home Business The black stork is an animal of the Darwinian reserve. Black stork in the reserve

The black stork is an animal of the Darwinian reserve. Black stork in the reserve

The black stork is a proud bird of the stork family.

Even during migration or long flights, it stays close to water in order to find food and rest if necessary.

Habitat

Lives throughout Eurasia. Depending on the season, they can be found in certain areas. For example, during the breeding season they move to northern latitudes, and in winter they migrate to southern Asia and Central Africa.

In Russia, the black stork lives quite widely - from Baltic Sea to the Far East. Most of them settle in Primorye.

The largest number of this species is found on the territory of Belarus. Most often they settle in any forests where there are swamps, rivers or streams located far from people.

Appearance

The black stork can reach a meter in height - it is large and beautiful bird. The wingspan is about one and a half meters, the wing length is 54 cm. Bird weight – 3 kg. The legs, neck and beak are long. The beak is sharp, red, the legs are also red.

black stork in the forest photo

The plumage is two-color. The upper part, tail, neck, head and wings are black, shiny, with a subtle greenish and copper tint. And the lower part of the chest, belly and area under the tail are white. On the head, the area around the eyes is red.

Juveniles are distinguished by having a greyish-green area around the eyes and dull rather than shiny plumage.

Lifestyle. Nutrition

They lead a solitary lifestyle, only forming a pair during the nesting period. Storks are cautious and silent birds.

black stork with catch photo

The stork is a carnivore and feeds on frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, eels, small fish, arthropods and rodents.

During the breeding season, the bird requires a large amount of food, especially when the chicks are born and also need food. Therefore, parents can move considerable distances away from the nest if there is nothing edible in the nearby area.

Reproduction

The black stork begins to breed at the age of three. Pairs are created once at the end of March, and then do not change throughout life. Most often they nest in the mountains. To locate the nest, suitable branches of tall trees, sometimes inaccessible, steep cliffs are sought.

In order to build a nest, branches and twigs of different lengths are used, held together with turf and clay. This type of stork can use the same nest for many years, only slightly updating it.

Updating is done by adding new branches and turf, as a result of which the size of the nest can increase significantly. Even during the nesting period, storks settle at decent distances from each other - 6 km from each other.

A clutch can contain up to 6 eggs, but more often there are no more than four. The father and mother incubate the eggs in turns for 36 to 45 days. The chicks are born covered in white down. They are weak and vulnerable. The orange beaks open wide, asking for food.

Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordates

Class: Birds

Squad: Stork-like

Family: Storks

Genus: Storks

View: Black stork

Spreading

It lives in the forest zone of Eurasia, trying to avoid people. In Russia, the black stork inhabits the territory from the Baltic Sea through the Urals along the 60-61 parallel and all of Southern Siberia to the Far East, including Fr. Sakhalin. Not found in the Kuril Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula. A separate population lives in the south of Russia, in the forests of Chechnya, Dagestan, and Stavropol Territory. The largest number of birds in Russia nest in the Primorye region. Winters in southern Asia. There is a sedentary population of black storks in South Africa. The world's largest population of black storks lives in the Zvanets nature reserve, located in Belarus.

Description

Its appearance is similar to a white stork, but is distinguished by the predominance of black color in its plumage. The entire dorsal side, wings, tail, head, neck and chest of this bird are painted black, only the belly and undertail are white. At the same time, in an adult black stork, the feathers on the dorsal side have a greenish and reddish metallic tint. There is a bright red patch of bare skin around the eye; the beak and legs are red. Young birds have a brown head, neck and chest, with pale buffy feather tips. The weight of males is 2.8-3.2 kg, females 2.7-3.0 kg. The body length of males and females is 80-110 cm, the wingspan is 185-210 cm.

Daily activity, behavior

The black stork is a much less social bird than other stork species; it never nests colonially. During the breeding season and wintering grounds it lives alone or in separate pairs; it forms flocks (up to 100 individuals) only during the migration period.

Six main forms of behavior of black stork chicks in the nest have been established: sleeping, examining, cleaning plumage, training wings, eating food, and sound signaling. Adults feed the chicks 3–11 times a day. The number of arrivals of parents with food depends on the age of the chicks and the distance of the nest from the feeding grounds. The greatest feeding activity occurs in the morning (5–11 a.m.) and evening hours(17-21 hours).

Marital behavior has been poorly studied. According to some observers who saw it, it resembles the behavior of a white stork. The difference is that the black stork is more secretive; its mating “dance” takes place in the nest, and at a time when it is difficult to get to the nest. Adult birds, being on the nest and standing one against the other, throw their heads back and constantly crack (click) their beaks. Such actions occur repeatedly, with 10-15 minute breaks, in the moments between active nest construction.

