The White
Stork - Ciconia ciconia – is a
long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa, or India. When migrating between
Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via Israel in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar
in the west, because the air thermals do not form over water.
Description
It is a large
bird, with long red legs, a long neck, and a long, straight, pointed red bill.
The sexes are identical, except that males are larger than females. The plumage
is mainly white with black flight feathers and wing coverts. The juvenile
bird's plumage is similar to that of the adult, though its black feathers are
often tinged with brown.
Call
The adult White
Stork's main sound is noisy bill-clattering, which is amplified by its throat
pouch. The only vocal sound adult birds generate is a weak barely audible hiss.
Food
The White Stork's
preferred feeding grounds are grassy meadows, farmland and shallow wetlands.
They consume a wide variety of animal prey. Common food items include insects,
earthworms, reptiles, amphibians, particularly frog species and small mammals
such as voles, moles, and shrews.
Breeding
The White Stork
breeds in open farmland areas with access to marshy wetlands, building a large
stick nest in trees, on buildings, or on purpose-built man-made platforms. The
nest is used year after year and a single brood is raised. Normally four white eggs
are laid, which are incubated for 33 to 34 days. Chicks fledge 58 to 64 days
after hatching. White Storks generally begin breeding when about four years old.
Conservation Status – Least concern
The White Stork's
decline due to industrialisation and agricultural changes, has been reversed by
reintroduction programmes in Europe, as well
as feeding, nest building sites and habitat conservation efforts.
Birdwatching
These striking
birds can be seen during the northern winter on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding
Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East
Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour
/ Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.