5 |
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Black-necked StorkSize: 1.1-1.3 m; wing span 1.9-2.2 m |
Hunting technique
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MALE |
Here a sequence of photos showing a male Black-necked Stork observed by us hunting fish in shallow water.
Adult male Black-necked Stork moving in to go hunting
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
It did not take the bird even 30 seconds to get moving; it
was clear after seconds that it was not worried about the
observer with a camera, but moved around at ease
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
It started flapping its wings to intimidate fish in the
shallow water
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
This can look like a ballet dance at times
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
See how big I am?!
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
Then it stood ramrod-straight, fixing with its eyes one
particular location in the water...
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
...followed by one jab...
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
...and here we go...
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
Gotcha!
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2009]
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FEMALE |
The following sequence of photos was kindly contributed by B. Kinross. It shows a female Black-necked Stork that has developed a taste for eel.
Adult female Black-necked Stork (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, January 2016]
An eel is a slippery customer (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, January 2016]
It takes a bit of turning and manipulating... (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, January 2016]
... to finally have it in the right position... (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, January 2016]
... to go in head first (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, January 2016]