Nutrition

First of all, it has been established and proven that the black stork is a carnivorous species. Bulbs of aquatic plants, as well as meadow rhizomes or seeds are absent from its diet or are present as an admixture in animal feed brought to the nest.

The nature of the feeding stations determines the composition of the black stork’s food throughout the entire study area. The stork feeds along the banks of reservoirs, including on the shallow shores of oxbow lakes, in shallow swamps, puddles, and areas of grassy (bottom) swamps that dry out (and, therefore, become shallow during the summer). Here he selects the most common species of living creatures living in the water.

From the above data it is clear that adult birds also feed on animal food. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that the rarity of nesting and the sporadic distribution of this bird is determined not only by the small number of biotopes suitable for the nest itself, but also by the limited number of places with necessary type abundance of food.

During the migration period, storks spend their days mainly in places similar to nesting biotopes, which allows them to use basically the same food as during the breeding season. However, in more southern areas and on wintering grounds, these birds more often use insects, especially if the latter are found in large numbers in the parking areas, as well as reptiles. During the wintering grounds, the diet of these birds differs little from the diet in their nesting areas. Here, the stork’s food is dominated by small fish, but abundant in hunting areas, and, if it is necessary to stop in drier places, by reptiles, insects, and rodents.

Reproduction

In order to build a nest, branches and twigs of different lengths are used, held together with turf and clay. This type of stork can use the same nest for many years, only slightly updating it.

Updating is done by adding new branches and turf, as a result of which the size of the nest can increase significantly. Even during the nesting period, storks settle at considerable distances from each other - 6 km from each other.

For two months, the parents bring them food while the chicks develop and grow. At this age, they are often threatened by snakes, since they are practically the only one who is able to get to the nest. True, crawling hunters are often killed by their parents, or chicks that are already grown enough to eat the snake. In July, the young are already strong and can fly. At the end of August they fly away for the winter, a week earlier than their parents.

Migrations

Autumn migration goes unnoticed. It begins already in August, almost immediately after the chicks leave the nest. According to tagging data, 2-3 month old chicks from the Baltic countries were caught in August and September in Belarus, Poland, and the West. Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey.

During migration, black storks rarely join flocks of more numerous white storks. There are no materials on tagging of Siberian and Far Eastern black storks. Judging by the observations of ornithologists, storks in the mountainous regions of Central Asia move together with other migrants, sticking to mountain cuts and valleys. It is possible that some birds fly in larger flocks at high altitudes.

Natural enemies

The black stork is almost completely free of species-threatening feathered enemies, but hoodie and some others predator birds capable of stealing eggs from the nest. Chicks that leave the nesting area too early are sometimes killed by four-legged predators, including fox and wolf, badger and raccoon dog, and marten. Such a rare bird is also exterminated quite en masse by hunters.

Economic importance, protection

Practical meaning in the usual sense of this concept, i.e. in the human economy, the black stork does not have. On the other hand, this species has exceptional aesthetic appeal. The meeting of a lonely black stork on the shore of a forest pond or in a clearing near a nest cannot leave a nature lover indifferent; it is remembered for a long time, for many years, and then stored in his memory.

A factor that negatively affects the population of the species is the destruction of habitats (deforestation, fires, reclamation work) and the ecology of the species (caution). There are known cases of birds being shot by poachers.

The black stork is listed in the Red Book Russian Federation(2001), in most of the Red Data Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and states that were formerly part of the USSR. The main form of protection of the species should be considered the conservation of its nesting sites. It should be noted that many black storks, especially in the first autumn of life, are shot by hunters. This negative factor can be reduced by improving the culture of hunting, and possibly also by prohibiting hunting in places where these birds constantly stop on their autumn migration. The latter will require ornithologists to intensify targeted research into the autumn migration of storks.

Class - Birds / Subclass - New palates / Superorder - Cioriformes

History of the study

The black stork (lat. Ciconia nigra) is a bird from the Stork family. Listed in the Red Book of Russia and the Red Book of Belarus.

Spreading

This stork is widespread. It breeds in the south of the Iberian Peninsula and then from Germany and the Balkan Peninsula east to the shores of the Sea of Japan and Sakhalin. In the south it is found up to the shores of the Persian Gulf. Black storks winter in Africa, sub-Saharan Africa (however, relatively few birds cross the equator), as well as in the Ganges basin and southeast China. The black stork is a forest bird. Required condition for its nesting is a combination of old forests or at least groups of old trees with hard-to-reach swamps of various types, open banks of rivers and lakes. In most of its range, the black stork nests in sparsely populated areas that are difficult for humans to access.

