Ciconia nigra
The Black Stork is a very widely distributed species, occurring in Africa, Europe and Asia, and globally assessed as being of least concern by the IUCN despite their populations coming under pressure from loss of habitat and hunting. Although occurring all over the country they are not particularly common in South Africa either and it is estimated that the total population occurring south of the Zambezi and Kunene Rivers is in the region of about a thousand breeding pairs of which only 200 or so occur in our country, qualifying for a local conservation classification of “near threatened”. Although most populations of Black Stork are migratory that is not the case with Southern Africa’s birds which remain in the subregion throughout the year and only move around locally. In our experience the Kruger National Park is the most reliable area to find Black Storks in South Africa.
Black Storks are closely associated with wetlands, swamps, rivers, lagoons, estuaries and inundated grasslands and, as can probably be deduced from their preferred habitat, subsists mainly on an aquatic diet ranging from fish and amphibians to insects and other invertebrates sourced by wading in shallow water. They are usually found alone or in pairs, though congregations numbering into the hundreds have been seen on occasion.
Black Storks are monogamous, and pairs may even have a life-long bond. Their nests are rough platforms of sticks and reeds built on ledges and cliffs, often used for several years. The local breeding season spans the autumn and winter months, typically periods during which most of this country experiences drier weather making it easier to catch prey in dwindling pools of water. Clutches contain as many as five eggs, with incubation by both parents lasting over a month. The chicks fledge at between 2 and 3 months after hatching, becoming independent of their parents soon after. Black Storks may live to 20 years old in the wild, with up to 36 years recorded in captivity. Fully grown adults are magnificent birds, standing a metre high with a wingspan of around 1.5m.
What a handsome stork. I guess we will have to wait until a visit to Kruger is once again possible to see one.
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I hope that day isn’t too distant, Carol. We’re really missing the bush now.
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We can but hope, but times are tough now. Keep safe.
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Great gallery, Dries. Love the reflection shot. Those legs look like a super-model’s. The beak really does resemble our Ibis beaks. Quite lethal to say the least. 😅
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Deadly and precise! Thanks for the kind words, Sylvia.
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I didn’t realize they lived so long. Their coloring is similar to our white-faced ibises. Love the iridescence plumage!
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Imagine the stories a stork could tell in its old age!
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What a striking bird. Great photograph, Dries. Monogamous relationships in nature are touching.
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Thanks very much, Jane! Seems that monogamy is quite prevalent among birds.
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Not being a “birder”, you have educated me on this one. Never heard or seen a black stork before. Amazing.
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Thank you, John, for allowing us that privilege!
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Nature has given us a very handsome stork! Thank you for bringing it to us through these photos.
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We’re only too grateful to be able to share our country’s diversity with an appreciative and like-minded audience, Hien – the thanks should go to you!
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Again, you have a wonderful gallery of these interesting birds.
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Thank you very much, Anne. Ever see them in the Eastern Cape?
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I haven’t.
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That’s a handsome stork! The wing span is impressive. Great post my friend. 🙂
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Thank you very much, H.J. The certainly are beautiful and impressive birds.
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I agree with loisajay that they resemble herons, but it’s always enjoyable to see the different birds you have that we don’t (or at least not where I am.)
janet
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We appreciate the opportunity to show them to you all, Janet. Thank you!
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They look quite a bit like our herons, don’t you think?
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While they certainly look quite similar, Lois, they are actually only very distant cousins. Herons are in fact closer relations of pelicans. It may be that the storks and herons evolved to look similarly because they inhabit the same general habitats where long bills and legs are advantageous.
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Thank you, Dries. That explains the plethora of herons and pelicans always down at our marina. They’re all family!
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They’re just having a family reunion around a fish-barbecue!
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