Latin name– Ciconia ciconia
English name– White stork
Detachment– Storks (Ciconiiformes)
Family– Storks (Ciconiidae)
Genus– Storks (Ciconia)
White stork- the most famous and widespread species of the family; in many parts of its range, the species has become a synanthropus, i.e. well adapted to life next to a person.
conservation status
According to the international status, the white stork belongs to the species, the position of which in nature causes the least concern. However, in different parts of the vast range, its abundance is different. In the western parts, the number of white storks is declining, despite the benevolent attitude of people towards these birds. This is probably due to the intensification Agriculture reducing the food base of birds, as well as their poisoning due to the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers. In Russia, on the contrary, the number of storks is increasing as a result of the reduction in the use of agricultural areas. The world population of the white stork has 150,000 breeding pairs, and about one third of them live in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. With regard to regional protection, the white stork is included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.
View and person
About the white stork different peoples There are many legends and beliefs. Since ancient times, it has been considered a symbol of longevity and marital fidelity. Parents explained to the children that it is storks that bring children to people.
The Slavs and the Baltic peoples considered the stork a symbol of well-being and happiness. If a stork's nest appeared in the hut, the owners were waiting for consent, health and a good harvest. People believed that storks settled only with good and hardworking people, and the houses of evil and lazy people were avoided. In fairy tales, the stork is always a positive hero, saving the owners from fires, snakes and other misfortunes. The Poles believed that storks, circling in the sky, disperse thunderclouds.
In Germany, in honor of the spring arrival of storks, they organized festivities, festive processions, and rang bells.
In ancient Greece, when people saw the first stork in the spring, they knelt down.
AT Ancient Rome there was a "stork law", according to which adult children were obliged to take care of elderly parents; it was believed that storks feed their parents.
In Morocco, it was believed that storks are people who fly from a distant island in the form of birds, and then again acquire a human appearance.
In Moldova, the stork is a symbol of viticulture. There is also a beautiful legend about this: storks in their beaks brought bunches of grapes to the besieged warriors and saved them. The Turks believed that the stork's nest was a talisman against lightning and fires.
Armenians considered storks to be sacred birds that protect the fields and bring warmth.
In Belarus, the white stork is one of the national symbols.
The image of storks is in the coats of arms of many European cities.
White storks make contact with humans easily, and they can often be seen in peasant yards walking around with poultry.
Distribution and habitats
The nesting range of the white stork is very extensive: the Iberian Peninsula, Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and Transcaucasia, southeastern regions Central Asia. In Russia, the range has recently expanded to the east and northeast, and white storks are regularly found in Karelia and the Middle Volga region.
White storks winter in tropical Africa and India, and some birds from Central Europe fly to Asian wintering grounds.
White storks are inhabitants of low-lying meadows and wetlands; often settle near human habitation.
Appearance
White stork - pretty large bird: its length is 102 cm, height - more than 1 m, weight - about 4 kg. The plumage is white, flight feathers are black. In a standing bird, the entire back of the body seems black, which is reflected in the Ukrainian name of the bird - chernoguz. The feathers of the lower part of the neck are elongated and loosened. Beak and legs are red, throat pouch, frenulum and iris are black.
Lifestyle and social behavior
White storks - migratory birds. The main part of the European population winters in tropical Africa, the rest in India. For wintering, young birds fly on their own, separately from adults, usually at the end of August. Migration of adults occurs in September-October. Immature birds usually remain at the wintering grounds for another summer.
White storks fly very well and, although they flap their wings smoothly and rarely, they fly quite quickly. In flight, they keep their neck extended forward, and their legs back. Storks can also soar in the air for a long time, almost without moving their wings.