Appearance

Large bird(wingspan more than one and a half meters). The color is contrasting: the top is black with a greenish tint, the belly is white. The beak, legs and eye ring are red. Young birds have a black beak and greenish legs. There is no sexual dimorphism in coloration.

Reproduction

The black stork is a monogamous bird and begins to breed at three years of age. It nests once a year at a height of 10-20 m in the crown of old, tall trees or on rock ledges in places far from human habitation, in forest thickets. Sometimes black stork nests are found in the mountains - at an altitude of up to 2200 meters above sea level. The nest is built from thick branches and tree branches, fastened together with turf, earth and clay. Like white storks, black storks have the same nest that can serve several generations of birds for many years. Storks arrive at their nesting sites in late March - early April. The male invites the female to the nest by fluffing his white undertail and emitting a hoarse whistle. The clutch, which is incubated by both parents, contains from 4 to 7 eggs. Incubation lasts about 30 days. Since incubation begins with the first egg laid, the chicks do not appear at the same time. The hatched chicks are white or grayish in color with an orange beak at the base. The tip of the beak is greenish-yellow. For about 10 days, the black stork chicks just lie in the nest, then they begin to sit. At the age of 35-40 days they stand on their feet. In total, the chicks sit in the nest for 55-65 days. Parents feed the chicks about 4-5 times a day, regurgitating food.

Lifestyle

The lifestyle of the black stork has been poorly studied. This secretive bird prefers to settle in dense, old forests on plains and foothills near bodies of water - forest lakes, rivers, swamps. In flight, the black stork, like other storks, often soars with its wings spread out. Like all storks, the black stork flies with its neck stretched forward and its long thin legs thrown back.

Nutrition

Black storks feed on animal food. These can be fish (even up to 25 cm in size), frogs, various aquatic insects, and occasionally reptiles. Sometimes aquatic plants can be found in the stomachs of these storks. The feeding areas of this bird are large. Storks often fly to feed at distances of up to 5 km from the nest; there are cases when they had to fly even 10 km. Parents feed their chicks 4-5 times a day, less often in rainy weather.

Number

The black stork is one of the rarest birds in the world. Despite their wide habitat, the number of these birds continues to remain very low.

Black stork and man

There have been attempts in zoos to crossbreed black and white storks. There are often cases when a male black stork, being in the same enclosure with a female white stork, begins to court her. However, it is impossible for these two species to breed hybrid chicks due to the strong differences in mating rituals.

A stork is a bird that belongs to the subclass Neopalatinae, order Cioriformes, family Storkidae, genus Stork (Ciconia). This article describes this genus.

There are other genera of birds in the stork family, but they will be discussed in separate articles:

Beaked storks (Mycteria);
Open-mouthed storks (Anastomus);
Saddle-billed Jabiru (Ephippiorhynchus);
Jabiru;
Marabou (Leptoptilos).

Where does the word "stork" come from?

The origin of the word “stork” has not been established for certain, so there are many versions of its origin. Consonant words are found in ancient Sanskrit, Old Russian, German, and Slavic languages. The most plausible version is the transformation of the German word “Heister”, which in some areas of Germany is the name of a magpie. Probably the word was transformed into “gaister”, and then into “stork”. It is difficult to find an analogy between the magpie and the stork; the only similarity between them is the color of the plumage. It can be assumed that this is the basis for the name of the stork. In different regions of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, there are different local names for this bird: busel, butol, busko, batan, blackguz, leleka, toad-eater, gister, botsun and others. In addition, the stork is called by human names: Ivan, Gritsko, Vasil, Yasha.

All names of the bird indicate its habitat: Far East(Amur region, Primorye, Ussuri region), northern China. In addition, this species is found in Japan and Korea. Basically, black-billed storks winter in southern China, on the island of Taiwan and in the Hong Kong region. Some flocks migrate for the winter to North Korea, South Korea, Japan, sometimes reaching the Philippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh and the northeastern regions of India. In Japan, birds live in both summer and winter, without flying south during the cold season. The black-billed stork does not settle near humans, preferring to nest in tall trees in forests. Nests can be located both high and on the lower branches. They are so heavy that sometimes the branches cannot bear the weight and break off, causing the nests to fall to the ground. There are 3-5 eggs in a clutch.

The Far Eastern stork is a rare species protected in Russia, Japan and China. It is listed in the Red Book of Russia, China and Korea, as well as in the International Red Book. There are no more than 3,000 individuals in nature.

