazlı also joined the boat meeting of Yaren the stork and fisherman Adem Yılmaz, which has been featured in documentaries, storybooks, and music video clips. The stork, who landed on the boat once 5 years ago but had since hesitated and waited on the shore—earning her the name 'Nazlı' (meaning coy or fussy)—landed on the boat again this year. This reunion after 5 years was captured by nature and wildlife photographer Alper Tüydeş. While the neighborhood cats watched the meeting from the shore, Tüydeş shared the moments on his social media account with these words:
"And, after 5 years, Yaren the stork is back with his mate Nazlı on Uncle Adem's boat. We had given her this name because she acted coy and didn't land on the boat like Yaren. After 5 years, this year they are together on the boat again. Herons, ducks, cormorants, seagulls, crows, and even cats joined their fairy-tale moments on Lake Uluabat the day before yesterday. Uncle Adem is in Wonderland... If this had happened 100 years ago, they might have considered him sacred, saying he talks to birds. Someone once said: we are living the fairy tales our elders told. Isn't that really the case? Nazlı lands right on the boat, Yaren seems to smile, the little egret poses, hovering around as if to say 'let me get in the frame.' Uncle Adem, silently watching all this beauty, smiles with rightful pride. The neighborhood cats watch this meeting from the shore with incredible jealousy. When we first shared this story 10 years ago, we chose this title: 'La Fontaine's Fables Came True.' Despite all the years that have passed, we are still experiencing a new chapter of it."
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"IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE UNCLE ADEM'S BOAT SO CROWDED" Tüydeş, who also photographed the moments when cats got on fisherman Adem Yılmaz's boat and were fed, noted that the reunion after 5 years created a fairy-tale image, saying, "We had named her Nazlı because she hesitated to land on the boat. There were times 5 years ago when she occasionally landed, but it didn't continue. After 5 years, when she landed on the boat again this year like her mate Yaren, a much bigger story was reflected in the photo. When the lake's birds also joined this meeting, I shared those moments under the title 'Adem in Wonderland.' Because the little egret, night heron, gray heron, crow, silver gull, and along with them cats on the shore and pelicans in the open were watching this friendship and benefiting from the fallen fish. After a long time, it was wonderful to see Uncle Adem's boat so crowded," he said.
"I'M ALMOST TIRED FROM ENTERTAINING GUESTS" Fisherman Adem Yılmaz also expressed his happiness about those moments, saying, "I'm almost tired from entertaining guests this morning. With herons, seagulls, cormorants, cats on the shore, and storks on the boat, I got quite exhausted. But I'm very happy. I've started to wonder if the chicks will come this year too. I would be very happy, of course," he said.
"THE RISING WATER LEVEL IS NOT A DISASTER BUT A PARADISE FOR NATURE" Meanwhile, Alper Tüydeş stated that due to the increased rainfall, especially in the spring months this year, the lake's water level has risen as in previous years, affecting the number of chicks. He noted that Yaren has 5 chicks, all of which are growing healthily. Additionally, Tüydeş mentioned a positive increase in the number of chicks in other nests in the area, saying, "People call these rains and the rising water level a disaster, but for nature, this situation is actually a paradise," he said.
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