Marabou Stork

One of these was spotted on Fairview a couple of times recently, it’s a very rare sighting, so we were excited. When you think of iconic African wildlife, you might picture black and white striped Zebra, towering giraffe or maybe even the big 5. The Marabou stork may not be as beautiful as these animals, in fact it is labelled as one of the “ugly five”, along with hyena, vultures, warthogs and wildebeest. Marabou’s are also often referred to as the “undertaker bird”. Regardless, it is a fascinating creature. They are the largest species of stork, standing up to five feet tall with a wingspan of up to 10 feet. They have bald, wrinkled heads and are bare and dull with long black legs. They have a black back and white underparts. Marabou’s tends to breed on treetops where they build large nests. They interact with humans and like to be near human settlements. They are colonial breeders, usually 2-3 eggs are laid during the dry season. Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Kenya to South Africa, they’re often seen around rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water where they can scavenge for food. They are known for scavenging and will eat just about anything, from carrion and fish to insects and even small mammals, also feeding on carcasses with vultures and hyenas and have been known to even snatch baby crocodiles from their nests. As scavengers, they help to keep the environment clean by eating dead animals and other waste. Without them, there would be a lot more decaying matter in the environment, which can lead to disease and other problems. So, whilst they might not be as beautiful as some of our other wildlife, they are just as important for the health of Africa’s ecosystems.