Black Stork
by Eva Lechner
Title
Black Stork
Artist
Eva Lechner
Medium
Photograph - Photograph-fine Art
Description
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The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly black, with white underparts. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, measuring on average 95–100 cm (37–39 in) from beak tip to end of tail with a 145–155 cm (57–61 in) wingspan. A widespread, but uncommon, species, the black stork breeds in the warmer parts of Europe (predominantly in central and eastern regions), across temperate Asia and Southern Africa. It is a long-distance migrant, with European populations wintering in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian populations in the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west, because the air thermals on which it depends do not form over water. The South African population does not migrate and breeds in the winter rather than summer.
A shy and wary species, unlike the closely related white stork, the black stork is seen singly or in pairs, usually in marshy areas, rivers or inland waters. It feeds on amphibians, small fish and insects. Breeding pairs usually build nests in large forest trees —most commonly deciduous but also coniferous—which can be seen from long distances, as well as on large boulders, or under overhanging ledges in mountainous areas. The female lays two to five greyish white eggs. The black stork is considered to be a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as the wide range, large population and low apparent rate of decline mean that it does not meet the threshold for vulnerable status. Despite its large range, it is nowhere abundant, and appears to be declining in many parts of its range. Various conservation measures have been taken for the black storks, including the Conservation Action Plan for African black storks by Wetlands International, which focuses on the wintering conditions of the birds which breed in Europe. It is covered under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Original photography and expressive artwork by Eva Lechner
Uploaded
July 29th, 2017
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