Storks habitat. White stork

A small group of long-footed birds, which gave its name to the entire order of Storks. In fact, the genus of storks has become widely known thanks to one species - the white stork, while its other representatives are little known. The closest to real storks are open-beaked and open-billed storks. In addition, these birds are related to marabou, saddle-billed and jabiru.

Far Eastern or black-billed stork (Ciconia boyciana).

The appearance of these birds is easily recognizable due to their characteristic long legs, neck and beak. The beak of real storks is straight and not too massive; in gaping storks it looks more powerful, and its valves are slightly curved, so they never close tightly. Because of their always slightly open beak, they were called gapes. The wings of these birds are wide and strong, the tail is relatively short, cut bluntly. The legs are feathered only in the upper part, the toes are free and not connected by membranes. The color of all types of storks contains only white and black in different proportions. The color of the paws and beak is black or red. The size of all species is approximately the same; these birds weigh 3-5 kg. Males and females are externally indistinguishable from each other.

African gaping stork (Anastomus lamelligerus).

Storks live in the Old World; they reach their greatest diversity and numbers in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and Asia. The only species found in South America is the American stork. All southern species are sedentary and live in pairs or small groups consisting of several pairs nesting nearby. White, black and Far Eastern storks live in the temperate zone of Europe and Asia and are migratory. The white stork winters in Africa, the black stork in Africa and India, and the Far Eastern stork in China. Birds fly to nesting sites in March-April; at first they stay in small flocks, and then break up into pairs. During the nesting period, nepotism remains, but in feeding areas, storks calmly tolerate the proximity of their own kind. By autumn they gather in small flocks of 10-25 individuals, and in late August-early October they fly south. In wintering areas they form mass aggregations; here their flocks can number up to a thousand individuals.

The American stork (Ciconia maguari) has a bluish beak.

The flight of storks is moderately fast with strong wing beats. Although these birds feel confident in the air, they try to avoid unnecessary energy expenditure. During a long flight, they often switch to gliding on outstretched wings; storks also try to avoid places with strong air currents, in particular, they never fly over the sea.

These birds have a calm and friendly disposition. Not only do they not sort things out with each other, but they also put up with other waterfowl and shorebirds (herons, for example). Almost all species of storks are voiceless; their means of communication is loud clicking of their beaks. The only species that makes sounds is the black stork. His voice sounds like a quiet "chii-lin." It is interesting that the chicks of all types of storks are capable of screaming; their voices resemble a rough bass voice or the meow of a cat.

The white-bellied stork (Ciconia abdimii) is the shortest-legged and shortest-billed species.

The habitats of storks are somehow connected with water. In most cases, birds prefer to nest in trees near the shore. It happens that the nest itself is hidden in the thick of the forest, and birds fly to the pond only to feed. While searching for food, they wander in shallow water or at the water's edge. Storks never go deep into water because they cannot swim. They also avoid dense thickets of reeds and impassable bushes, but meadows with short grass are perfect for them.

Almost all species avoid proximity to humans and try to populate remote areas. The only exception to this rule is the white stork. It tolerates being around people so well that it often settles on man-made structures. White stork nests can be seen on the roofs of houses, bell towers, power poles, telegraph poles, and water towers. If the design allows, several pairs can build nests close to each other.

A pair of black storks (Ciconia nigra) at a nest in the forest. The plumage of these birds, like other dark-colored species, is often green and purple.

Storks feed on a variety of small animals. Their diet consists of mollusks, worms, frogs, toads, small lizards and snakes, and sometimes small fish. The hunting method of storks can be called active search. Unlike herons, they do not freeze in place in a motionless stance, but constantly walk along the feeding area. Seeing prey, the stork sharply throws its neck forward, finishes it off with an energetic blow of its beak and immediately swallows it.

A black stork wanders through shallow waters in search of prey.

Storks are monogamous birds: the resulting pair remains faithful to each other throughout their lives. A bird can form a new pair only if the previous partner dies.

Migratory species begin nesting soon after arrival. Stork nests are large piles of branches with a compacted tray in the middle. The structure of the nest is quite strong, so birds try to occupy old nests, periodically renovating them. Often, after the parents, one of their chicks “inherits” the nest. The record case of continuous use of the nest was recorded in Germany, where birds used it from 1549 to 1930. The bulky nests of storks are often inhabited by harmless parasites - sparrows and similar small birds.

The mating ritual of Far Eastern storks - the male and female, throwing back their heads, click their beaks.

The clutch of these birds contains from 2 to 5 white eggs. Incubation begins after the first or second egg is laid, so the entire brood hatches within a few days. The incubation period lasts 33-34 days, both parents participate in incubation. Stork chicks hatch covered in light gray down and grow quickly. Parents take turns bringing them food and water in their beaks. The success of reproduction largely depends on feeding conditions; in years with little food, younger chicks often die because they receive less food. The chicks spend the first month and a half in the nest, then they fledge and begin to travel along the branches of the tree, and then wander around the surrounding area with their parents.

White storks (Ciconia ciconia) near a nest with chicks.

In nature, storks do not have many enemies: their relatively large size protects them from attacks by birds of prey, and nesting in trees protects them from ground predators.

