Stork - Black-headed Gull

The subsequent images were taken at the National Park Neusiedlersee Seewinkel which is located in the south eastern corner of Austria / Burgenland.

The page deals with White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), and Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus).

Every year both species arrive here for breeding purpose.

Most photos of this page were taken in April and May 2003.

Storks are hunting frogs, mouse, reptiles but also fish and small birds. And of course insects. For feeding the cubs, Storks choke the pray on the nest ground.

Before take off the Stork makes some jumps and then starts in wind direction. Rarely one may see a Stork swimming or starting from the water. Old birds are dumb, but they often clatter with their bills, using a lot of different tones and patterns.

Storks prefer meadow grounds with water places and groups of trees. They don't like reed, when it's taking them the open round view. Storks are in their breeding habitat from March till end of August. Then they leave southwards.

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Gulls are very adaptable birds. Also the Black-headed Gull which is presented here, belongs to that species.

The Gulls extended their breeding habitats far to the north within the recent centuries, though in some areas Gull eggs are collected for human nutrition purpose.

In case of getting lost of their brood, Gulls are able to repeat breeding. They breed in colonies at lake shore vegetation, at shorelines and at islands. Black headed Gulls also form breeding communities with other gulls.
 

White Storks are large and impressive birds. The body length is about 100 cm and the wing span is up to 220 cm. When flying, the neck is directed a bit downwards.

Click on preview thumbnails for enlarged presentation!

  
  Storks prefer meadow grounds with water places and groups of trees. They don't like reed, in case it takes them an open round view.  
  Before take off the Stork makes some jumps and then starts in wind direction. Rarely one may see a Stork swimming or starting from the water. Before landing, they fly some turns around the foreseen landing point. This stork crosses a wine yard for prey detection. (top of page)  
  Storks build their nests on chimneys or on trees. Every year they return to their old nest. Due to maintenance works it may reach heights up to 1,5 meters. With regard to the mud marks on the bill, this Stork has poked in a loam pit short time ago.  
  The Stork's walk looks dignified. But they also are able to run when hunting for prey. Older birds have significant throat feathers, like visible on this shot.  
  When resting, Storks just use one leg for standing. Then they hold the head between the shoulders and put the long bill on the throat feathers, which are supported by air bags below the skin. Storks up to an age of 20 years still breed. (top of page)  
  First breeding at an age of 5 years. Brood duration 34 days, cubs start flying after 2 month. Both parents brood, watch and feed the chickens. Storks detect their prey optically and seriously inspect their hunting grounds.  
  Black-headed Gulls are convivial and noisy birds. In summer Black-headed Gulls look like shown on the images. In its third summer, the Gull for the first time exhibits the black brown head mask. During winter time, they show white heads with grey brown ear spots.  
  Black-headed Gulls have a body length of about 36 cm and a wing span of 100 cm. Like the head mask also the red color of bill and legs is the first time visible in the third year, before grey brown. Black-headed Gulls are mainly carnivorous birds with variable nutrition sources. (top of page)  
  A lot of details are visible on this shot. I did not recognise, for which reason the Gull was sitting directly at the lake shore without any movement. Maybe a small cub was hided under the left wing and protected from some dog?  
  Navi: Bird select, Pages: Ruff, Avocet - Black-winged Stilt, Coastal Birds, Great White Egret
Lapwing - Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank - Little-ringed Plover
 
Last Update: August 2005 - send me an email
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