Looming at over 4 feet tall, it’s no surprise that people may think this otherworldly bird is nothing but a mechanical prop. His yellow-green eyes and a massive shoe-shaped bill almost give him a cartoonish expression — and as he looks around, his head moves in quick bursts like a robot.
But deep in the tropical swamps of East Africa, you’ll find these shoe-billed storks in their marshy homes, perched at the water’s edge for hours waiting for the right time to snap down on their favorite fish.
Watch the video below :
Besides his gigantic bill, there’s a reason why shoebills are nicknamed “king of the marshes.” Their wings can stretch over 8 feet wide — and they can fly short distances despite being so large.
With their striking features and unwavering patience for food, it’s hard not to be impressed by these giants. They were a beloved species to the ancient Egyptians, even showing up in their artwork.
“They are valuable birds, and the almost complete absence of breeding success in captivity maintains a constant pressure on the wild population for meeting trade demands,” researchers said in a recent conservation plan. “Shoebills are highly sensitive birds, and past exports have involved high mortality during capture, transit and captivity … Only two zoos have been known to produce chicks —two in 2008 and one in 2009. This means that captive populations are not self-sustained, and need to be replenished with wild birds if they are to be maintained.”
But deep in the tropical swamps of East Africa, you’ll find these shoe-billed storks in their marshy homes, perched at the water’s edge for hours waiting for the right time to snap down on their favorite fish.
Watch the video below :
Besides his gigantic bill, there’s a reason why shoebills are nicknamed “king of the marshes.” Their wings can stretch over 8 feet wide — and they can fly short distances despite being so large.
“They are valuable birds, and the almost complete absence of breeding success in captivity maintains a constant pressure on the wild population for meeting trade demands,” researchers said in a recent conservation plan. “Shoebills are highly sensitive birds, and past exports have involved high mortality during capture, transit and captivity … Only two zoos have been known to produce chicks —two in 2008 and one in 2009. This means that captive populations are not self-sustained, and need to be replenished with wild birds if they are to be maintained.”
