We are back with another scientific article on an interesting bird. Give it a read and keep appreciating us.
Written by: Tasnim Zaman Disha.
The Shoebill Stork
Abstract: The shoebill is also known as a whale-headed stork or shoe-billed stork is a very rare large stork-like bird. It derives Its name from Its enormous shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. Higher classification: Balaeniceps Family: Balaenicipitidae Scientific name: Balaeniceps rex Kingdom: Animalia Order: Pelecaniformes Class: Aves Weight: 4.5 - 6.5 kg Height: 120-130 cm(4-4.3ft) Lifespan: 35 years
Diet: Shoebill is carnivorous birds and primarily Feed on fish and other aquatic creatures. Their favorite food is lungfish and they also frequently feed on Senegal bichir, tilapia, catfish, frogs, and Nile monitors.
Reproduction: Shoebill reaches maturity at three to four years old and breeding pairs and monogamous. These birds are very solitary though and even mating pairs will feed at opposite sides of their territory. Breeding pairs build nests on floating vegetation and can be up to eight feet wide.
Range: The Shoebill breeding and resident range is currently estimated to be 1,470,000km^2 and includes Burundi, Central African Republic, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Predators and threats: Crocodiles and humans are the main predators of adult shoebills. Humans affect the population of shoebills through oil and gas drilling in their habitat, hunting, building dams that affect their waterways, introducing other species which compete with them, polluting water sources, and also get caught in the crossfire of civil unrest.
In conclusion: The shoebill stork is a rare bird to sight, forcing birders to move further deep into wetlands where they can easily be spotted. Visitors interested in seeing the Shoebill stork should book a briding safari to Uganda where they will have higher chances of spotting this beautiful bird species.