In the past, these gentle and faithful birds were universally loved. Storks personified happiness and family well-being. According to legends, a stork's nest on the roof of a house meant prosperity and peace, and the birds themselves were messengers of motherhood. However, now the number of species living in the temperate zone is constantly declining. This is due to the reduction of natural habitats (draining of swamps, pollution of water bodies), a disturbance factor. The white stork often has cases of chicks and adult birds dying on power lines. The Far Eastern stork, listed in the International Red Book, is extremely rare, the number of black storks, which avoids proximity to humans (it is also listed in the national Red Books), is small, and even the white stork is reducing its range. To protect these birds, it is enough to simply provide them with feeding grounds (ponds, meadows) and attract them with convenient places for nesting.

A small colony of white storks on an ancient bell tower.

Latin name– Ciconia ciconia
English name– White stork
Squad– Storks (Ciconiiformes)
Family– Storks (Ciconiidae)
Genus– Storks (Ciconia)

The white stork is the most famous and widespread species of the family; in many parts of its range the species has become synanthropic, i.e. has adapted well to life next to a person.

Conservation status

According to its international status, the white stork is one of the species whose position in nature causes the least concern. However, its abundance varies in different parts of its vast range. In the western parts, the number of white storks is declining, despite people's favorable attitude towards these birds. This is probably due to the intensification of agriculture, which reduces the food supply 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 a decrease in the use of agricultural areas. The global white stork population numbers 150,000 breeding pairs, and about one third of them live in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. As for regional protection, the white stork is included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.

Species and man

There are many legends and beliefs about the white stork among different nations. Since ancient times, it has been considered a symbol of longevity and marital fidelity. Parents explained to their children that it is storks that bring children to people.
The Slavs and Baltic peoples considered the stork a symbol of prosperity and happiness. If a stork's nest appeared on the hut, consent, health and a good harvest awaited the owners. People believed that storks settle only with good and hardworking people, and avoid the homes of evil and lazy people. In fairy tales, the stork is always a positive hero, saving his owners from fires, snakes and other misfortunes. The Poles believed that storks, circling in the sky, dispersed thunderclouds.
In Germany, in honor of the spring arrival of storks, festivities, festive processions were held, and bells were rung.
In Ancient Greece, people, seeing the first stork in the spring, knelt down.
In 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 human form.
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 soldiers 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 protected fields and brought 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 easily make contact with humans, and they can often be seen in peasant yards, walking with poultry.

Distribution and habitats

The nesting range of the white stork is very extensive: the Iberian Peninsula, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and Transcaucasia, the south-eastern regions of 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

The white stork is a fairly large bird: its length is 102 cm, its height is more than 1 m, and its weight is about 4 kg. The plumage is white, the flight feathers are black. In a standing bird, the entire back part of the body appears black, which is reflected in the Ukrainian name of the bird - Chernoguz. The feathers of the lower part of the neck are elongated and ruffled. The beak and legs are red, the throat pouch, frenulum and iris are black.

Lifestyle and social behavior

White storks are migratory birds. The bulk of the European population winters in tropical Africa, the rest in India. Young birds fly to winter on their own, separately from adults, usually at the end of August. Migration of adults occurs in September-October. Immature birds usually remain in their wintering areas for the next 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 stretched forward and their legs back. Storks can soar in the air for a long time, almost without moving their wings.

Nutrition and feeding behavior

The food spectrum of white storks is very diverse and variable due to the location of this population. Their main food is small vertebrates and various invertebrate animals. The favorite foods of European storks are frogs, toads, snakes (including poisonous vipers), as well as large grasshoppers and locusts. However, white storks willingly eat earthworms, various beetles, small fish (including dead ones), lizards, small rodents, chicks and bird eggs. Thus, the “peace-loving, kind” stork is a real predator. Living in villages, storks deftly catch chicks and ducklings that have become separated from their mothers. During wintering, storks often feed on locusts.
Looking for food, storks slowly walk on land or 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 beaks, which completely replaces vocal communication for them. At the same time, storks strongly throw back their heads and retract their tongues. The resulting large, resonating oral cavity amplifies the sound, so that the cracking of storks’ beaks can be heard over a long distance.
White stork chicks make sounds reminiscent of a cat's meow.