Ciconia nigra(L.,1758)

Order Leaf-shaped - Ciconiiformes Family Stork - Ciconiidae

Short description. A large bird with the characteristic appearance of a stork. The plumage is mostly black with metallic green and copper-red tints. The ventral side of the body is white, which is especially noticeable during flight. The beak, legs, upper part of the throat, frenulum and ring around the eyes are red in adult birds, and brownish-green in juveniles. Silent bird. Adults sometimes crack their beaks quietly, often striking the lower jaw against the upper jaw. It can make quiet sounds like “che-li” or “chi-ling”; young storks squeak. Often hovers high above the forest.

Habitats and biology. Breeds in a variety of conditions. A combination of old forests, individual trees or rocks with swamps, open banks of rivers and lakes is a must. At the same time, it inhabits both lowlands and mountains. It makes nests on old trees or in niches in rocks of high conglomerate cliffs. The nests are used for several years and are repaired and completed annually. Sometimes there can be up to 2-3 nests in one area. There are 3-5 greenish eggs in the clutch. Incubation lasts 32-38 days. After flying, the young birds stay in the vicinity of the nest for some time. A very cautious look. Arrival in mid-April, departure in late August - September.

Spreading. It is found in the forest zone and in the mountains of Northern Eurasia. In Russia it lives in forests from the western border to Primorye. In the Irkutsk region it is found everywhere, with the exception of open steppe areas and agrocenoses, and is also absent in the highlands. Nesting was established in the 70s. last century on the territory of the Osinsky district in the upper reaches of the river. Obus and in 2002 in the valley of the river. Idyga in Ekhirit-Bulagat district. IN summer time in the 1970-80s was repeatedly observed on the Onotskaya Upland in the vicinity of the village. Krasny Yar and between the Kuda and Ilga rivers. In May - June 1979, a pair of storks constantly stayed in the vicinity of the village. Bathai Ekhirit-Bulagat district, where the nest was later found. On August 28, 1982, a young bird was encountered on the coast of the Bratsk Reservoir in the vicinity of the village. Melkhituy, and during nesting time was recorded in the Zhigalovsky district in the valley of the river. Lena and the middle course of the river. China, In summer, found on the Olkha Plateau, in the southern part of the Primorsky Range. and in the vicinity of the village. Lower Poima in Taishetsky district. Common on the territory of the Baikal-Lena Nature Reserve and in the valley of the river. Kirenga, including in the vicinity of Kirensk. A rare breeding species of the Patom Highlands, possibly nesting in the Vitimsky Nature Reserve. Breeds in Chaysky and Zulumaisky nature reserves. It is not rare in the Katanga region. Found during breeding time and on migration in the Angarsk region. It is listed as a rare breeding species for the river basin. Goloustnaya. In summer, it is regularly found on the coast of the Irkutsk Reservoir. During spring and autumn migration, black storks are found everywhere, most often along Lake Baikal. Pre-migration concentrations of this species, numbering over a hundred individuals, have been noted in the Alar and Cheremkhovo regions.

Number. The number on the territory of the Irkutsk region, according to rough estimates, is several hundred pairs. In the river valley Kirenga breeds at least 20 pairs; in the upper reaches of the Lena there are about 20-25 pairs.

Limiting factors. Not found in the region. Most likely, the destruction of habitats (deforestation, fires, reclamation work) and the disturbance factor coupled with the ecological characteristics of the species (caution) have a negative impact. There are known cases of birds being shot by poachers.

Security measures taken and required. The black stork is included in the Red Books of the Russian Federation, Irkutsk and Chita regions and the Republic of Buryatia, in CITES - II, RK, RY and RI. In the Irkutsk region it is protected in the Baikal-Lena and Vitimsky reserves and in the Pribaikalsky National Park. On the territory of the Irkutsk region, it is necessary to identify habitats and create rest zones around nests for the nesting period, prohibit the cutting down of trees with nests and promote propaganda among local population about the need to protect the species.

Sources of information: 1 - Bogorodsky, 1989; 2 1 Bogorodsky, 1998; 3 - Karataev, 2009; 4 - Lipin et al., 1984; 5 - Litvinov, Gagina, 1977; b - Maleev, Popov, 2007; 71 Popov, 1984; 8 - Popov, 1993a; 9 - Popov, 20026; 10 - Popov, 2003d; 11 - Popov, 20096; 12 - Popov et al. 1999; 131 Popov, Salovarov, 2000; 14 - Popov et al. 2001; 15 - Popov et al. 2009; 16 - Prelovsky, 2010; 17 - Prelovsky et al., 2010; 18 - Pyzhyanov, 2007; 19 - Pyzhyanov et al. 2010; 20 - Tkachenko, 1937; 21 - data from Yu.A. Durneva; 22 - data from P.I. Zhovtyuk; 23 - data from S.V. Pretty.; 24 - data from the compilers.

Compilers; V.V. Popov, S.V. Pyzhyanov.

Artist: D. V. Gumpylova.