Sunday, February 02, 2014

Marabou Stork - Only a Mother Could Love One!

Marabou Stork Leptopilos crumenifer
Lakes Ziway and Awassa, Ethiopia
12 January 2014

    Marabou Stork is a strange and fearsome-looking creature indeed. It looks as though it was put together by someone with a malevolent streak. Neither its appearance, nor its behaviour, do much to endear it to humans, but it fills its niche in nature with finessse and expertise, and being pleasing to our eyes is hardly part of its role. Where it surpasses all of our expectations is when it takes to the air revealing itself to be a graceful and consummate flier.

Male and female

Female

With Africa Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus

Waiting for fish scraps

Ever the Opportunist

David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

3 comments:

  1. That is one ugly bird!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. They may look or scary but are very special birds. Looks like they just walk there through the city!

    ReplyDelete
  3. They are totally fearless, Helma. They will stand right next to you.

    ReplyDelete

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