Bird Drama: A Black Stork Has Been Trying to Find Company Among White Storks for 6 Years
A black stork flies to the agro-town Sekerychy of Kletsk district every year and has already become dear to the residents, but for him, such a choice means loneliness. The story of the stork was told by biologist Siarhiej Šakała to Smartpress.by.
Sekerychy black stork. Photo by Siarhiej Šakała / Smartpress.by
The biologist has been observing this black stork for six years. The arrival of the Red Book (endangered) bird on the outskirts of the settlement was surprising, because, unlike white storks, black storks usually avoid humans and settle in impenetrable forest thickets on tall trees.
White storks have long settled on the outskirts of the town.
«Why he strives so much towards them is unclear, — says Siarhiej Šakała. — Perhaps he somehow grew up among white storks and considers them his family.»
The bird appears in Sekerychy every spring, occupies a 'guard' pole across the road from the stork's nest, observes its white relatives, and unsuccessfully tries to get closer to them.
«He has never built a nest in the village; he just sits on a pole, on the roofs of nearby houses, or flies to the water tower, — the biologist says. — Of course, not constantly: he flies to feed in the surrounding fields and reservoirs. He has been seen several times near the nest of other storks in a neighboring village.»
Friendship between the related species has not yet happened. The white storks rather tolerate the 'black clingy one,' and during the breeding season, they completely drive him away from the nest.
Last year, according to his habit, the black 'outcast' flew to Sekerychy again in spring. However, he did not appear there often in summer.
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