Storks Nesting video footage

Storks belong to the Ciconiiformes family and exclusive to the sub group Ciconiidae; there being 19 living species of storks in six genera.

Storks are large wading birds with long legs, neck and long stout bills and live in many part of the world preferring drier habitats to their other closely related birds such as herons, spoonbills and ibises. A group of storks is often referred to as a 'muster of storks' or a 'phalanx of storks'.

They don't have a syrinx and therefore are mute so bill-clattering is an important means of communication for them at the nest site. Most of the Stork species are migratory and generally they feed on insects, earthworms, frogs, fish, other small birds and small mammals; and when flying storks generally soar (using thermal air currents) or glide to conserves energy.

The Ornithological Park in Teich, Basin of Arcachon, southern France, near Bordeaux is very much like the bird sanctuary (Wetlands for Wildlife) at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. Open to the public since the early 1970s these wetlands in Teich, a well preserved natural environment consisting of swamps, mud-flats, humid meadows, and ancient fishponds are one of the most important migratory routes for European birds and provides important shelter where about 300 species of birds can thrive

To walk the entire park the main route is about three miles return and includes hides and other observation posts at regular intervals. For the less ambitious visitor there is a shorter route of about half the distance.