The open-billed stork makes its home in Africa and parts of Asia. This bird certainly would never win a beauty contest. One reason would be because of its big brownish-black beak. It looks rather strange in that the upper and lower sections do not come together except at the very tip, leaving an open space. This is how it got the name “open-billed.” Another reason would be because its black feathers, contrasting with the white ones, always look like they need straightening out. Also, its long, stilt-like, red legs, with three big toes spread wide, don’t help its appearance either.
Its most important food is a large underwater snail that clings to stems of underwater plants -especially where rice is growing. When it finds a snail it grasps it with its strong toes and uses its lower bill to force it from the shell. Then, flipping the shell away, the stork enjoys this bite of food, with help from the opening in its beak. Strangely, the snail’s pretty shell is not damaged in the process and makes a good collector’s item for anyone finding it.
The African wood stork is an all-white bird, except for a black head mottled with brown and a beak that is similarly colored. Its home is in the southern part of Florida, where it feeds on both freshwater and saltwater fish.
These storks are very good at fishing. They catch fish with their long, strong toes and place them in their beaks where they are promptly swallowed. When little ones are fed, the parent eats the fish, snail or other food first. After digesting it, the parent brings the food back up into its open beak. The babies reach in from the sides, each trying to get the biggest bite, hoping there will be more as well.
When the mother is incubating the eggs or taking care of little ones and her mate has been absent for a long time, he makes a gentle honking and snapping of his bill for her on his return. If she is happy to see him, she does the same thing. Then they settle down peacefully together.
Isn’t it nice to think of the Lord God, the Creator of all things, taking pleasure in placing so many varieties throughout the world? It’s nice, too, to think how He cares for them, even feeding them, as the Bible verse says: “These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season.” Psalm 104:2727These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. (Psalm 104:27).
Do you thank Him for the food and other things He provides for you?
ML-08/08/1993