Feeding and feeding behavior
The food spectrum of white storks is very diverse and changeable due to the location of this population. Their main food is small vertebrates and various invertebrates. The favorite food of European storks are frogs, toads, snakes (including poisonous vipers), as well as large grasshoppers and locusts. However, white storks willingly eat earthworms, and various beetles, and small fish (including dead ones), and lizards, and small rodents, and chicks and bird eggs. Thus, the "peaceful kind" stork is a real predator. Living in villages, storks deftly catch chickens and ducklings that have lagged behind their mothers. During wintering, storks often feed on locusts.
Looking for food, storks slowly walk on land or on water, and when they see prey, they quickly and deftly grab it.
Vocalization
White storks do not have a voice in the usual sense of the word. They communicate with each other by clicking their beak, which completely replaces their voice communication. At the same time, storks throw back their heads strongly and retract their tongues. The resulting large resonating mouth cavity amplifies the sound, so that the crackling of the storks' beaks can be heard at a great distance.
White stork chicks make sounds reminiscent of a cat's meow.
Reproduction, parental behavior and upbringing of offspring
The traditional nesting place of the white stork is tall trees, where they build huge nests, often near human settlements. Gradually, storks began to nest not only on trees, but also on the roofs of houses, on water towers, on power lines, on factory pipes, as well as on special platforms built by people specifically to attract storks to nest. Sometimes an old cart wheel serves as such a platform. The same nest is often used by storks for many years, and since the couple repairs and renews the nest every year, it can reach very impressive sizes (over 1 m in diameter and 200 kg in weight). In the "lower floors" of such a huge nest, other, smaller birds often settle - sparrows, starlings, wagtails. Often such nests are passed on by storks "by inheritance" from parents to children.
When building or repairing nests, storks sometimes pick up smoldering branches or firebrands in peasant yards. In this case, not only the nest of storks can burn down, but also the house on the roof of which it is located. From here came the legend that if the stork is offended, then he can burn the house of the offender.
Males arrive at nesting sites a few days earlier than females and occupy their nests. In Russia, the arrival of storks occurs in late March - early April. The male is ready to leave the first female that appears in his nest, and if another one appears (often last year's mistress), there is an obvious struggle between them for the right to remain in the nest. Interestingly, the male does not take part in this "dispute". The victorious female remains in the nest and the male greets her by throwing back his head and snapping his beak loudly. In response, the female also throws her head back and clicks her beak. This behavior of birds refutes the widely held opinion about the extraordinary fidelity of storks to each other. Changes of the female on the nest are quite common. After courtship and mating, the female lays 1 to 7 (usually 2-5) white eggs, which the pair incubate in turn. As a rule, the female incubates at night, and the male during the day. The change of birds on the nest is accompanied by special ritual postures and beak clicking. Incubation lasts about 33 days. Hatched chicks are sighted, with black beaks. but completely helpless. At first, the parents feed the chicks with earthworms, passing them "from beak to beak" and gradually switch to other types of food. In feeding years, all chicks grow in the nest, with a shortage of food, the younger ones often die. It is well known that adult storks ruthlessly throw weak and sick chicks out of the nest. So in this case, the legends about the “nobility and kindness” of storks do not quite correspond to reality.
For the first time, young storks try to fly under the supervision of their parents at the age of 54-55 days. Then, for another 14-18 days, the brood keeps together, and during the day the chicks “work out” the flight, and fly to their native nest for the night.
At the age of 70 days they leave the nest completely. At the end of August, the young fly away for the winter alone, without their parents, who remain at the nesting sites until September. It is amazing how young storks independently unmistakably find wintering places where they have never been.
White storks become sexually mature at the age of 3, but many individuals start nesting much later, at 6 years.
Lifespan
In nature, white storks live for about 20 years.
Life at the Moscow Zoo
Now in our zoo in the Old Territory there lives a pair of white storks who came to us recently.
The white stork's daily diet includes 350 g of fish, 350 g of meat, 2 mice and 5 frogs, for a total of about 800 g of food.
We have known storks since childhood. These are the same birds that make their nests on the pillars and roofs of our houses. They say that if a stork has settled, then happiness has come to the family. Perhaps that is why no one offends these graceful long-legged and long-beaked beauties. And those in response are not at all afraid of people.
