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On a day that had all the trappings of a perfect day for flying— clear skies, a gentle breeze with the crisp bite of autumn — it felt particularly fitting to be celebrating the world’s most iconic long-distance flyer at the University of Konstanz Library, a modern space that was transformed into a science festival for World Migratory Bird Day.

Hosted by Martin Wikelski, from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPIAB) and the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, the Konstanz event on October 12 was held in honour of a very special migratory bird: the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). The famous species, often seen roosting on roofs or circling above the skies of Konstanz, has been the focus of years of research by scientists Wikelski, Wolfgang Fieldler, Andrea Flack and others in the MPIAB. But on October 12, the celebrated bird stepped into a brighter spotlight as the star of an animated short film “A Stork’s Journey” created by comic creator Karrie Fransman and London-based firm PositiveNegatives.

The event welcomed guests into the university library, where a movie theatre of sorts had been prepared: colourful pillows were scattered on stairs, beanbags were nestled against walls and rows of chairs were laid out in front of a large screen. Here, “A Stork’s Journey” was shown for the first time to audiences anywhere in the world. The film brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs about storks—including insight into their conservation needs—that have resulted from the global tracking work of MPIAB scientists.