Reproduction, parental behavior and raising offspring

The traditional nesting site of the white stork is tall trees, where they build huge nests, often next to human settlements. Gradually, storks began to nest not only in trees, but also on the roofs of houses, on water towers, on power line supports, on factory chimneys, 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 a couple annually repairs and renews the nest, 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 “inheritedly” 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 stork’s nest can burn down, but also the house on the roof of which it is located. This is where the legend comes from: if you offend a stork, it can burn down the offender’s house.
Males arrive at nesting sites several 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 winning female remains in the nest, and the male greets her by throwing back his head and loudly clicking his beak. The female, in response, also throws back her head and clicks her beak. This behavior of the birds refutes the widespread belief that storks are incredibly loyal to each other. Changing females on the nest is a fairly common occurrence. After courtship and mating, the female lays from 1 to 7 (usually 2-5) white eggs, which the couple incubates in turn. Typically, the female incubates at night and the male incubates during the day. The change of birds on the nest is accompanied by special ritual poses and clicking of beaks. Incubation lasts about 33 days. The hatched chicks are sighted and have black beaks. but completely helpless. At first, parents feed the chicks with earthworms, passing them “from beak to beak” and gradually switch to other types of food. During feeding years, all the chicks grow in the nest; if there is a lack of food, the younger ones often die. It is well known that adult storks mercilessly throw weak and sick chicks out of the nest. So in this case, the legends about the “nobility and kindness” of storks do not entirely 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 stays together, and during the day the chicks “practice” flight, and fly to their native nest to spend 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’s amazing how young storks independently unmistakably find wintering sites that they have never been to.
White storks become sexually mature at 3 years old, but many individuals begin nesting much later, at 6 years old.

Lifespan

In nature, white storks live for about 20 years.

Life at the Moscow Zoo

Now in our zoo on the Old Territory there lives a pair of white storks who came to us quite recently.
The white stork's daily diet includes 350 g of fish, 350 g of meat, 2 mice and 5 frogs, a total of about 800 g of food.

The stork is a family of large birds belonging to the order Anodidae. The stork family includes 6 genera and 19 species. All members of the family are characterized by the presence of a long beak, pointed towards the end, a long neck and long legs. They have no goiter.

A small swimming membrane connects the three front fingers of storks. The hind toe of these birds is poorly developed. Storks are practically mute birds. This is due to the fact that their vocal cords are reduced.

Typically, representatives of the stork family have very wide, deeply dissected wings. Many species of storks make significant migrations every year, and storks in general are considered excellent flyers. These birds correctly use air temperature in order to be able to save energy when flying.

When in flight, storks stretch their necks forward. The most numerous populations of storks are in tropical countries. Very often you can see storks in hot and temperate latitudes.

The most famous member of the stork family is the white stork, whose lifespan is approximately twenty years. Almost all white storks are migratory birds - for the winter they fly to India or Africa (there are two migration routes).

Storks are found on all continents. True, in North America their distribution is limited to the extreme south. In Australia, storks live only in the northeastern part of the continent. Three species of these birds nest on the territory of the Russian Federation. Only two species of storks nest in the European part of Eurasia. We are talking about a white stork and a black stork. Sometimes, as a rare guest in Europe, you can see representatives of the species of yellow-billed stork and African marabou. As a rule, when choosing a habitat, storks give preference to areas located near water bodies, as well as open spaces.

The white stork is the most famous member of the stork family. The white stork has a white plumage, with the only exception being the black tips of the wings. These birds are endowed with a long thin beak, which is red in color, a long neck, and long legs, which are also characterized by a reddish tint. An interesting fact is that at the moment when the stork’s wings are folded, a deceptive impression may arise that almost the entire bird is black. By the way, it was from this feature that the Ukrainian name for this species of stork came - blackguz. Male and female white storks have almost identical colors to each other. The difference lies in the size of the individuals - female white storks are still slightly smaller than males. The height of these birds varies from one meter to one hundred and twenty-five centimeters, and the wingspan often reaches two meters. The weight of an adult white stork is approximately four kilograms. On average, the lifespan of these birds is twenty years. In appearance, the white stork is very similar to the Far Eastern stork. However, recently the Far Eastern stork has been identified as an independent species.

The distribution area of ​​the white stork is quite wide. It can be found throughout European and Asian territory. The white stork winters in tropical Africa or India. Moreover, the population of storks that inhabited the southern regions of the African continent adheres to a sedentary lifestyle. Some storks living in Western Europe are also sedentary. These are the areas that experience warmer winters. Migrating storks travel for the winter along two routes. Individuals that nest west of the Elbe River use the following route: after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, these birds remain to winter in Africa. This is the area between the tropical rain forests and the Sahara Desert. Representatives of white storks that nest east of the Elbe River fly through Asia Minor and Palestine during their migrations. Their wintering place is the territory of the African continent between South Africa and South Sudan. Some individuals winter in South Arabia (very small numbers of white storks) and Ethiopia (slightly more birds winter here compared to South Arabia). No matter what specific territory we are talking about, white storks always gather in huge flocks during the winter, including thousands of birds. Young representatives of the white stork species often stay in Africa not only in the winter, but also in the summer. Migrations of white storks associated with flights to wintering grounds occur during the day. Moreover, the birds fly at a fairly high altitude and avoid being above sea waters. When migrating, you can often see storks soaring.

White storks migrate in small groups. Sometimes in whole flocks. Storks form these groups (or flocks) immediately before flying to their wintering grounds. This is the time immediately following the breeding and feeding of offspring. Departure begins at the end of summer or the first month of autumn. There are cases when the departure of white storks for various reasons is delayed until October. As noted above, white storks fly at high altitudes during the day. An interesting fact is that the speed of movement of white storks towards the south is two times less than the speed of movement of these birds towards their nesting in the spring. Some individuals sometimes spend the winter directly in their nesting area. This situation is observed, for example, in Denmark.