But in fact, the life of storks is not as simple as it seems. Among them there are those who do not let anyone close to them and settle in the most inaccessible places. You certainly won't expect happiness from these. And in the many-sided family of storks there are enviable flyers who annually overcome thousands of kilometers, there are also homebodies who cannot be driven out of habitable places with a stick. Where do storks live in summer and winter, how do they look for a mate, how do they raise their children, and is it true that they bring happiness? Let's figure it out.
What are storks
Few people have ever seen slender white and black birds on long red legs with a long red beak. Some homeowners decorate their gardens with such figurines made of synthetic materials, even build artificial nests on poles and place the figurines there. These birds are called storks. According to popular beliefs, they bring a lot of good things to the house - children, good luck, money, happiness. So people settle them in their plots, if not living, then at least artificial. The life of storks in nature is complex and interesting.
Many people know that they can stand on one leg for a long time, looking for prey, that they arrive in spring and fly away in autumn, that they do no harm to anyone. Do you know how many species of storks exist in the world? According to the generally accepted classification, there are only three genera:
- Beaked storks (they look a bit like a heron).
- Razini storks (they always have a slightly open beak).
- Actually storks.
Each genus has its own species. So, beaks are:
- American;
- grey;
- African;
- Indian.
Razini are:
- African;
- Indian.
And looking at the above names, everyone can answer where the storks of these species live. But a slightly different picture is obtained with storks that are more familiar to us. Birds in this genus include:
- black;
- white;
- black-billed;
- white-necked;
- white-bellied;
- American;
- Malay.
There are two more genera of birds that look like storks and even belong to the stork family - these are the yabiru and the marabou.
Let's take a closer look at some of the types.
white storks
These are the very birds whose figurines are so fond of settling in their gardens and on pipes by some homeowners. The life of white storks, it would seem, is well studied, because they are always in sight, they are not at all afraid of people. Males of these birds grow up to 125 cm in height and gain up to 4 kg of weight. At the same time, their wingspan can reach 2 meters. The body of white storks (head, chest, belly, wings) is white, only the tip of the tail and the ends of the feathers on the wings are black. Their paws are thin and long, reddish in color, the beak is also thin and long, most often bright red. The portrait of a female white stork is exactly the same, only its dimensions are a little more modest.
The places where white storks live are mainly meadows and swampy lowlands. They feed on any amphibians, snakes (mainly vipers and snakes), earthworms, beetles. They do not disdain the hated bears, mice and rats, eating which they really bring happiness to the house. Adult storks do not refuse even moles, small hares and gophers.
It is interesting to watch how the birds hunt. They slowly, as if half asleep, walk through a meadow or swamp, sometimes freeze in one place, as if meditating. But as soon as prey catches their eye, storks instantly come to life and quickly grab their prey.
These birds build houses, as they say, for centuries and never change them. There is a known case when one nest existed for almost 400 years! Of course, all this time it was not the same stork that occupied him. The life expectancy of these birds is about 20 years, so that not a few generations have changed over four centuries. But the "apartment" of dry twigs and straw was occupied by representatives of the same family. That is, from the father she passed to the son and so on.
But you can’t say much about the cordial fidelity of these birds. They create a strong family, but only for one season. The male first flies to his expensive dwelling, corrects it, if necessary, and sits down to wait for the chosen one. She can be any female, the first to fly up to an enviable groom. He throws back his violent little head, almost lays it on his back, opens his beak and begins to make a joyful clatter. If suddenly at this stage another contender for the heart and living space approaches the nest, the first begins to sort things out with her, and the male dutifully waits, whose one he will take.
The only situation when he shows concern is if suddenly another male, who does not want to build his own house, covets his property. Then the owner of the nest throws his head back again and begins to click with his beak, only this time not joyfully, but menacingly. If the uninvited guest does not understand the hints, the owner of the nest rushes at him and beats him painfully with his beak.
