White stork (Ciconia ciconia). Black stork
Everyone knows what a stork looks like. If you haven’t met in person, many people know the stork from photos or from numerous brands that use the bird’s image in their logos.
Storks belong to the order Cioridae (anklefish) and are part of the large stork family. The genus of storks includes 7 species of birds, common in Eurasia, Africa and South America.
Stork in flight.
Description
These are large, long-legged, long-necked birds, about 100 cm high. The wingspan of an adult reaches 1.5-2 m. Their legs are devoid of feathers and covered with red mesh skin, and their webbed fingers end in short pink claws. There are also patches of bare red or red skin on the neck and head. yellow color. The straight, elongated beak has a pointed conical shape. The color of the plumage is various combinations of black and white flowers. Females are slightly smaller than males, but otherwise the birds look the same.
An interesting feature of storks is the almost complete absence of voice. These birds are extremely taciturn and use hissing and clicking beaks to communicate.
Storks live alone or in small groups, and their existence is closely connected with various freshwater biotopes where birds feed and nest.
Stork in the field. 
What do storks eat?
Storks eat exclusively animal food. Different types to a greater or lesser extent they consume fish, shellfish, frogs, snakes, poisonous snakes, lizards, large insects. The diet often includes small mammals: rats, mice, moles, gophers, rabbits. Storks stalk their prey by walking leisurely, and when they notice the victim, they run up and grab it. The offspring are first fed by belching from semi-digested food, and then earthworms are thrown into the chicks' mouths.
The stork stayed for the winter. 
Features of reproduction
Storks are monogamous and the male and female jointly build the nest, incubate and feed the offspring. The mating rituals of the species differ, for example, the male white stork does not choose a companion, but considers the first female to fly up to the nest as his.
These birds build nests that are unique in size and durability, which are used from generation to generation. Therefore, one of my favorite topics professional photographers- photo of storks in the nest. The record belongs to white storks, who built and occupied a nest on one of the German towers for almost 4 centuries.
Females lay from 1 to 7 eggs, the incubation period lasts about 30 days. Up to 1.5-2 months, the chicks are completely dependent on their parents, and in the fall the family breaks up. Birds reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age, and own families created at 4-6 years old. IN wildlife Storks live about 20 years; in captivity they can live twice as long.
Stork nest in a village near Nikolaev, Ukraine. 
Storks in the nest. 
Stork in the nest. 
The most famous, numerous and widespread species of storks, one of the symbols of Belarus. Most of them nest in Europe and Asia, and winter in India and Africa. Small populations of Western Europe and South Africa live sedentary.
The height of adult individuals reaches 100-120 cm with a body weight of about 4 kg. The plumage is completely white, only the tips of the wings are black, the beak and limbs are red. The folded wings cover the back of the body, which looks black, which is why in Ukraine this bird is called the Blackgut.
The white stork nests on the roofs of residential and outbuildings, power line supports, pipes of abandoned factories. He builds giant nests and nests in their walls. small birds- starlings, sparrows, wagtails. There are from 1 to 7 white eggs in a tray, incubation lasts for 33 days. Weak and sick chicks are mercilessly thrown out of the nest. The flight of young birds occurs 55 days after birth; after another 2 weeks, young birds become independent and, without waiting for their parents, go to wintering.
Stork on takeoff. 
White stork in the sky. 
White stork in flight. 
White stork in flight. 
The bird is also known as the black-billed stork, the Chinese stork, or simply the Far Eastern stork. Initially it was considered a subspecies of the white stork, but has recently been identified as a separate species. The population is about 3 thousand individuals, which are protected by Russia, China and Japan as rare, endangered birds.
The nesting sites of the Far Eastern stork are located in the Amur region and Primorye, on the Korean peninsula, Mongolia and northeastern China. The birds spend the winter in rice fields and swamps in the southern regions of China.
Unlike the white stork, these birds are larger, their beak is black and more massive, and their legs are colored intense red. The main difference is the area of bare red skin around the eyes. These birds avoid people and make nests in swampy, inaccessible areas. Their nests are as high and wide as those of the white stork. The clutch consists of 2-6 eggs.
Far Eastern white stork in flight. 
