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Where is the beauty contest
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This marabou was standing so alone and it was looking if it lost something.
Ref: Wikipedia free encylopedia
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips.
It is a huge bird, 150cm in length, and its 3.2 m (10.5 ft) wingspan means that it shares the distinction of having the largest wingspan of any landbird with the Andean Condor. Unlike most storks, the three Leptoptilos species fly with the neck retracted like a heron.
The Marabou is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, black back, and white underparts. It has a huge bill, a pink gular sack at its throat, a neck ruff, and black legs and wings. The sexes are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill. Full maturity is not reached for up to four years.
Like most storks, the Marabou is gregarious and a colonial breeder. In the African dry season (when food is more readily available as the pools shrink) it builds a tree nest in which two or three eggs are laid.
It also resembles other storks in that it is not very vocal, but indulges in bill-rattling courtship displays. The throat sack is also used to make various noises at that time.
The Marabou Stork is a frequent scavenger, and the naked head and neck are adaptations to this, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feeds. In both cases, a feathered head would become rapidly clotted with blood and other substances when the bird's head was inside a large corpse, and the bare head is easier to keep clean.
This large and powerful bird will also feed on small mammals, reptiles, and similar prey. |
Janice, jossim has marked this note useful
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| Thread | Thread Starter |
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| To maguero: Thanks | viv |
1 |
03-20 07:11 |
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- Janice
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3410 W: 144 N: 5798]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(17183) - [2006-03-19 16:56]
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Hi Vivian, this fellow looks so funny. I know I would have taken his photo too if I had seen him. Good shot, he looks quite a character, and I can see the light in his eye as he is looking at you.
Good capture, thank you, I enjoy him very much,
Janice .
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- jossim
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(11868) - [2006-03-19 21:07]
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Bonsoir Vivian,
Cet oiseau est vraiment impressionnant et énorme. Merci pour l'envoie et merci pour la note.
Félicitations!
joseph
great capture...
I guess it is just as well that he/she didn't find the beauty contest. It really is an interesting looking bird and you got a great pose. TFS
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- manyee
(19602)
- [2006-03-20 3:11]
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Hahaha.... Funny title, Vivian.
Good shot of this marabou. What a strange looking bird with its undersized head and that huge beak. You caught him in an interesting POV. Good details and light. TFS. : )
![Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 5 W: 14 N: 18]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-s-s.gif){kind=small}