Ciconia ciconia
Everyone will quickly recognise the White Stork as the legendary bird responsible for the delivery of newborn babies. These large, strikingly pied birds stand over a metre tall, has a wing span of up to 2 metres and weighs as much as 4kg.
White Storks migrate in enormous flocks (numbering hundreds or even thousands) from Europe, North Africa and Western Asia to Sub-Saharan Africa to spend the summer in our warm weather, the first birds arriving around September and the last departing again by April or May. At those times they are a regular sight in savannas, grasslands and cultivated fields right across South Africa, often close to water, feeding in flocks usually numbering from 10 to 50, though larger groups of several hundred are not uncommon. White Storks are diurnal in habit, roosting communally at night. They feed mainly on insects (but also rodents, reptiles and frogs), and often take advantage of fires to catch prey escaping the flames. Only a handful of pairs breed here, and only in the Western Cape. Nests are constructed of sticks in high trees or on top of buildings or other man-made structures, and often used for several consecutive years, even decades. As the nests are continuously expanded they can become quite huge over time, and are often shared by other kinds of birds. Pairs will build their nests in isolation or in loosely associated small colonies of up to 30 pairs. Up to 7 (more usually 4) eggs are laid and incubated for 33 days or so by both parents. The chicks stay in the nest for about two months after hatching.
The IUCN estimates the White Stork’s total global population at about 700,000 and growing, and considers them to be of least concern in conservation terms. The use of agricultural pesticides and subsequent poisoning, electrocution by overhead powerlines and habitat destruction are considered major local threats to the White Stork.
de Wets Wild 
These are wonderful photographs.
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Thank you very much, Anne, and welcome here!
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A few years ago, I had great fun watching the resident population in the Algarve! They’re thriving there… thanks to mankind’s waste!
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I’ve never seen them scavenging from landfills here, so it might be behaviour unique to that population. I wonder if, and where, they migrate when winter comes?
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No… they stay. They’ve become too lazy to travel. Mind you, I don’t really blame them… I’d also stay in the Algarve if I had half a chance!! 😉
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How did they get the baby reputation, anyway? J&A 🙂 🙂
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Interesting question guys! Wikipedia gives these explanations for the age old belief: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_stork#Storks_and_childbirth
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Yikes! Who knew it was worldwide? Thanks for looking that up– really interesting link, y’all!! 🙂 🙂
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How lucky for this bird to be associated with a happy event 🙂
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With 7+ billion people on earth they seem to be quite good at their job!
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Hehehe!!
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La cigogne est le symbole de ma région : l’Alsace en France. Elles viennent de revenir et un couple niche sur la Cathédrale de ma ville !
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That’s a very special association, Budpumba – I’m sure the people of Alsace holds them in high regard!
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In 1974 there were only nine pairs of white storks in Alsace because of hunting and power lines, now there are over 400!
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Wonderful!
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I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a stork. Nice pics.
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Thank you Kathy! I guess there are other kinds of stork in North America?
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Weereens hoogs interessant en leersaam,Dries!
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Dankie Dina, lekker om te hoor dat jy so dink!
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Very beautiful birds!
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Absolutely!
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Yes, amazing birds which I have seen nesting in Portugal on top of telegraph poles, trees, roofs – as long as it is on top they will nest!
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Versatile and cosmopolitan, aren’t they?
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