Well, the issue with housing is settled, with the chosen one too. The bride and groom sit down in the nest, both throw back their heads and begin to rejoice, while clicking and lightly hitting each other with their beaks.
reproduction
These birds have chosen for themselves many areas of Europe, including Southern Switzerland, the Leningrad region, almost the entire territory of Ukraine, and there are so many storks in Belarus that they were called the winged symbol of the country. When asked where storks live in Russia, one can answer that representatives of the species can only be found in its western part, from the borders with Ukraine to Orel, Kaluga, Smolensk, Pskov and Tver. There is a separate population in Transcaucasia and Uzbekistan. In the European part, storks return from the southern regions in March-April.
Having chosen a couple, they proceed to the extension of the genus. Having carefully lined the nest with rags, pieces of paper, feathers and wool, the female lays the first egg in the tray and immediately begins to incubate it. In the future, she gradually manages to add 3-5 more slightly oblong white testicles to the firstborn.
It is noted that the place where storks live should be with good energy. In the courtyards where they built a house for themselves, there should be no scandals and abuse, and even more so war.
Mom and dad incubate the testicles in turn for about 33 days. Chicks are born just as unevenly as eggs. They are born sighted, but completely helpless. At first, they only know how to open their beaks, where parents put earthworms and give them water to drink. But after a couple of days, the younger generation itself knows how to collect worms dropped by their parents and even grab them on the fly.
Mom and dad are vigilantly watching the activity of their offspring. Unfortunately, they provide the weakest ones with the opportunity to take care of themselves by pushing them out of the nest onto the ground. The remaining chicks quickly gain strength, but are completely dependent for up to 55 days. Then they begin to leave the nest during the day and learn to catch their own food. Parents feed them for another 18 days. In the evening, the young go back home to sleep, and in the morning they go back to school.
Migration paths
Many are interested in where storks live in winter, and why they fly away. The second question is easy to answer - with the onset of cold weather, their food disappears. The answer to the first question is more extensive. On the 70th day of their bird life, the chicks become young storks, gather in large companies and already from last numbers flocks go south in summer without parents.
How they find their way to where they have never been, scientists are still arguing, but the main assumption is the instinct inherent in the genes of birds. It is believed that they are guided by atmospheric pressure, lighting and ambient temperature. It has been noticed that storks avoid flying over large bodies of water, for example over the sea.
Adult birds leave summer apartments somewhere from the 15th of September. Surprisingly, it turns out that it is important for migration routes where storks and ducks live, too. Birds that spend their summers west of the Elbe migrate to Africa and settle in the region between the Sahara and the tropical jungle. Those living east of the Elbe pave their way through Israel and Asia Minor, also reach Africa, only its eastern regions, and winter on the lands from Sudan to South Africa. Storks from Uzbekistan and adjacent regions do not fly so far for the winter, but move to neighboring India.
There is a population of storks living in South Africa. These do not migrate anywhere at all, they live settled. Storks from Europe do not fly away for the winter, where winters are not severe, and food remains active all year round. In the spring they form flocks again to fly home, but the young may stay in the south for a year, two or three, before reaching sexual maturity.
Black storks
Representatives of this species managed to get into the Red Book of many countries, including Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and this despite the fact that black storks, unlike white ones, never settle near people, but choose the most remote and territories hidden from prying eyes, sometimes climbing mountains to a height of over 2 km.
Nests are built in rocks or tall trees. Where they live Also in Europe, and in Russia they settled from the Baltic to the Far East. They migrate to Africa and South Asia for the winter. Populations living in Africa don't move anywhere.
Externally, these birds are very graceful. In size, they are somewhat smaller than their white relatives. Most of their body (head, neck, back, wings) is black with overflow, only the belly is white, which creates the appearance that these birds are dressed in elegant tailcoats.
