Sep 24
by Admin in Bangalore, Karnataka 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bird, birds, Dandeli, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, Painted stork, stork

Painted stork and the water droplets, Bangalore

  The painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a large wader in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers of the adults give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. As they wade along they also stir the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They nest colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds. The only sounds they produce are weak moans or bill clattering at the nest. They are not migratory and only make short distance movements in some parts of their range in response to changes in weather or food availability or for breeding. Like other storks, they are often seen soaring on thermals. This large stork has a heavy yellow beak with a down-curved tip that gives it a resemblance to an ibis. The head of the adult is bare and orange or reddish in […]
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Sep 24
by Admin in Bangalore 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Nikon, Nikon D750, Painted stork, stork, swallow, Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD

Fishing Painted Storks

A little water attracts so much activity, this is another case of the presence of water attracting a large number of storks and herons. This image portrays the typical behavior of the painted storks. These birds with their long bill dipped into the shallow water keep moving it sideways while keeping it submerged and at the same time walk slowly in the water too. As the prey moves, the stork feels it through the sense of touch they do a quick snatch to make a meal of it. In this image one stork has a frog for the meal and the other two are continuing their fishing. These storks are classified as Near Threatened as per IUCN.
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