The diet of white storks includes mainly small vertebrates. As well as various invertebrates. Storks living in European territory will always never refuse vipers, grass snakes, frogs and toads. In addition, the favorite food of white storks are locusts and grasshoppers. The diet of these birds also includes earthworms, mole crickets, chafers, small mammals (mainly hares, gophers, moles), and lizards. Sometimes they eat small fish and very rarely small birds. When searching for food, white storks walk very gracefully and slowly. However, when they see potential prey, they grab it with lightning speed.

Storks use the same nest for several years. Previously, these birds chose trees as nesting sites. Storks used branches to build a huge nest on them. As a rule, their nesting site was in close proximity to human settlements. A little later, these birds began to build their nests on the roofs of various buildings (including houses). Sometimes a person helped the stork in this regard, erecting these buildings especially for them. Recently, individuals of this species have successfully built nests on factory chimneys or high-voltage lines. An interesting fact is that the older the nest, the larger its diameter. In addition, the weight of individual nests reaches several centners. This nest is so huge that it becomes a place of life not only for the storks themselves, but also for a variety of small birds. The latter, for example, may include starlings, sparrows, and wagtails. Quite often, the nest is “passed on by inheritance” - after the death of the parents, the offspring takes possession of it. The oldest nest, which has been used by more than one generation of storks, is the nest built by these birds on one of the German towers (in the eastern part of the country). It served the storks from 1549 to 1930.

Male white storks are the first to arrive at the nesting site. They are only a few days ahead of the females. There are cases when males travel a distance of two hundred kilometers in one day. Storks return to our country at the end of March or beginning of April. An interesting fact is that the male white stork considers as his the female who appears first at the nest; but if shortly after this another female flies to the nest, then both will compete for the right to become the mother. Moreover, the male takes absolutely no part in this fight. The female who has withstood the competition is invited by the male to the nest. At the same time, the male throws his head back and uses his beak to make clicking sounds, and to create greater resonance he retracts his tongue into the larynx. The male makes identical clicking sounds when another male approaches his nest. Only the pose is different. The white stork horizontally draws in its neck and body, while lowering and raising its wings. Sometimes it happens that young storks fly to the nest of an old male. This is explained by the fact that the first ones are simply too lazy to equip their own nest. Fights often occur between the owner of the nest and opponents who do not respond to preliminary threats. When the male’s invitation is accepted, both birds, while in the nest, begin to click their beaks and throw their heads back.

The female white stork lays two to five eggs. Less commonly, their number varies from one to seven. The eggs are white. Both the male and the female take part in the incubation of eggs - usually the roles are distributed as follows: the female incubates at night, and the male incubates during the day. When changing the hen, specific ritual poses always take place. The duration of incubation of eggs is approximately thirty-three days. The newly hatched chicks are helpless, but they are sighted. At first, the chicks' diet consists mainly of earthworms. The parents throw them out of their throats, and the offspring either grab the worms on the fly or collect them in the nest itself. As white stork chicks grow older, they are able to snatch food intended for them directly from the beak of their parents.

White stork chicks are under the close supervision of adults. Adult birds often throw out all sick and weak chicks from the nest. Only on the fifty-fourth or fifty-fifth day after birth do young storks fly out of the nest. However, this process again occurs under the supervision of parents. Even after takeoff, for another two or two and a half weeks, the chicks are fed by their parents, and the storks improve their flight skills. Storks become completely independent at seventy days of age. An interesting fact is that young storks fly to winter without any guidance from adults. The path that storks take at the end of August is indicated to them by natural instinct. Adults fly away for the winter a little later - in September. Storks become sexually mature at the age of three. Despite this, some individuals begin to nest only six years after birth.

The stork is a bird very revered by folk culture. Various mythopoetic traditions designate storks as deities, shamans, totemic ancestors, demiurges, etc. White storks are considered symbols of life and growth, sky and sun, wind and thunder, freedom and inspiration, heights and prophecy, abundance and fertility.

The black stork is another representative of the stork family. The black stork is included in the Red Book of Russia and Belarus. When flying, it is often in a soaring state. This feature is also observed in other storks. When in flight, black storks also throw their legs back and stretch their necks forward. The diet of black storks consists mainly of fish, invertebrates and small aquatic vertebrates. Thus, water meadows located in close proximity to water bodies, as well as shallow waters, become feeding places for these birds. In addition, during wintering, the diet of black storks diversifies thanks to large insects, a little less often lizards and snakes, as well as small rodents.

The black stork has a black color. The plumage of black storks is mainly black, although it has a copper-red or greenish tint. The ventral side of this bird's body is white, and the throat, beak and head are bright red. In addition, the unfeathered patch on the frenulum and near the eyes of the black stork has a bright red color.

The black stork is slightly smaller in size than the white stork. The length of a black stork's wing is approximately fifty-four centimeters. The average weight of this bird is three kilograms.