The rhythms of their lives are the same as those of white storks, but there are also slight differences. So, the male does not wait indifferently for the first girlfriend, but invites her to his house, fluffing his tail and whistling. Chicks of this species are born even more helpless than those of white storks, and begin to rise to their feet only on the 11th day. But in the nest, the young spend the same 55 (less often - a little longer) days.
Their feeding methods and diet with white storks are approximately the same. It has not yet been possible to cross white and black storks, despite many common features.
Far Eastern stork
It is also called Chinese. Where does the stork live and what does it eat? Of course, he chose the Far East for himself, as well as China, South Korea and Mongolia. Only 3,000 individuals remain in Russia.
The diet of the bird is the same as that of its other brethren - fish, bugs, frogs, small rodents. Just like the black one, the Far Eastern stork prefers to climb away from human eyes.
Outwardly, representatives of this species are very similar to white storks. The difference is in larger sizes, but the main thing is in the red circle of skin around the eyes and in the black color of their beak, which is why the other name of the species is the black-billed stork. Curiously, the chicks of the Far Eastern stork have a red-orange beak, and the white chicks have a black one.
white-necked stork
If you are interested in where storks and ducks live, the answer - near water bodies and in swamps - is most suitable for white-necked storks, because the main dishes in their diet are toads, small and medium fish, living and non-living, as well as water snakes and other representatives of the fauna that will fit in the beak. For example, if there is a chance to catch a small rodent, white-necked storks will also not miss the moment.
Representatives of this species in Russia can only be seen in zoos. In the wild, they live in Africa, Java, Borneo, Bali and some other islands. White-necked storks are medium-sized birds, they grow up to 90 cm. They have white not only the neck, but also the lower abdomen, as well as the lower tail feathers. The rest of the body, including the spectacular cap on the head, is black, and the feathers shimmer beautifully on the sides. The legs of these storks are long, yellow-orange-reddish, and the beak is of an incomprehensible color, combining shades of gray, red, yellow and brown.
white-bellied stork
Representatives of the species are very similar to black relatives, but they are much smaller in size and are the smallest storks. Adult males grow no more than 73 cm in height and only up to 1 kg in weight. In Russia, they live only in zoos, and in nature their range is South Africa, Central Africa and the edge of the Arabian Peninsula. The white-bellied stork eats caterpillars and beetles, does not encroach on rodents and snakes. Settles mainly in forests, on tall trees.
stork
There are many places where storks and ducks live, as well as other birds that like to settle near water bodies. For example, razini storks. Their habitats are Madagascar, parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. There are no winter colds, but razini storks still migrate.
They rise to the wing when the heat sets in, and the reservoirs dry up, which means their food disappears. So they have to fly to where the water still remains, and in it you can catch fish and other living creatures.
Razini got their name because of the structure of the beak, which seems to be slightly ajar all the time. In fact, nature has thought of everything here and created their beak adapted for eating mussels and crustaceans, and not just fish and toads.
beaked stork
Representatives of this genus of storks are less graceful, but their figure is given some clumsiness not by size (they are almost as large as white storks), but by a rather solid beak. The plumage of the beaks is mostly white, but in the Indian species it is some kind of dirty gray, with black feathers on the wings. The American has a gray head, while the gray, on the contrary, has a white head, only the feathers on the wings are gray.
Beaked beaks live in America, Asia and Africa, choosing for themselves swampy lowlands where you can find a lot of food, and where there are tall trees for building their nests on them. Beaks, like white storks, are not afraid to settle near people, they can often be found in rice fields, in city parks and on trees or poles in rural settlements. In this genus, birds are familiar with fidelity not only to their home, but also to their partner. So, American beaks create a pair for life.
Any kind of stork is unique. In Russia, for the protection of birds living on its territory, rehabilitation centers have been established (in the Leningrad, Moscow, Ryazan, Kaluga, Smolensk and Tver regions). Anyone who finds storks or their chicks in trouble can turn there for help.