A numerous but little-studied species, widespread throughout Eurasia. Largest quantity birds are found in swampy areas Belarusian reserve Zvonets, in Russia the largest population lives in the Primorsky Territory. For the winter, black storks migrate to southern Asia, with the exception of birds that live sedentary in southern Africa.
These storks average size, height about 100 cm and body weight up to 3 kg. The color is black with a slight greenish or copper tint. The lower chest, belly and undertail are white. The limbs, beak and skin around the eyes are red.
The black stork avoids humans and nests in old deaf places forest areas near swamps and shallow reservoirs, sometimes in the mountains. The nests are built high and massive, the clutch contains from 4 to 7 eggs. After 30 days of incubation, the chicks hatch one by one and are completely helpless for about 10 days. The ability to stand on their feet appears only 35-40 days after birth, and young storks leave the nest at the age of 2 months.
A black stork catches a fish. 
Black stork on the lake. 
Species of storks living sedentary on African continent from Ethiopia to South Africa. The bird population is quite large and its condition is not in danger.
These are small storks, about 73 cm high and weighing no more than 1 kg. The birds received their name due to the white color of the chest and underwings, forming a contrast with the main black plumage. The white-bellied stork has an olive-gray beak. Its legs and eye area are red, and during the breeding season, a patch of bare skin at the base of its beak turns bright blue.
The local name of the bird is rain stork, this is due to the beginning of nesting, which occurs during the rainy season, when the birds gather in large groups on rocky shores and trees. The clutch consists of 2-3 eggs.
White-bellied stork on a dried tree. 
A numerous species of storks, widespread in Africa and Asia. Three subspecies live in tropical forests Kenya and Uganda, on the islands of Borneo, Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok and Java, in the Philippines, Indochina and India.
The height of an adult stork is 80-90 cm. The birds are black with a reddish tint on the shoulders and green on the wings. The belly and undertail are white, and there is a black cap on the head. Distinctive feature white-necked stork - snow-white lush plumage, reminiscent of a scarf, thrown from the back of the head and neck to the middle of the chest.
White-necked stork in flight. 
The white-necked stork spread its wings. 
A white-necked stork bathes. 
A South American species of stork that lives over a large area from Venezuela to Argentina.
These are birds of medium height, about 90 cm in height and weighing 3.5 kg. In appearance they strongly resemble a white stork, but differ in their black forked tail, and have red-orange areas of bare skin around the eyes and irises white. Old birds can be identified by their bluish-gray beaks.
Birds avoid dense forests, preferring to nest in bushes near water. Nests are built at a height of 1 to 6 m, sometimes directly on the ground. The clutch contains 2-3 eggs, newborn chicks are covered with white down, gradually darken and at 3 months they are practically no different from their parents.
American stork in the sky. 
One of the rarest storks, classified as an endangered species. The habitat covers the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, Sumatra, Kalimantan, southern Thailand, Brunei and western Malaysia. Birds live secretly, often alone or in small groups, so photos of storks of this species are very rare.
These are small birds with a height of 75 to 91 cm. The plumage color is coal black, the back of the head and undertail are white. The bird's face is completely devoid of feathers and covered with skin orange color with wide yellow “glasses” around the eyes. The beak and legs are red. The nests are built small, only 50 cm wide and about 15 cm high. The offspring consists of 2 chicks that are able to fly 45 days after birth.
From time immemorial, these majestic birds have lived next to humans, enjoying his special respect and reciprocating: they are practically not afraid of people, making nests next to human habitation, looking importantly down at 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 storks settle, 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 throughout the planet. Some species that are lucky enough to be born in warm regions lead sedentary image life. Others are migratory, waiting out the winter cold in Africa and India.
The most common in Russia White stork- a large bird, with a long conical beak, long legs and a long neck characteristic of all members of the family. The plumage is white, the ends of the wings are black, shiny, there is bare black skin around the eyes, 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 vocal cords and membranes, so they are practically mute, but they can make loud chirping noises by clicking their beaks. Storks reach sexual maturity at approximately 3 years of age. Life expectancy is about 20 years.
