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Black storks are secretive and very cautious birds

Many of us know white storks, some even saw these huge birds, admired their immaculate nests, built on the roofs of houses or pillars. But very few people know that in fact there is not one species of these birds. The most rare and interesting from the point of view of studying are black storks. Their habitat is wide enough, but the number of birds themselves does not please the defenders of nature. Their numbers have been consistently low for many years. Storks nest almost throughout Eurasia, in some regions separate settlements have been formed, and in South Africa there is a sedentary population of this species. At the end of August, the birds break out of their places and fly to the southeast of China, Africa.

Black storks are slightly smaller in size than their white counterparts, but the wingspan usually reaches 2 m. Weight about 3 kg, legs, beak and skin around the eyes are red, the color of the feathers is black with green and purple tints, only the lower part remains white. To see a bird is not so easy, because it is not only rare, but also secretive. He prefers to nest near water bodies, in old forests, foothills, near human settlements they can not be seen.

A couple of black storks create once and for life. They return from the warm edges at the end of March and are immediately accepted for the arrangement of the nest. There have been cases when chicks were hatched in one place for 14 years. This species does not form colonies, but prefers to settle alone, so one pair occupies a large territory. The female lays up to 7 eggs in the nest. Usually among them there are also unfertilized. The pair incubates eggs in turn for a month.

Black stork chicks have a yellow beak and white or gray fluff. In the first days they are absolutely helpless and can not even feed on their own. On their feet they go up in a month or even a half. Nest chicks can leave at the age of just over two months. At the end of summer, gathering with the whole family, the storks fly away to the warm regions, although if there is food, they can remain until the first frost. Sexual maturity of the feathered reach at the age of 3 years.

Black storks feed on frogs, fish, small snakes, lizards, mollusks, large insects. They are able to fly off the nest for long distances (up to 10 km) to hunt in the swamp, damp meadow, shallow waters. The presence of the offspring imposes additional responsibilities on the birds, the female and the male take turns for food for the chicks, feed them 5 times a day. Food is first regurgitated, and then offered to kids. There is a known case when a stork brought into the nest about 50 frogs weighing more than 0.5 kg.

The number of these beautiful birds decreases every year, although the black stork does not have natural enemies. Photo birds are admired and make you think about what you need to do to ensure that these beautiful creatures have not disappeared from the face of the earth. Deforestation, reduction of fodder base negatively affect the number of these birds. This species is listed in the Red Books of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and agreements have been concluded with India, Japan, the DPRK and Korea on the protection of wintering birds.

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