Bishop Stork or White-necked Stork on the Ken river
It is a widespread tropical species which breeds in Asia, from India to Indonesia, and also in Africa. It is a resident breeder in wetlands with trees. The large stick nest is built in a forest tree, and 2-5 eggs form the typical clutch. This stork is usually silent, but indulges in mutual bill-clattering when adults meet at the nest. The Woolly-necked Stork is a broad winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained long distance flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.
The Woolly-necked Stork is a large bird, typically 85 cm tall. It is glistening black with black 'skull cap',white neck and white lower belly. The upper parts are glossed dark green, and the breast and belly have a purple hue.It has long red legs and heavy blackish bill. Sexes are alike. Juvenile birds are duller versions of the adult.
The Woolly-necked Stork walks slowly and steadily on the ground seeking its prey, which like that of most of its relatives, consists of amphibians, small reptiles and large insects. African birds are attracted to bush fires. The bird derives its scientific species name from the black and white vestments formerly worn by clerics. The overall population trend is decreasing, although some populations have unknown trends. The main threat to this species in South East Asia is severe habitat fragmentation. The species has also suffered population reductions as a result of habitat destruction and shooting.
The Woolly-necked Stork, Bishop Stork or White-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It can also be known as the Espiscopos.
The Woolly-necked Stork is a large bird, typically 85 cm tall. It is glistening black with black 'skull cap',white neck and white lower belly. The upper parts are glossed dark green, and the breast and belly have a purple hue.It has long red legs and heavy blackish bill.Sexes are alike. Juvenile birds are duller versions of the adult.
The Ken river runs through the Panna Tiger Reserve - possibly one of the least polluted and cleanest rivers in the country. Kanha National Park is a national park in the districts of Mandla and Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955 by a special law and since then, it has dedicated itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km per square surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km per square and the neighboring 110 km per square Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve making it the largest National Park in Central India.
The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, the sloth bear, Barasingha, barking deer, black deer, black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose, tiger, leopard and Indian wild dog.
The birds species in the park include storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges, quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers. Kanha National Park is also home to over 200 species of flowering plants. However, if one animal species were to represent Kanha, it would probably be the barasingha, or the swamp deer.
The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and humid with a maximum and minimum temperature of 40.6°C and 23.9°C. Winters are pleasant with an average maximum and minimum temperature of 23.9°C and 11.1°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm. The park is closed from July to mid-October during monsoon.
Source: Wikipedia & www.kanhanationalpark.com/
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