Storks
Storks belong to the order of wading birds (Ciconiiformes) and predominantly inhabit water-rich regions of Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and South America.
Characteristic features of storks
Storks are characterized by a long neck, long legs and a long beak. The plumage is white or black, with the black-feathered part often having a metallic sheen. Another characteristic is the often unfeathered head and neck. Due to their large, broad wings, which can reach a wingspan of over 2.0 meters, storks are very good gliders. The main diet of storks consists of frogs, small mammals and rodents.
Storks are diurnal animals and therefore go hunting during the day. The breeding behavior of storks is characterized by the fact that they breed in colonies of usually many thousands of animals. Storks build their nests high up, usually in trees, and on average hatch 3 to 5 eggs.
Stork populations
In some species, the population is endangered, especially species native to Asia. Some species, such as the white stork in Europe, traditionally have a positive reputation and are less endangered. In Germany, people generally rejoice when a stork builds its nest on the roof of a house, and storks are also the ultimate symbol of the birth of a child.