The diet consists of small mammals (mice, gophers, hares), frogs, lizards, reptiles, various insects, fish and mollusks. Sometimes they can catch a small bird or chick.
White storks arrive in our region to nest in late March or early April. Nests are built on big trees, on the roofs of buildings, on boiler room pipes, on power line supports. The 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 move in 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 large egg. Both parents incubate the eggs for 33–35 days. The chicks emerge sighted, but helpless, and do not leave the nest until almost 2 months of age. After leaving the nest caring parents They are still fed 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 they fly away grow into large flocks, and in wintering areas they form colonies of thousands. Around the end of August, flights to warm countries, stretching for a month or more. Storks fly only in daytime, on high altitude, avoiding flights over the sea. These birds are very hardy and fly well, often using air currents to soar 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. The lifestyle is like that of a white stork, it settles in hard-to-reach places, in dense forests near water bodies, since the main diet is fish. Unfortunately, this species is endangered, with a population of only about 1,000 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 areas on the bridle and near the eyes are red.
The black stork feeds in shallow waters and water meadows, mainly on fish, small aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates. It will not refuse small rodents, lizards, and large insects.
The black stork is timid and cautious, leads a very secretive lifestyle, preferring to settle away from people - in deep 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 home serves the birds for many years, often being inherited by subsequent generations.
There are 4-7 eggs in a black stork's clutch; 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 period 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 they stand on their feet. After this, they remain in the nest in the care of their parents for another month.
Although black storks live separately, upon departure they often join flocks of white storks and fly together for the winter.
In Belarus, the stork (in Belarusian “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 a white stork not quite white?
In ancient times, in one village, white storks lived amicably with people, even helping to look after small children while the peasants worked in the fields. 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 their houses, covering them with their wings from the heat and flames. The people who arrived in time put out the fire. And that day the storks burned their beaks and legs - they became red, and the burnt wings turned black at the edges. Since then appearance birds remained this way - as a memory of joint resistance to the elements.
Where did the black stork come from?
Once upon a time, there were only white storks on Belarusian soil. They always settled next to a person’s home, living with him in harmony and friendship. And in one village, storks built their nest on a tall linden tree that grew near the house. Every spring they returned to their nest from distant countries and greeted their native places and the owner of the house near which they lived with a joyful squawk. Only this man was cruel, envious and lazy. He hated storks for their hard work and thriftiness. He watched with malice as adult birds fed and raised their chicks, surrounding them with tenderness and care. And he was happy only when the storks sadly said goodbye to their native open spaces, going to wintering in distant edges. I rejoiced and hoped that they would never return - they would die somewhere on the way to distant countries...
But every spring this pair returned to their nest. And one day a man could not stand it, gave vent to his hatred and set fire to the linden tree, on the top of which there was a nest. The old linden tree 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 them. Their feathers were almost completely blackened from the burns.
With pain from irreparable grief, these storks left people forever and settled in the most impenetrable forest wilderness. Since then, their children also became black. To this day, black storks carry a huge grudge against humans, avoid meeting with them and live away from settlements- in hard-to-reach places.
Interesting Facts:
Ornithologists have noticed that white storks periodically carry out a kind of “cleansing of the ranks”, killing weak, non-viable relatives.
Storks build permanent nests, using them for many years. For example, in Germany, a case was recorded when a nest built in the mid-16th century served storks until 1930.
One of the world's largest populations of the Black Stork lives in Belarus, in the Zvanets reserve (Brest region).
In zoos, attempts have been made to cross white and black storks and produce hybrid offspring. But this turned out to be impossible due to the strong differences in the mating rituals of these species.
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
White stork - 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 build their nests in a variety of unexpected places, even on some 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 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:
- Beaked storks (they look a bit like a heron).
- Open storks (their beak is always slightly open).
- 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 areas of Europe, including Southern Switzerland, 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 already with last numbers In the summer without parents, 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’s clear that he chose for himself Far East, as well as China, South Korea and to 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 more large sizes, 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 ponds 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 for themselves, where they can find a lot of food and where there are tall trees to build their nests on them. 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, to protect the birds living on its territory, they have created rehabilitation centers(in Leningrad, Moscow, Ryazan, Kaluga, Smolensk and Tver regions). Anyone who finds storks or their chicks in trouble can turn for help there.
