The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large and well-known bird, as it is also depicted on the Slovenian one-cent coin. From the tip of the long beak to the end of the tail it measures 95 to 110 cm, and its wingspan is 180 to 220 cm. Even by its coloration we would hardly confuse it with any other species. The head, long neck, chest, tail, belly, upper back and front of the wings are white, the flight feathers and the tail are black. The vivid contrast of white and black plumage gives it a red beak and red legs. In flight, the stork is recognized by its outstretched neck and long legs that extend far beyond the tail; herons, on the other hand, have a neck shortened during flight.
The white stork is a migratory bird that travels to tropical Africa for wintering in large groups. Flocks can start migrating south as early as August. During migration it uses thermals, therefore it cannot fly over the sea, and its migratory routes when crossing from Europe to Africa are limited. At wintering grounds, where it prefers dry habitats, it is distinctly a nomadic bird that moves to areas rich in food. It returns from its wintering areas early in spring. In our country it normally nests from March to June (solitary or in small colonies), and the pair returns to the same nest year after year. The white stork is not a shy bird and builds its nest from branches near humans. A suitable place for a large nest is found on ridge roofs, on chimneys and on telegraph poles; it also nests in tree canopies and on posts erected specifically for this purpose. During the breeding season it lives in open cultivated landscapes near floodplains or wet meadows and water bodies, lakes or rivers. It avoids overgrown areas, for example dense forests or reed beds. The white stork is a quiet bird that rarely vocalizes, but it loves to clack its bill. It is active during the day, feeding on animal-based foods. It mainly hunts large insects and small mammals, such as various voles, mice and shrews; on its menu are also amphibians, reptiles, fish and young birds that nest on the ground.
The white stork is mainly threatened by habitat change, especially the drying up of wetlands and the regulation of floods by river management. In addition, meadows where it looks for food disappear due to the abandonment of traditional farming practices, such as stopping mowing or grazing. In Africa, where these birds winter, the greatest share of white stork mortalities is attributed to the lack of their food, as the grasshoppers, which white storks feed on there, are increasingly being suppressed by insecticides. In Slovenia, the white stork, as a vulnerable species, is included on the Red List of endangered nesting birds of Slovenia.
