Black storks fly through Kalmykia

On the rice checks of the October district, the rarest bird is seen - the black stork (Ciconia nigra).

If the white stork is a public bird, accustomed to living next to a person, then his black brother is a real forest hermit, one of the most secretive and shy birds in the world. Meeting with him in the open steppe specialists of Kalmykia called great ornithological luck.

The plumage of a black stork only appears black, in fact it has a deep greenish-purple metallic tide. Complete the image contrast-white abdomen, bright red beak and long legs.

It was at this time that their active autumn migration passes through the territory of Kalmykia. They fly to winter from Central Russia, the Urals and Siberia to tropical Africa, India and Pakistan.

In Kalmykia, birds make stops in shallow waters, canals and estuaries to rest and eat fish, frogs and aquatic insects. Black stork is an endangered species listed in the Red Book.