Gliding Through Thermals
Woolly-necked Storks world of flight #featheredfriday with @melinda010100
On the ground the woolly-necked stork is graceful with long ballerina legs, standing approximately 85 cm tall.
On the beach
Grand beak for prodding the river bed eating predominantly meat, carnivorous in diet of fish, frogs, snakes you guessed right it forages for tasty morsels that move.
Toti River Bank
We do see them visiting between the homes where we live, I think it has to do with the flying ants coming out from termite hills, grand feast popping up for the birds. Perhaps lizards or gecko would attract them into the gardens.
Gardening
Woolly-necked Stork ( Ciconia episcopus, family: Ciconiidae), we are privileged to have this magnificent (and near-endangered in South Africa) bird visiting, we do see them regularly on the rivers where most of my photography has been taken, we spotted them on beaches and up between suburban homes.
Testing the water
Good eating grounds, recruit the whole family in
Amazingly these elegant big birds live up to 20 years, with one partner sharing in nest building, roosting twenty meters above ground big trees will attract them.
Such a pity people move into a home then remove well established trees without a thought about damage they may cause to other inhabitants on earth.
Not sure if flying together or being chased, Harrier Hawk and Woolly-necked stork, the race is on!
Once airborne, flying with it's neck outstretched, legs neatly wrapped behind gracefully utilizing hot thermals of air to keep them up high for longer not needing to expend more energy than is required, keep gliding.
Enjoying a day playing in the clouds
Thinking back these birds have only appeared more locally over the last twenty years, they are not inclined to migrate, with numbers now growing year on year.
Video on YouTube - Gliding Through Thermals - Woolly-necked Stork - Taken from my garden.
Large trees on river banks offer ideal housing opportunities where they are able to return during breeding season, do a little rearranging and use the same nest again.
Grey Heron and Woolly-necked Stork - 1 Legged standing competition, chilling out together on the beach
So glad to share this regular big bird both on the ground and in flight, now permanent residents in our region, witnessing riding thermals I have not seen happen too often, sheer joy on the right day had them up high in the sky.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend in nature.
Thanks to @melinda010100 hosting #featheredfriday
Thought for Today: A severely under paid hungry teacher in a renovated, well-equipped classroom, can perform just as well as a bird without feathers can do in a hanging, decorated cage. ~ African Proverb.
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Nice series, you know I am a fan of wildlife. If you use simple photography or photo tags, I will be able to give you better curation next time, thanks to the new photo token stake. Better than my steem vote atm.
All wildlife fan here @manoldonchev thanks for visiting and appreciation, have a wonderful day.
What a beautiful feathered Friday @joanstewart! Interesting facts and lovely photography.
Amazed at how the numbers are growing with this bird settling in along the coast now @lizelle
What a beautiful bird! How wonderful that you get to see and photograph this endangered stork. Although we do have herons and cranes, we do not have any storks in my part of the world and it is a privilege to see your photos.
Thanks for posting to #featheredfriday.
Fortunately along our rivers down here at the coast people have not built houses along the edge of rivers, trees are well established giving the space to settle, thanks for visiting @melinda010100
Such a grand bird, what a priveledge to witness this. I am always amazed when these huge birds take flight, marvel that they are able to fly the way they do. Lovely photos @joanstewart :) We were out bike riding one day when a Great Egret flew over our heads with a 5 ft snake dangling from it's beak....unbelieveable, a moment I'll never forget, lol
Normally these wonderful sights happen so quickly, it is something you never forget. What a lovely breakfast for the Egret @birdsinparadise enjoy your cycling day out.
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Very nice captures Joan. That is one huge bird.
Noticeably more in the area and lovely to watch when in flight Wanda.
Always lovely to see the wildlife in your part of the world! I can watch birds like that for hours. It is such a shame that we are taking over so many natural habitats and endangering many of these species. I had no idea they could live up to 20 years, too! Another new fact to add to my mental trivia. Have a lovely weekend Joan!
Watching them play on thermals was entertaining, the speed from one to another must be pretty fast @plantstoplanks
Never seen one before except in the movie, they look like a flamingo in black and white.
We have flamingo on far northern rivers up our coastline, in flight they do look similar @joelai
That's wonderful, no wonder they look similar.
Beautiful bird. They remind me of the Great Blue Heron except for the color.
Always lovely to see the big birds @redheadpei thanks for visiting.
Those are some beauties! In parts of the video where they're riding the thermals, they remind me of the Blue Angels and a great song.
Watching them swirling around above is like music, wish we could feel that exhilarating feeling @free-reign
Yes... people are so careless... I enjoyed reading this post. As usual. 😊
Thanks for visiting, yes people don't appear to think before removing trees where a whole ecosystem has formed @starjewel
Wow! Some great shots here Lady Joan.
It seems lately that the Harrier's are appearing all over the place.
Some good descriptions here.
Blessings!
We normally see more of the yellow billed kite, hawks every now and again, always great to see these great big storks that have made this area a permanent home.
Awesome shots and videos of them, they are beautiful on the ground but so majestic in the air
These thermals held them in a flight path right overhead and not too high, sometimes they are merely specks up against the sky.
Thats great they were at a good height for photos :)
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Wow, amazing they can live for 20 years...
That is quite a good innings for birds.
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Woolly-necked Stork never seen one what a beautiful and aerodynamic looking bird i love the color tone 😀
For such a long legged bird they are graceful in flight.
Ohhhh...most definitely like a real glider 😀
Oh! Long sexy legs! :D
They are awesome :)
What a beautiful bird, it is definitely masterful!!!!
What a feeling to touch the clouds :)
Beautiful shots you captured.. wonderful surroundings where the storks feel safe :)
Thanks for visiting and comment @dianadee have a wonderful weekend
Same to you @joanstewart..rest and relax :)