Black storks tend to avoid people. The black stork is a very secretive bird. In view of this, when choosing a habitat, storks give preference to old or dense forests and areas near water bodies. Thus, the black stork can be found near swamps, forest lakes and rivers. This species inhabits the forest zone of Eurasia. As for the territory of our country, representatives of this species live in the territory from the Baltic Sea to the Urals, as well as in Southern Siberia up to the Far East (the largest number of black storks nest in Primorye). A separate population of black storks inhabits the south of Russia. These are the forests of the Stavropol Territory, Dagestan, and Chechnya. The wintering place for black storks is South Asia. In addition, black storks can be seen in South Africa - a sedentary population of these birds lives here.

The black stork is a monogamous bird. Able to reproduce only three years after birth. As a rule, the nest is built at a height of ten to twenty meters. These could be rock ledges or tall old trees. A prerequisite is that the nesting sites must be located far from human habitation. The black stork nests once a year. There are cases when the nests of these birds are found high in the mountains. This can be a height reaching 2200 meters above sea level. When building a nest, black storks use twigs and thick branches of trees. Storks hold them together using clay, turf and earth. By analogy with white storks, representatives of this species serve one nest for many years. The end of March - beginning of April is marked by the arrival of black storks at the nesting site. The male, emitting a hoarse whistle and fluffing up his white undertail, invites the female to his nest; the female lays four to seven eggs. Both parents take part in incubation, which lasts approximately thirty days. Black stork chicks appear unevenly due to the fact that incubation begins with the first egg. The color of the chicks that are born is grayish or white. The base of the beak is orange and the tip of the beak is greenish yellow. For about ten days, the offspring only lies in the nest. Then the chicks begin to sit and can stand on their feet only at the age of thirty-five to forty days. The stay of black stork chicks in the nest ranges from fifty-five to sixty-five days. Storks receive food from their parents four or five times a day.

Black storks do not form colonies. Often the nests of these birds are located at a distance of at least six kilometers from each other. The exception is the population of black storks nesting in the Eastern Transcaucasus. Here the nests are located at a distance of only one kilometer. Sometimes you can even see two residential nests of black storks on the same tree.

The voice of a black stork can be heard extremely rarely. Like white storks, these birds are extremely reluctant to give voice. If this happens, it is usually in flight, when black storks produce a rather loud cry. It can be rendered as "chi-ling" or "che-le". Sometimes black storks talk quietly in the nest; during the mating season, representatives of this species emit a loud hiss; These birds also knock with their beaks very rarely. The chicks have a very unpleasant and rough voice.

Attempts have been made to crossbreed white and black storks. In zoos, it has been observed more than once that a male black stork begins to court a female white stork, but it was never possible to obtain hybrid chicks, which is largely due to significant differences in the mating rituals of representatives of these two species.

The Far Eastern stork is a rare bird. The Far Eastern stork is a species related to the white stork. Currently, the population of this species numbers approximately three thousand individuals. The Far Eastern stork is listed in the Red Book of Russia.

The Far Eastern stork has much in common with the white stork. First of all, we are talking about the color of the plumage. In size, the Far Eastern stork is somewhat larger than the black stork. In addition, the Far Eastern stork is endowed with a more powerful beak; The legs of these birds have a bright red color. The beak color is black. Another difference between the two species of storks is the color of the beaks of the chicks - the white stork chicks are endowed with a black beak, while the Far Eastern stork chicks have a reddish-orange beak.

The Far Eastern stork is found only in Russia. In practice this is true. Indeed, almost the entire distribution area of ​​this species falls on the territory of the Russian Federation. The name speaks for itself - these birds nest in the Far East. To be more precise, these are the territories of Primorye and Amur region. In addition, the Far Eastern stork is found in Mongolia, northeastern China and northern Korea. Far Eastern storks gather in flocks quite early and fly away for the winter (south and southeast China).

Far Eastern storks prefer damp places. These birds settle in close proximity to wet places and bodies of water. Their diet includes aquatic and semi-aquatic animals. These are invertebrates and small vertebrates. Far Eastern storks mainly feed on frogs and small fish. When choosing nesting sites, individuals of this species try to avoid the proximity of human settlements. At the same time, the Far Eastern stork rarely builds nests in remote, inaccessible places.

Far Eastern storks build nests high in trees. An indispensable condition when choosing a nesting site is the presence of bodies of water nearby. These can be swamps, lakes, rivers. In addition to trees, other high-rise buildings can become nesting sites. We are talking, for example, about power lines. The diameter of the nest in Far Eastern storks is approximately two meters, and the height of the nest can vary from three to fourteen meters. One nest (as in the case of other storks) serves individuals of this species for many years. Eggs are laid at the end of April. The number of eggs in a clutch ranges from two to six and depends on various conditions. Helpless chicks are born approximately thirty days after laying eggs. The female and male feed their offspring by regurgitating food into their beaks. Far Eastern storks reach sexual maturity at the age of three to four years.

These amazing birds differ from others not only in their beauty, but also in their extraordinary grace. In terms of external parameters, they are similar to a heron, only larger in size.

And the stork’s nest stands out among others in its shape and size. What is so special about it? You can find out where and from what these birds build their nests by reading this article.

Beliefs about the stork

In lovingly called Bela Busel, and in Ukraine - Chernoguz or Leleka. There are no birds in the world with which so many legends, signs and beliefs are associated, and they are all quite sweet and kind.

