The population of the White StorkCiconin ciconiain Alsace (northeastern France) has decreased considerably since 1961. Using recent captureerecapture models, we analysed resighting data on ringed birds resulting from a long‐term ringing programme carried out in 1947–1985. Time‐dependence and age‐dependence in annual survival rates are examined with reference to environmental variables in the Sahel wintering area. Our results show a decrease in adult annual survival rate linked to the severity of the drought in the Saheli