From time immemorial, these majestic birds live next to a person, enjoying his special respect and reciprocating: they are practically not afraid of people, arrange nests near a person’s dwelling, importantly looking down on their two-legged neighbors. It is believed that the stork protects the house from the evil eye and evil spirits, in the house next to which the storks settled, there will always be happiness and prosperity.
In the Stork family there are 18 species of birds belonging to 9 genera and distributed in various territories around the planet. Some species that were lucky enough to be born in warm lands lead a sedentary lifestyle. Others are migratory, waiting out the winter cold in Africa and India.
Most common in Russia White stork- a large bird, with a long conical beak characteristic of all members of the family, long legs and long neck. The plumage is white, the ends of the wings are black, shiny, around the eyes there is bare black skin, the chin is also black, the legs and beak are red. The height of an adult bird is over 1 m, the wingspan reaches 2 m, and the weight is 3.5–4 kg. Females and males are identical in appearance, only the female is slightly smaller in size. White storks do not have vocal cords and membranes, so they are practically dumb, but they can make a loud chirp by clicking their beak. Storks reach sexual maturity at about 3 years of age. Life expectancy is about 20 years.
The diet consists of small mammals (mice, ground squirrels, hares), frogs, lizards, reptiles, various insects, fish and shellfish. Sometimes they can catch a small bird or chick.
White storks arrive in our area for nesting in late March or early April. Nests are built on large trees, on the roofs of buildings, on boiler pipes, on power lines. Nests, as a rule, are very large and bulky - 1-1.5 m in diameter, so a family of small birds - sparrows or wagtails - often settles here.
Around the end of April, beginning of May, with an interval of 2-3 days, the female lays 1 to 5 eggs in the nest, they are white, shiny, the size of a large egg. Both parents incubate the eggs for 33-35 days. The chicks appear sighted but helpless and do not leave the nest until almost 2 months of age. After leaving the nest, caring parents still feed them for 2-3 weeks, and at the age of 70 days, the chicks finally become independent and prepare to fly to warmer climes with the rest of their relatives.
At first, storks gather in small groups, which by the time of departure grow into large flocks, and in wintering places they already form colonies of many thousands. Around the end of August, departure to warm countries begins, stretching for a month or more. Storks fly only in the daytime, at high altitude, avoiding flights over the sea. These birds are very hardy and fly well, often using air currents to hover above the ground - which is why their constant routes lie over areas that have good aerodynamic properties.
still lives in Russia Far Eastern stork- almost a copy of the white stork, but much larger in size and with a black beak. Lifestyle - like a white stork, settles in hard-to-reach places, in dense forests near water bodies, since the main diet is fish. Unfortunately, this species is endangered, its population is only about 1000 individuals.
Distributed throughout Eurasia Black stork, it is slightly smaller than white (3-3.5 kg) and has a voice. The plumage is black, with a greenish or reddish tint, the chest and belly are white, the beak, legs, throat and unfeathered places on the bridle and near the eyes are red.
The black stork feeds in shallow waters, water meadows, mainly with fish, small aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates. Will not refuse small rodents, lizards, large insects.
The black stork is shy and cautious, leads a very secretive lifestyle, preferring to settle away from humans - in dense forests, closer to forest reservoirs. The nest is built in the crown of tall trees, using thick branches, fastening them with clay and pieces of turf. Such a dwelling serves the birds for many years, often being inherited by subsequent generations.
In the clutch of a black stork, there are 4-7 eggs, both parents incubate them. Since incubation begins with the first egg laid and the chicks do not appear at the same time, the total incubation is from 30 to 46 days. For the first 10 days, the chicks are helpless and lie in the nest, then they begin to sit down and only at the age of 35-40 days stand on their feet. After that, they remain in the nest in the care of their parents for another month.
Although black storks live apart, by departure they often join flocks of white storks and fly together for the winter.
In Belarus, the stork (Bel. “busel”) is a particularly revered bird, it is a symbol of the country. It is very popular among the people, many legends and beliefs are associated with it, which are mostly beautiful fiction. For Belarusians, the stork is practically a sacred, inviolable bird.