The very first sign that comes to mind is that the stork is a bird that brings children into families. In the old days, treats were specially laid out for storks on the windows of huts for the sake of bringing children into the house. And cart wheels were installed on the roofs so that storks could make their homes there.

It was believed that a stork's nest on the roof of a house would definitely bring happiness and peace to its owners. And the number of stork chicks also had a certain meaning - the number of chicks, the number of children expected in the family.

Both white and black storks live in nature, the former being the most common.

Stork habitats

The white stork is the national bird. The highest nesting density of this species of birds has been recorded on the territory of this state. Storks usually nest solitarily, but large colonial settlements are also found.

They live in almost all regions of Europe, including the Russian European part. They also exist in Asia (for example, in Uzbekistan).

Storks make their nests in a variety of different and unexpected places, even in some of them. They are not at all afraid of people and settle on trees and roofs of houses in rural settlements.

Many village residents specially prepare places to make it easier for birds to set up nests - they install poles with circles, cut off excess branches on trees. Civilization and people do not frighten storks at all. However, birds still remain wary of humans.

General information about stork nests

This amazingly beautiful and noble bird builds a very large nest (up to 1.5 meters in diameter). The weight of such a home can reach 250 kg. Basically, the stork builds a nest on the roof of a structure built by man, or on broken tree tops near bodies of water (rivers and lakes) or swamps.

As a rule, one nest is used by storks for years. Birds always return to their old home, and the males arrive earlier and guard it until the female returns. But before hatching the chicks, the nest is again put in order and repaired, so its size increases every year. The height is usually 50 centimeters, and the old nest as a result of such reconstructions can reach a height of even 1.5 meters.

In Germany, the oldest stork nest has been used by birds for 381 years.

What is the nest made of?

Storks build nests from twigs and large branches. They line the tray with hay, old grass and straw. Sometimes old rags, wool, paper, etc. are used as lining at the bottom of the nest.

With all this, each nest is built differently. All storks have their own peculiarity in planning the construction of a cozy nest. For example, there is a difference in the construction of nests between white and black storks, about which more detailed information is presented below.

White storks

The most famous of all birds of this species is the white stork, which in Russia nests in the European part of the country. Its wintering places are Africa and India.

The height of the bird is 120 centimeters, its weight is four kilograms. Its distinctive feature is that the stork does not have a voice, but instead knocks with half of its beak, making certain sounds that are understandable to almost all surrounding birds.

White storks are monogamous. In a repaired nest, after returning from wintering, they lay from 1 to 7 eggs, then incubate them alternately (both female and male) for about 34 days.

They prefer to settle along the banks of bodies of water: rivers, lakes, swamps. These birds swim, fly, and move surprisingly easily on land (even run after prey). The white stork reaches speeds of up to 45 km per hour in flight. During sleep, he stands on one leg, periodically changing it.

White stork nest

The white stork's nest (outer side) is built from tree branches, the thickness of which reaches even several centimeters. The inside is lined with thinner and softer branches, and plant stems, turf, earth, manure, straw and hay are often found in its walls. The lower part is lined with a rather thick layer of softer material - moss, hay, leaves, dry grass, wool, etc.

You can also find a wide variety of garbage in the nest - old rags, films, papers, pieces of rope, etc.

In Russia, the oldest nests of white storks (about 35 years old) were discovered in the Tver and Kaluga regions. In Western Europe (in Germany, Poland and Hungary) there are nests that are more than 100 years old.

Black storks

Black storks live in the mountains and forests. They prefer to nest in places inaccessible to people, and lay about 5 eggs. They are also caring parents; both the female and the male take turns incubating the eggs.

The weight of a black stork is approximately three kilograms. The legs, neck and beak are long. The wingspan reaches 2 meters. During the flight, the stork beautifully stretches its legs and neck, smoothly and slowly flaps its wings.

Unlike the white one, the black stork has a voice. Among other things, the black one, in comparison with the white one, is more thorough in designing its nest - it carefully lays out the branches, using clay and earth.

About stork chicks

After the storks have built a nest and the chicks have hatched from the hatched eggs, the real fuss begins. Parents will feed them from morning to evening. They are always busy looking for water and food for their chicks. From birth, storks feed on insects.

The food that the chicks grab on the fly is thrown into their mouths from the beaks of their parents. And the water smoothly flows into the beak of the chicks. All this happens within the first two months. The chicks feed very well and gain weight quite quickly.

Storks have a not very pleasant feature - they get rid of sick and weakened chicks.

Young birds that have become stronger and matured begin to look for food on their own, without their parents. They feed on snakes, insects, lizards, frogs, various rodents, etc.

Today in Ukraine, more and more often you can find a stork’s nest on a power pole, a slightly smaller number of them on trees, and even fewer on water towers. The smallest number of nests is on various buildings.

Stork nests are also found on rocks. For example, in Portugal in 1994, more than 2% of nests were built on them. Old dwellings are also found in ruins, on monuments, towers, on straw stacks, heaps of dry branches and manure. There are known cases of nests being detected even on the booms of construction truck cranes and on the ground.

