27.05.2005

White legged Storks appear

At this time storks with white legs are frequently seen. Are we dealing with a new kind? No, not to worry. Many of our white storks, otherwise with gleaming red legs on the go, now "dye" their legs white. Initiators are the high outside temperatures. When they climb above 85°F (30°C), the storks chalk their legs with their own excrement. With this thermo-regulation they protect their legs against overheating. Because birds do not have sweat glands, they hackle with their opened beaks to cool themselves off. Where chicks have already hatched, the parent storks bring water to the young ones and shade them with their spread out wings.

Winfried Boehmer
NABU-Project Leader

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