Why is the white stork not completely white?
In ancient times, in the same village, white storks lived together with people, they even helped to look after small children while the peasants worked in the field. And then one day, during a drought, a strong fire began, threatening to destroy all the peasant buildings. Brave birds were the first to notice this and began to carry children out of the houses, covering them with wings from heat and flame. Arriving people put out the fire. And the storks that day burned their beaks and legs - they turned red, and the burnt wings turned black at the edges. Since then, the appearance of the birds has remained the same - as a memory of the joint confrontation of the elements.
Where did the black stork come from?
Once upon a time, there were only white storks on Belarusian soil. They always settled near the dwelling of a person, lived with him in harmony and friendship. And in one village, storks built their nest on a tall linden that grew near the house itself. Every spring they returned to their nest from distant lands and greeted with joyful screams their native places and the owner of the house near which they lived. Only this man was cruel, envious and lazy. He hated storks for their diligence and economy. He angrily watched as adult birds feed and raise their chicks, surrounding them with tenderness and care. And he rejoiced only when the storks sadly said goodbye to their native expanses, setting off for wintering in distant lands. I rejoiced and hoped that they would not return any more - they would die somewhere on the way to distant lands ...
But every spring this pair returned to their nest. And once a man could not stand it, gave vent to his hatred and set fire to a linden tree, on top of which there was a nest. The old linden burned down along with the nest, in which there were helpless chicks. In desperation, the storks threw themselves into the flames, trying to help their babies, but they could not save. Their feathers are almost completely blackened from burns.
With pain from irreparable grief, these storks left people forever and settled in the most impenetrable wilderness. Since then, their children have also become black. To this day, black storks carry a huge grudge against a person, avoid meeting with him and live away from settlements - in hard-to-reach places.
Interesting Facts:
Ornithologists have noticed that white storks periodically carry out a kind of "purge of the ranks", killing weak, non-viable relatives.
Storks build capital nests, using them for many years later. For example, in Germany, a case was recorded when a nest built in the middle of the 16th century served storks until 1930.
One of the largest Black Stork populations in the world lives in Belarus, in the Zvanets reserve (Brest region).
In zoos, attempts have been made to cross white and black storks and get hybrid offspring. But this proved impossible due to the strong differences in the mating rituals of these species.
Well, who has not heard of such a beautiful bird as a stork. Many legends go about this feathered. This bird is considered a symbol of happiness and kindness. In the old days, many villages in Holland and the Balkans could boast of having a stork's nest. We have only two types of storks - white and black. The article will tell you more about these beautiful creatures.
White stork
The most famous for children and adults is the white stork. It can be found in the picture in the primer, as well as in many books for preschool and school age. Namely, the white stork is very fond of depicting artists. Despite the fact that it is called white, the feathers of the bird are not painted in one color. The ends of the stork's wings are black. These birds can live both in swampy areas and next to humans. They don't see people as dangerous.
Their life expectancy is 20 or 22 years.
When they life cycle ends, then the weight of the nest of birds by that time is one hundred kilograms. After the death of adult birds, their children enter into the inheritance rights of the nest. As for food, storks eat mainly frogs, lizards, etc. They feed their children with May beetles or worms. In their beak they bring water to them. Within two months, the babies are able to find their own food. In winter, birds fly to warmer climes. Basically - it's Africa or India.
Black stork
Enough rare bird both in our country and throughout the world, there is a black stork. In its own way appearance he also looks like a white stork. Its only difference is the color. Most of its plumage is painted black. Due to the fact that the bird is not often found in nature, people who follow the animals from the "red book" know almost all the habitats of this species. If some new nest appears, then science must definitely find out about it. Unlike the white stork, the black one is more careful. He builds his nest away from the prying eyes of others. Deaf forests become the very place where the stork decides to stay to live. But it’s still quite easy to find out where the feathered place of residence is. The bird often likes to fly over its nest. Otherwise, the two species of storks are similar. They winter in the same countries, eat the same food, and also build nests according to the same principle.