The height of the nest depends on the height of the support. It varies from 0 (on the ground) to several tens of meters (on pipes and other structures). There is a known case of a nest being located on a hundred-meter tower in Spain. Basically, they are built at an average height of 5 to 20 m.

In many regions of Russia, nests are located on water towers, especially in the Kaluga region (73% of nests).

In Lithuania in 1994-2000, storks built a nest on an old tree in 52 percent of cases.

Stork display behavior

For mated and breeding birds, the center of social activity is the nest, where their various displays can be seen. An interesting fact is that outside the nest, partners tend to ignore each other.

Usually in the spring the male returns to the nest first and protects the home from other storks. A pair forms on the nest. The owner greets strangers approaching storks with a characteristic cracking of his beak, throwing back and lowering his head and spreading his wings. At the same time, he still raises his tail and puffs up the feathers on his neck.

If a female flies to the nest, the demonstrations take on a different character after a while - a welcoming ceremony takes place. At the same time, the male, puffing up his feathers and shaking his head from side to side, greets the couple. When an alien male tries to sit on the nest, the owner takes a threatening pose: he stands motionless on half-bent legs with his wings spread in different directions, his tail raised, and his head and neck stretched forward. The stork has many different displays depending on the situation at hand. Fights may also occur.

A beautiful picture (two storks in a nest) can be seen after a pair has formed. Each of the pair greets the partner flying up to the nest with current demonstrations. Often both birds in the nest show off in a “duet”, fingering each other’s feathers, mostly on the neck and head.

Conclusion

A stork on the roof is the most common sight in rural areas. Many artists and photographers capture them there.

It should be noted that not everything is so smooth in the world of storks. Often the nests are occupied by other tenants - sparrows, wagtails and starlings, who raise their offspring in the beautiful cozy nest of the owners of the roofs and harbingers of a happy and prosperous life.

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 takes up residence, it means happiness has come to the family. This is probably why no one offends these graceful, long-legged and long-beaked beauties. And in return they are not afraid of people at all.

But in reality, the life of storks is not as simple as one might think. There are also those among them who do not let anyone close to them and settle in the most inaccessible places. You certainly won’t get happiness from these. And in the diverse family of storks, there are enviable flyers who cover thousands of kilometers every year, and there are also homebodies who cannot be driven out of their 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 babies, and is it true that they bring happiness? Let's figure it out.

What types of storks are there?

Few people have never seen slender white and black birds on long red legs with a long red beak. Some owners of their personal plots decorate their gardens with such figurines made of synthetic materials; they 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 ones, then at least artificial ones. 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 out for prey, that they fly in in the spring and fly away in the fall, that they do no harm to anyone. Do you know how many species of storks there are in the world? According to the generally accepted classification, there are only three genera:

1. Beaked storks (they look a bit like a heron).
2. Open storks (their beak is always slightly open).
3. Actually storks.

Each genus has its own species. So, there are beaks:

• American;
• gray;
• African;
• Indian.

There are razini:

• African;
• Indian.

And looking at the names listed above, everyone can answer where storks of these species live. But a slightly different picture emerges with the 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 - the jabiru and the marabou.

Let's take a closer look at some of the types.

White storks

These are the same birds whose figures some homeowners love to place in their gardens and on chimneys. The life of white storks, it would seem, has been well studied, because they are always in sight and 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. Moreover, 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, their beak is also thin and long, most often bright red. The portrait of a female white stork is exactly the same, only her size is a little more modest.

The places where white storks live are mainly meadows and swampy lowlands. Their food is any amphibians, snakes (mainly vipers and grass snakes), earthworms, and beetles. They do not disdain the hated mole crickets, mice and rats, eating which they really bring happiness to the house. Adult storks do not even refuse moles, small hares and gophers.

It is interesting to watch birds hunting. They leisurely, as if half asleep, walk through a meadow or swamp, sometimes they freeze in one place, as if they are meditating. But as soon as they catch sight of prey, the storks instantly come to life and quickly grab their prey.

These birds build houses, as they say, to last for centuries and never change them. There is a known case when one nest existed for almost 400 years! Of course, all this time he was not occupied by the same stork. The lifespan of these birds is approximately 20 years, so over four centuries, quite a few generations have changed. But the “apartment” made of dry twigs and straw was occupied by representatives of the same family. That is, it passed from father to son and so on.

But not much can be said about the heartfelt loyalty of these birds. They create a strong family, but only for one season. The male is the first to fly to his expensive home, correct it if necessary, and sits down to wait for his chosen one. It can be any female who is the first to fly up to an enviable groom. He throws back his wild 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 obediently waits to see whose 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 clack his beak, only this time not joyfully, but threateningly. If the uninvited guest does not understand the hints, the owner of the nest rushes at him and hits him painfully with his beak.

Well, the housing issue has been settled, and so has the chosen one. 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 many regions of Europe, including Southern Switzerland, the Leningrad region, almost the entire territory of Ukraine, and in Belarus there are so many storks 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 be found only 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 pair, they begin procreation. 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 hatch it. In the future, she gradually manages to add another 3-5 slightly oblong white testicles to her firstborn.

