Early Mother’s Day gift for storks
The marabou stork has laid two eggs which are expected to hatch by the end of the month.
Mother’s Day celebrations have already kicked off for Crocworld Conservation Centre‘s resident marabou stork, Samara.
This magnificent bird recently laid two eggs which are expected to hatch by the end of May.
“We’re so excited that after a month of courtship and nest building, Samara and her partner Norris have two eggs which will incubate for the month of May,” explained the centre’s bird curator, Ryne Ferguson.
“Samara, who arrived here in 2007, is a very good mom and has bred with Norris for the last three years, rearing a number of chicks.”
“It’s very fitting that we get to celebrate their new chicks the same month we celebrate mothers everywhere!”
Samara and Norris have contributed to the conservation centre’s many successful breeding programmes. Back in 2020, Crocworld welcomed two marabou stork chicks – the first in the centre’s history.
“Marabou storks, which are the largest flightless birds in Africa, are an incredibly interesting species because of how they regulate their body temperatures,” added Ferguson.
“By inflating their throat pouches, they create a larger surface area for cooling the blood that is pumped to the rest of the body.”
The centre has the endangered Cape vulture species forming part of the breeding programme as well which is a vital conservation method to preserve the existing gene pool. Also joining the flock is a pair of white, mute swans, regally named Elizabeth and Philip.
The incubation period for marabou storks is around 30 days. This means that Crocworld visitors on Mothers Day (May 14) will be able to see Samara and Norris caring for the eggs.
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