Oriental white stork  (Ciconia boyciana)

Biology

Arrival at the breeding sites occurs in April, when the Oriental white stork begins building a new nest, or repairing an old one (3). The female lays between two and six eggs which are incubated for 32 to 35 days (7). Following hatching in late May and early June, the chicks are fed by both parents until July. The chicks’ survival is largely dependent on the amount of local rainfall, as feeding conditions are improved by heavy rain (3). Feeding takes place in water and the Oriental white stork will take fish, frogs, invertebrates, insects, voles, snakes, and even the chicks of other species (3) (7). In July and August the storks return to the wintering grounds, where they forage in the morning and late afternoon for clams, fish, snails, shrimps, crabs, frogs, snakes, bamboo and other plant material (3) (7).

left