BLACK STORK

The Black Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of central and eastern regions in Kazakhstan. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in part or small flocks. The Black Stork feeds on amphibians and insects.

The Black Stork is a large bird, 95 to 100 cm in length, and weighing around 3 kilograms. Like all storks, it has long legs, a long neck, and a long, straight, pointed beak. The plumage is all black. The breast feathers are long and shaggy. The bare skin around its eyes is red, as are its bill and legs. It walks slowly on the ground. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.

The Black Stork builds a stick nest high in trees. Black Stork parents have been known to kill one of their young, generally the smallest, in times of food shortage. Stork nestlings do not attack each other, and their parents’ method of feeding them means that stronger chickens cannot outcompete weaker ones for food directly, since parental infanticide is an efficient way of reducing blood size.

Vocabulary:

Ø Answer the questions:

1. Where can you see the Black Stork in Kazakhstan?

2. What does the Black Stork feed?

3. What does it look like?

4. Where does the Black Stork build its nest?

5. What is the Black Stork’s method of feeding its nestlings?

Ø Finish the sentences:

1. The Black Stork is a large …

2. This is a shy and wary species …

3. The bare skin around its eyes …

4. Black Stork parents have been known to kill one …

5. Stork nestlings do not attack each other …

Ø True or False:

1. The Black Stock is a small wading bird in the stork family.

2. It breeds in the colder parts of central and eastern regions in Kazakhstan.

3. The Black Stork feeds on amphibians and insects.

4. The Black Stork builds a stick nest high in trees.

5. Black Stork parents have not been known to kill one of their young, the smallest nestling.

Date: 2015-01-12; view: 1107