With a height of nearly 4 feet, it’s understandable why some may assume that this bizarre bird is only a prop.
His large shoe-shaped bill and yellow-green eyes nearly give him a comical face, and when he scans the area, his head shakes erratically like a robot.
However, you may spot these shoe-billed storks in their marshy habitats deep in East Africa’s tropical swamps, where they spend hours sitting at the water’s edge watching for the ideal moment to pounce on their preferred fish.
They’re eerily prehistoric — and despite their amiable expression, are even known to hunt young crocodiles and giant monitor lizards as a snack. They remain motionless for long periods each day, simply just being patient for prey to come along.
For the most part, shoebills are silent, only making noise when they clap their bills together rapidly to greet another bird or call out to their young.
There is a reason that shoebills are known as the “monarch of the marshes” in addition to their enormous bill. Despite being so big, their wings may spread out to almost 8 feet wide, and they can still fly short distances.
It’s difficult to not be captivated by these giants given their remarkable appearance and unrelenting wait for food. The ancient Egyptians adored them so much that they even depicted them in their art.
However, because to the degradation of their habitat brought on by farming development and oil prospecting, these gorgeous animals have been declining over the past few decades.
Additionally, they run the risk of being trapped in the wild for the illegal bird trade and for zoo displays.
Researchers stated in a recent conservation strategy that “they are desirable birds, and the virtually complete absence of reproductive success in captivity exerts a persistent strain on the wild population for satisfying commercial needs.” Due of their acute sensitivity, shoebills have historically experienced significant death rates during capture, transit, and captivity.
Only two zoos, one in 2009 and two in 2008, have been recorded to produce chicks. This indicates that confined populations cannot sustain themselves and must be restocked with wild birds in order to survive.
Luckily, residents living near shoebill habitats in Mambamba Lake, East Africa, have noticed the birds are targets of the trade, so they formed volunteer groups to keep an eye out for suspected poachers and work with local law enforcement to report them.
Additionally, they guide tourists into the tangled marshes, where, if they’re fortunate, they can catch a once-in-a-lifetime view of these famous birds in the wild.
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