Shoebill Stork
About the Shoebill Stork
The shoebill stork, also known as the whale head, is a long-legged, huge stork-like bird named after its large shoe-shaped bill. Shoebills are one of the top five most sought-after birds in Africa, and because they resemble storks, they have been categorized as Ciconiiformes according to their morphology. However, because adult shoebills are always grey and their young are usually brown, genetic evidence places them in the Pelecaniformes. These birds are restricted to Tropical East Africa, particularly around huge freshwater wetlands.
The shoebill is a sluggish bird that does not fly more than 500 meters depending on the individual. Their flying distance fluctuates from 100m-500m due to their huge size, and their flapping pace is roughly 150 flaps per minute. As it flies, its neck retracts, which means it is retracted.
This bird can be distinguished from other birds by its distinctive features, such as its feathers being medium blue-grey and its tail being the same color as its wings. When it flies, its legs extend straight back far past its tail, and when viewed from a distance, especially while in its habitat, its size and wingspan distinguish it from other birds.
Because they tend to stand and stay motionless for lengthy periods, shoebill stork birds are referred to as statue-like bird species. They typically do not enjoy human disturbances, therefore if they are disturbed, they may leave their nests and seek residence elsewhere. However, while they are looking for food in a tall grass region, they appear to be less afraid of people in case they come along.
These birds are constantly drawn to fresh marsh waters that are depleted of oxygen and where fish regularly surface to breathe, offering the birds the best opportunity to grab them. Despite their size, they frequently stand and rest on floating foliage, where they always seem to be a Giant Jacana.
Facts About Shoebills
Their reproduction;
The shoebill stork’s solitary habitat extends to their breeding. A pair of shoebills breed in an area of roughly 2-4 square kilometers distant from other shoebills. Unlike pelicans, storks, herons, and other birds, shoebills do not nest in colonies. nesting begins shortly after the conclusion of the rainy season in the northern and southern areas, but in most central locations, the shoebill stork birds begin nesting at the end of a wet season so that they can hatch at the beginning of the following wet season. These birds make their nests on floating platforms composed of aquatic plants, and both male and female shoebills participate in this activity.
The nests are always roughly 1 to 1.7 meters broad and made of aquatic vegetation. A shoebill stork bird lays one to three eggs weighing around 164 g and incubates their eggs for nearly 30 days; however, they seldom rear more than one young. Both male and female shoebills carefully defend their nestlings, albeit the female is more protective, and they feed their young ones by bringing back their ingested food directly from the gullet and placing it in the bills of their young ones. Young shoebill storks grow feathers large enough for flight after around 105 days, although they can fly successfully by 112 days.
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The sound of a shoebill stork
Though these birds are always silent, they make incredible machine-gun noises. During the nesting season, adult shoebills perform bill-cluttering displays at their nests as a means of communication with their young; during this process, the adult shoebills produce a high-pitched whining sound and a cow-like moo. When hungry chicks make begging cries for food, they create sounds similar to human hiccups, and when a “marabou stork” is around, the flying shoebill adult has been observed making horse croaks as an indication of conflict.
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Size of the shoebill stork
The shoebill birds are tall, ranging in height from 110cm to 140cm, with some reaching a height of 152cm. Their tail length ranges from 100 to 140cm, while their wingspans are always between 230 and 260cm. Their weight ranges from 4 to 7 kilograms; males are always heavier than females, with an average weight of roughly 5.6 kilograms and females 4.9 kilos. The top ridge of this bird’s beak measures around 18.8-24cm in length, and it is a massive bulbous straw-colored feature with irregular greyish streaks. The sharp edges on these birds’ mandibles allow them to behead their food as well as remove any foliage once they have captured it. The upper mandible is deeply keeled and finishes with a sharp edge. The shoebills have very enormous feet, with a middle toe measuring around 16.8-18.5cm, allowing them to stand on water plants. They have large wings with wing chord lengths ranging from 58.8 to 78cm, and their necks are shorter and thicker than those of other long-legged wading birds such as herons.
