| Scientific Name: |
Ciconia nigra |
| Range: |
Live in Africa, India, and southern
China in the winter. During the summer month the stork migrates to
Europe, Russia, and China. |
| Habitat: |
Forests and trees near marshes,
riverbanks and lakes |
| Natural Diet: |
Fish, frogs aquatic reptiles and
insects. |
| Zoo Diet: |
Fish, mice, and meat biscuits containing
essential vitamins and minerals. |
Physical
Characteristics: |
A large bird, 95 to 100cm (37.4 to 39.3
inches) tall and weighing around 3 kg (6.6 lbs), with black head,
breast, neck and wings. The belly and under side of the tail are
white. The feet and beak are red. |
| Behavior: |
These storks mate for life. Both
male and female storks build the nest together and share parental
duties. They hunt for food by wading in shallow water and
capturing it with their spear-like beaks. |
| Reproduction: |
Breeding season begins in May. Two to
five eggs are laid in a large stick nest over 2 days. Eggs are incubated
by both parents and hatch in about 36 days. Young take flight
around the age of 3 months and attain sexual maturity in 3 years. |
| Notes: |
This bird creates an unusually large
nest. The diameter can measure 1.5 meters (nearly 5 ft.) and 1
meter (3.3 feet) thick. |