It has been noted that the place where storks live must have good energy. In the farmsteads where they built their home, there should be no scandals and swearing, much less war.

Dad and mom take turns incubating the eggs for about 33 days. Chicks are born as unevenly as eggs. They are born sighted, but completely helpless. At first, they only know how to open their beaks, where the parents put earthworms and give them some water to wash them down. But after just a couple of days, the younger generation is able to collect worms dropped by their parents and even grab them on the fly.

Mom and Dad vigilantly monitor the activity of their offspring. Unfortunately, they give the weakest the opportunity to take care of themselves on their own, 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. Their parents feed them for another 18 days. In the evening, the young animals return home to sleep, and in the morning they go back to school.

Migration routes

Many people 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 from the last days of summer, without their parents, the flocks go south.

Scientists still debate how they find their way to places they have never been, but the main assumption is the instinct embedded 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, such as the sea.

Adult birds leave their summer quarters around the 15th of September. Surprisingly, it turns out that where storks and ducks live is important for migration routes. Birds that spend the summer 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 make their way through Israel and Asia Minor, also reach Africa, only in its eastern regions, and winter in the lands from Sudan to South Africa. Storks from Uzbekistan and surrounding areas do not fly so far for the winter, but move to neighboring India.

There is a population of storks living in South Africa. These people don’t migrate anywhere at all, they live sedentary lives. Storks from Europe do not fly away for the winter either, where winters are not harsh and food remains active all year round. In the spring they form flocks again to fly home, but the young may remain in the south for a year, two or three, until they reach 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 ones for themselves and territories hidden from prying eyes, sometimes climbing into the mountains to a height of over 2 km.

Nests are built in rocks or on tall trees. Where they live Also in Europe, and in Russia they settled from the Baltic to the Far East. They fly to Africa and South Asia for the winter. Populations living in Africa are not moving anywhere.

Outwardly, these birds are very graceful. They are somewhat smaller in size than their white relatives. Most of their body (head, neck, back, wings) is black with iridescence, only the belly is white, which creates the appearance that these birds are dressed in elegant tailcoats.

The rhythms of their life are the same as those of white storks, but there are also slight differences. Thus, the male does not indifferently wait for the first female friend he finds, but invites her into his home, fluffing his tail and whistling. The 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 the young spend the same 55 (less often, a little longer) days in the nest.

Their feeding methods and diet are approximately the same as those of white storks. 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? It is clear that he chose the Far East, as well as China, South Korea and Mongolia. There are only 3,000 individuals left in Russia.

The bird's diet is the same as that of its other brothers - small fish, bugs, frogs, small rodents. Just like the black stork, the Far Eastern stork prefers to climb away from human eyes.

Externally, representatives of this species are very similar to white storks. The difference is in the larger size, but the main thing is the red circle of skin around the eyes and the black color of their beak, which is why another name for the species is the black-billed stork. Interestingly, the chicks of the Far Eastern stork have a red-orange beak, while the chicks of the white stork have a black beak.

White-necked stork

If you are interested in where storks and ducks live, the answer is - near reservoirs and in swamps - most suitable for white-necked storks, because the main dishes in their diet are toads, small and medium-sized fish, living and non-living, as well as water snakes and other representatives of fauna that will fit in the beak. For example, if the opportunity arises to catch a small rodent, white-necked storks will not miss the moment either.

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, growing up to 90 cm. Not only their necks are white, but also the bottom of their abdomen, as well as the lower feathers of their tail. The rest of the body, including the spectacular cap on the head, is black, and the feathers on the sides shimmer beautifully. 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 their black relatives, but 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, but in nature their habitat is South Africa, Central Africa and the edge of the Arabian Peninsula. The white-bellied stork eats caterpillars and beetles, but does not attack rodents or snakes. Settles mainly in forests, on tall trees.

Opening stork

There are many places where storks and ducks live, as well as other birds that like to settle near water bodies. For example, open-mouthed storks. Their habitats are Madagascar, certain areas of Africa and Southeast Asia. There are no winter colds there, but open-mouthed storks still migrate.

They take wing when the heat sets in and the water bodies dry up, which means their food disappears. So they have to fly to where there is still water, and in it they can catch fish and other living creatures.

Razzies got their name because of the structure of their beak, which seems to be slightly open 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 awkwardness not by their size (they are almost as large as white storks), but by their rather solid beak. The plumage of beaked whales is mostly white, but in the Indian species it is a kind of dirty gray, with black feathers on the wings. The American one has a gray head, and the gray one, on the contrary, has a white head, only the feathers on the wings are gray.

Beaked whales live in America, Asia and Africa, choosing swampy lowlands where they can find a lot of food and where there are tall trees to build their nests on. Beaked storks, 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 pillars in rural settlements. In this genus, birds are familiar with loyalty not only to their home, but also to their partner. Thus, American beaked whales mate for life.

Any species of stork is unique. In Russia, rehabilitation centers have been created to protect birds living on its territory (in the Leningrad, Moscow, Ryazan, Kaluga, Smolensk and Tver regions). Anyone who finds storks or their chicks in trouble can turn for help there.