Feeding of the shoebill stork
Shoebills eat fish such as tilapia, lungfish, catfish, and other forms of tiny fish. tiny prey items include frogs, infant crocodiles, snakes, turtles, snails, rodents, tiny waterfowls, and Nile monitor lizards. In most situations, shoebills eat in murky waters, stalking their prey while they wait to ambush it; unlike other huge waders, they walk slowly and remain constantly immobile. They mainly hunt using eyesight, and when they discover prey, they hit it fiercely, and depending on the size of the prey, it may take more than 10 minutes for it to be handled correctly in its bill. The hippopotamus’s submerging action, on the other hand, benefits the shoebills by forcing fish to the water’s surface.
Where to see Shoebill Stork in Uganda
Makanaga Swamp Bay
Visitors interested in a Ugandan birding safari could go to Makanaga Swamp Bay, one of the best Shoebill spots in Uganda, where they may see the shoebill stork and several other species up close. The wetland is located on Lake Victoria and can be visited by canoe from Kampala or Entebbe. The journey to the swamp begins early in the morning with a canoe trip with a local guide who is knowledgeable about the area’s history and also serves as an excellent resource for seeing birds and other aquatic life.
Mabamba Swamp
Mabamba Swamp, one of Lake Victoria’s major wetlands, is one of Uganda’s most popular places to watch shoebill storks. It is easily accessible from Entebbe by motorized boat or canoeing through the marsh. Visitors to this wetland are likely to encounter the shoebill stork and other species including gonoleks, warblers, herons, and kingfishers, among others. Birders can visit in the morning or evening. You can visit Mabamba Swamp at the beginning or finish of your excursion.
Uganda Wildlife Education Center
Visitors may observe the shoebill stork in the Ugandan Zoo, which is one of the best venues to see it at any time of day and throughout the year. If you’re just passing through Entebbe for a conference or business meeting, the Zoo, which stretches to Lake Victoria, allows you not only the shoebill but almost all other birds and animals, besides the mountain gorilla. The Zoo is within a 10-minute drive from Entebbe Airport, so you may visit before heading to the airport to catch a flight out or continue exploring beautiful Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park’s Lake Albert Delta
The shoebill stork is another bird that can be seen in the Albert Delta of Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. It is a major attraction for any bird-loving tourist. Although the bird is rare, the greatest time to observe it is from January to March, when the weather is dry. The shoebills and plenty of other birds may be spotted in plenty when on game drives, boat safaris of the delta and the foot of the falls, and nature walks at Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 451 recorded bird species.
Lugogo Swamp in Nakasongola
The Lugogo Swamp is accessible via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, one of the greatest places in Uganda to see the shoebill stork. You’re in for a treat because the Lugogo Swamp is home to over 300 distinct bird species. In the early morning, you will paddle across the lake with local guides to begin your shoebill tour in the swamp. Because you’ll be riding through a swamp and seeing numerous birds and other animals, you should be able to do this activity in 4 hours or less. The Lugogo Swamp Shoebill Expedition may be added to a wildlife safari to Murchison Falls and rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. You must bring binoculars and maybe a camera to film your amazing experience
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Sector
The shoebill stork may also be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Sector, in the wetland opposite Lake Edward, where shoebill storks can be seen. Iconic Travels can design your vacation to include both game drives and the shoebill tour to observe the lions that climb trees in the Ishasha Sector. Aside from the possibility of seeing shoebills, Ishasha Sector is located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda.
Lwera and Kyabakuza Swamps
Located along Kampala-Kabale Highway, Lwera and Kyabakuza Swamps are occasionally home to Shoebill Storks. This is also en route to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your driving guide will constantly stop you along the trip to try to see the shoebill stork. You might not see it if you’re lucky. When we construct your itinerary, we will make certain that you experience everything.