White stork

Although this species is not considered vulnerable due to its large range and population size, it is impacted by wetlands habitat loss and excessive use of pesticides.

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Physical features

These large birds have wingspans of nearly six feet or more (70-85 inches), and they are about three to three-and-a-half feet (35-45 inches) in height. Long legs help keep their bodies warm and dry while foraging in wetland environments.
Most of the body is white or off-white. The primary feathers (on their wings) are black, and the legs are red. The long, dagger-like bills are also bright red.
They have long necks which they keep extended in flight.

Range and Habitat

Range – Migratory; primarily resident in Europe and southwestern Asia and migrating to northern and eastern Africa for the winter
Habitat – open areas such as grasslands, shallow marshes, lagoons, and floodplains, especially where there are scattered trees; they often gather near lakes, ponds, pools, slow-flowing streams, or rivers.
In their winter habitat (throughout Africa) they prefer drier areas such as grasslands, steppes, savannas, and even cultivated fields.

Diet: Opportunistic Carnivore

Wild – small mammals (e.g., voles, mice, shrews), large insects (e.g., grasshoppers, crickets, locusts), amphibians, snakes, lizards, fish, eggs and nestlings of ground-nesting birds, and mollusks and crustaceans
They may forage singly, in small groups of 10-50 individuals, or even in large flocks if food is abundant.
Zoo – commercially prepared bird of prey diet, fish (e.g., silversides), rodents, insects (e.g., mealworms, crickets)

Lifespan

Wild – up to 30 years or longer
Zoo – up to 30-35 years; males often live longer than females; median life expectancy in AZA facilities is about 17 years for males and about 13 years for females.

Reproduction

Breeding in the palearctic (a biogeographic region that includes Europe, Asia north of the Himalayas, and Africa north of the Sahara) occurs in February to April. A small population in South Africa breeds from September to November.
They nest either solitarily or in loose flocks of up to about 30 pairs. When nesting in flocks, pairs aggressively defend their nests.
They build nests using sticks and straw on elevated surfaces such as in trees, on cliffs, or on buildings, pylons, or utility poles. They often return to the same nest each year.
Clutches contain three to five eggs, usually four. The incubation period is 31-34 days.
Both parents care for chicks. Chicks fledge at around 2 months old.

Conservation: Least Concern

What’s the issue?

The primary threat to white stork populations is loss and degradation of wetland habitats. Primary causes include drainage of wet meadows, prevention of floods on floodplains, dams, and development.
In their winter habitat (Africa), they may experience high rates of mortality as a result of changes in food availability due to drought, desertification, or the use of pesticides.
Other serious threats include collision with power lines and hunting for food and sport.

How does this affect humans?

The wetlands habitats on which white storks rely are also important to human communities. They provide a source of fresh water and nutritious food, as well as economic opportunities to local communities through fishing and ecotourism.
Wetlands are also important for mitigating the impacts of climate change by acting as a buffer against natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes. They also store significant amounts of carbon, so destroying them contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

What is Zoo Atlanta doing to help?

Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture Team helps protect northeast Georgia mountain bogs, a critically endangered wetland habitat, by assisting the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy in restoration efforts.

What can you do to help?

When shopping for seafood, look for sustainably harvested varieties which have been harvested in a way that doesn’t harm aquatic environments.
Help slow down climate change and its impacts on wetlands by reducing your energy use (including electricity and fuel) and reducing your red meat consumption, which also helps prevent habitat loss.
Help keep litter out of wetlands and other natural environments by avoiding single-use plastic, reusing plastic as much as possible, and properly recycling it when it can no longer be used.

Additional Information

Research methods are limited by the species’ habit of defecating on their legs to regulate body temperature, which eliminates leg-rings as a tracking method. Dry uric acid would buildup on the leg and harden around leg-rings, leading to injury. However, other methods of monitoring movement, such as satellite telemetry or wing-tags, may still be used.

Interpretive Information

They depart Europe in August in large flocks of many thousands of individuals and arrive in Africa in early October. They travel with assistance from thermal updrafts and avoid large bodies of water (such as the Mediterranean Sea).
They are diurnal and roost communally in trees overnight.
These quiet birds rarely vocalize.

References

Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (2020). Species Survival Statistics Table [PDF]. Retrieved December 1, 2020, from https://www.aza.org/species-survival-statistics?locale=en
BirdLife International. (2016). Ciconia ciconia. Retrieved December 1, 2020, from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697691/86248677
Hume, R., Still, R., Swash, A., Harrop, H., & Tipling, D. (2016). Britain’s Birds: An Identification Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. University of North Texas Press.
Miriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2020). Palearctic. Retrieved November 4, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Palearctic
Schneider, T. (2014). Species Fact Sheets: White Stork [PDF]. Retrieved from the Avian Scientific Advisory Group website: http://aviansag.org/Fact_Sheets/Cicag/Cicag.html
Wetlands International. (n.d.). Why Wetlands Matter. Retrieved December 3, 2020, from https://www.wetlands.org/wetlands/why-wetlands-matter/
Zoo Atlanta Animal Care Teams.

Updated December 2020

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