Red book for black stork
As mentioned above, black storks are listed in the "red book". They are looked after by special organizations for protection. environment. In countries where birds live and where birds spend the winter, they talk with tourists about what cannot be destroyed quiet life storks, that is, you can’t throw stones at birds, make loud sounds that can scare birds, and, even more so, you can’t hunt these beautiful and rare creatures. It is especially important to follow all these rules when the mating season begins in birds. Only to destroy their population is strictly prohibited at any time. Violators expect big problems.
Conclusion about storks
storks - beautiful birds that you can look at endlessly. They definitely have something special. Perhaps in some ways they are similar to people. Most likely it is that they value and extol their family very much. Since ancient times, some of these beautiful representatives of birds have decided that you can trust a person and he will not touch their nests. Over time, these wonderful birds became less and less. Only by the efforts of all the surrounding people is it possible to preserve and increase black and white storks. In a world where an animal, bird or any other living being is friends with a person, there will always be peace and tranquility. To much to my regret or to great joy, people today cannot see dinosaurs. If at that time there were talented scientists, they would still have managed to save at least some herbivorous dinosaur.
Surely, at the entrance to the zoo or reserve there would be a queue of those who would like to look at the outlandish animal that lived many centuries ago. So the task of specialists of the 21st century is to preserve animals from the "red book". Let's not interfere with them and let's just enjoy the beauty and superiority of these magnificent storks. And may they always delight us with their life, which is so necessary for us.
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The stork is a large bird, on high legs, with a long neck and a long beak. His wings are very large and beautiful. The color of the feathers is mostly white, only the ends of the wings are shiny, black.
Storks live where there are vast wet meadows, swamps and stagnant ponds. They arrange nests on the roofs of houses, in trees located in villages or close to them. Recently, storks have been making nests on high-voltage line supports, on factory chimneys. If there are few places suitable for nesting, fights arise between birds. The same pair of storks can live in the nest for several years.
The nests of storks are large, a meter or more in diameter. Nest building lasts up to 10 days. Occasionally, white storks build a second nest, which serves them for sleeping or as a guard post.
In winter, storks fly to warmer climes. Older birds set off earlier or later than younger ones, but they never fly with them. Shortly before departure, white storks gather in flocks; on wintering grounds, they sometimes stay in thousands of clusters. Departure begins at the end of August, sometimes delayed until October. Birds fly during the day and at high altitude.
White storks feed on animal food, eat frogs, lizards, various insects, molluscs, fish and small mice, small hares and speckled ground squirrels. During feeding, storks slowly walk around, but, noticing the prey, they can quickly run up to it.
Many peoples of the world revere this unusual majestic bird. In Russia, since pagan times, the stork was considered a bird of fate, a messenger of happiness and prosperity. Even children know the belief that this bird brings babies.
To this day, there is a legend that in the house, over the roof of which a stork builds a nest, happiness will reign, children will grow up healthy, a vegetable garden and a garden will give a bountiful harvest. People believe that these birds are well versed in people: nests are built only near the houses of those who are worthy of happiness. If you ruin a nest or kill a bird, then misfortune will come to the house.
If the stork himself left the nest on the roof and carried the chicks, there will be a fire in the house or lightning will fall into it.
There is such a legend. Once God gave a man a bag of reptiles and ordered him to throw it into the sea, into the fire, bury it in a hole, or leave it on top of a mountain. Out of curiosity, the man untied the bag, and all the evil spirits spread over the ground. Then, as a punishment, God turned a man into a stork so that he would cleanse the earth of reptiles - snakes, hedgehogs. From shame, the stork's nose and legs turned red.
It is believed that storks have a human soul, understand the language of a person, cry tears, pray to God (this is their scream), celebrate weddings together.