To the question: What is the difference between a stork and a heron? given by the author European The best answer is that they are actually quite close relatives. Two families of the same order of ankles. Storks are usually larger than herons, live in the swamp, far from water (and herons are aquatic birds), and in flight they stretch out their necks, unlike herons, which always fold it.
Answer from Eveline[guru]
The stork is a man, and the heron is a woman))
Answer from simplify[guru]
the heron is an aquatic bird... the stork is more of a land bird... the stork also brings children; the heron has no such responsibilities...
Answer from Sasha Belmesov[active]
beak size
Answer from squint[guru]
many...
Answer from Natasha[guru]
Real herons, or simply herons (lat. Ardea) are a genus of large (80-100 cm and above) birds of the heron family. These birds live along wetlands where their prey includes fish, frogs and other aquatic animals.
Most species of these birds, widespread throughout the world, nest in colonies in trees, building large nests there from twigs. Birds living in northern regions, such as Gray Heron, Great Blue and Red Heron, migrate south for the winter, although the first two species do this only when the water freezes. Gray and Red herons nest in Russia
True herons are powerful birds with long cone-shaped beaks, long necks And long paws. Most species have a clearly visible tuft of feathers on the back of the head, extending backwards. They hunt by standing motionless in the water or sneaking up on the prey in shallow water, and then grabbing it with a quick jerk. In flight, they are slow, while pulling their heads towards themselves - this distinguishes them from other aquatic birds - cranes, storks and spoonbills.
Storks (lat. Ciconiidae) are a family of birds from the order wading, covering six genera and nineteen species.
The stork family is widespread not only in the tropics and subtropics, but also in temperate zones. Only two species nest in Europe - the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) and the black stork (Ciconia nigra). Two other species are considered extremely rare visitors - the yellow-billed whale (Mycteria ibis) and the African marabou (Leptoptilos crumeniferus).
Basically, storks prefer to live in open spaces and near water bodies. Common signs family are long legs, a long flexible neck, and a long, conical beak. The wings are usually wide and deeply segmented. All storks are good flyers, skillfully using air thermals to save energy in flight. Many species make long-distance flights every year.
Storks pick up food on the move from the ground and enter it mainly small rodents, amphibians, fish, some invertebrates and reptiles. Some species of storks, such as marabou, are also carrion eaters.
Most species of storks are voiceless; the only sound they make is the beak of their beaks. However, some species are quite vocal, one example being the black stork
Answer from Anastasia[guru]
STORKS (storks, Ciconidae), a family of birds of the wading order, includes 11 genera, 18 species. The beak of storks is long, straight or slightly curved up or down, the wings are long and wide. Some storks can soar in the sky for a long time. Most species are voiceless due to the absence of vocal muscles of the lower larynx. The sounds are made by clicking the beak.
Storks are widespread, they live in places rich in water; nests on trees, roofs. Some storks (marabou) feed on garbage. In the Palearctic, only one genus is known - storks (Ciconia) with three species: white stork (length up to 110 cm), black stork and Far Eastern (black-billed) stork (Ciconia boyciana). The last two are guarded.
HERONS (Ardeidae), a family of birds of the wading order. Unites 66 species. Known from the Lower Oligocene, modern genera - from the Middle Miocene. Length 28-140 cm, weight from 100 g to 4 kg. Wingspan up to 180 cm, fly slowly. The neck is long, thin, the beak is long, straight at the end, with small teeth along the edges (for holding prey). The legs are long, the lower leg is partially exposed, and the toes are long. The color is monochromatic - brown, yellow, white. Males and females are colored the same. On the chest, rump and belly there are special downy feathers - powders. Their tops gradually break off, forming a horny powder reminiscent of talc. Use a serrated claw on the middle finger to spread the powder over the feathers.
Distributed throughout the world, except in the polar regions. They inhabit sea coasts and inland waters of the tropics and subtropics, in temperate zone several types. The diet is based mainly on aquatic animals, sometimes feeding on land. Large herons wander in the water or stand in wait for prey, which they stun with a blow of their beak. Copes with young aquatic turtles, grass snakes and water voles
