Perched in north-western Tunisia, in the governorate of Bizerte, the village of Sejnane is far more than a stop on a map. Known for its traditional pottery inscribed by UNESCO, the locality shelters another treasure: white storks, the undisputed queens of this territory.
Every year, thousands of white storks cross the sky, linking Europe with sub-Saharan Africa. In Sejnane they settle, nest and transform the village into a true open-air kingdom. They are everywhere: on tiled roofs, wrought-iron balconies, smoking chimneys and even on mosque minarets.
For local residents, these storks are regarded as bringers of good fortune and protectors of the home. Their presence is a sign of prosperity. This reverence belongs to an old tradition in which the bird is associated with fertility and the protection of families.
Surrounded by fertile farmland, the village provides an ideal feeding environment. Some storks even choose to remain in Sejnane throughout the year. Cereal fields, orchards and water points attract a varied fauna on which they feed.
Beyond the legends, the stork is a carnivore. When the parents return to the nest with their catch — young hares, rabbits — everything comes alive. The chicks fight for their share in a ballet of beaks and cries that animates the village.
“In Sejnane, the stork is not simply a bird: it is a symbol of harmony between people and nature, a living tradition handed down from one generation to the next.”
Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for admiring these “Ladies of Sejnane”. It is nevertheless essential to watch them from a distance and respect their peace. The inhabitants carefully protect the tranquillity of their birds.
By protecting these birds, Sejnane’s inhabitants also preserve part of their identity, their history and Tunisia’s biodiversity. It is this dialogue between intangible and living heritage that Pierre Gassin captures here.