Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-01
Exchanging Habits
of StOrks,
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Change lCS naDlLS OF lie and migration
any more than the leopard will change
its spots or the tiger its stripes. For
some years naturalists, especially orni-
biologists, all over the world have been
watching with interest the stork expert
ments conducted in Europe. There Is
no reference in this inquiry to the
stork so intimately connected with hu-
man mythology. All references are to
real storks which are too closely con-
cerned with their own progeny to be
interested in human kind.
The migrations of the stork long have
been the source of keen interest to
naturalists. Nearly every one is familiar
with the manner in which storks build
their large nests on the tops Of chimneys
or on secure inches in roofs. A land
scape of Holland and parts of Germany
is scarcely complete without a storks
bushy nest atop chimney, with the
solemn bird standing upon it almost
like weather vane. But not so many
people are conversant with the curious
migratory habits of the stork.
X
Every Winter the European storks mi
crate to Africa in search of food and a
more clement climate The routes they
follow are OF special importance. They
are practically as we'll defined as steam
ship lanes or railway routes and the
curious discovery was made that they
cannot be made to alter them.
The storkS of PruSSia-where there
are many-fy, at the proper season,
southwark over the Carpathian Noun
tainS and so down into Africa. But
the Holland storks fly southwark over
the PyreneeS and Spain. The first ex-
pertinent to determine how fixed were
the migratory habits and to what extent
they are hereditary was made in con-
nection with these PruSsian and Dutch
storks. Eggs from the Prussian nests
were taken to Holland and there placed
in the nests of Holland storks. Eggs
from Holland were taken to Prussia.
These eggs then were Matched by what
might be termed the foster parents.
Then came the time to watch the results.
The fedglings grew to maturity during
the Summer and the time came for the
Fall flight.
Although Matched in far-off Prussia,
the storks Matched from Dutch eggs
took the westerly route over the Pyrenees,
while the storks Matched in Holland
erly Carpathian route. In order to do so,
it will be noted, they were obliged to
part from their foster parents because
those parents would, perforce, take their
own accustomed routes. Yet some dim
hereditary impulse caused the young
broods to take the flight routes which.
for generations, their forebears had
taken.
The latest attempt to change the habits
Of the stork has been made in England.
Young birds we're brought to Kent and
there placed In nests built for them in
as near an imitation Of the continental
nests as could be achieved by skillful
men. They were carefully fed. Eggs
were imported and some adult birds.
The purpose of the naturalists was to
try to acclimate storks in England,
largely to add to the pictureSquesness OF
the landscape and partly to determine
whether 1t is possible to change the
stork's habits. The indications are that
young imported storks and dedglings
Matched in Kent will not return, after
the Winter migration, but will 60 back
to the places where their ancestors came
from.
The white stork is a handsome bird
and is regarded as an asset to the
bird life of any country. 1t stands
feet high and is chiefly white, although
having some black tail plumes. Bill and
legs are reddish. 1t is bird Of unusual
dignity whether standing motionless on
its chimney top nest or stalking like
bishop over marshland, where it finds
its food consisting Of frogs, nevis,
lizards, small fish and insects.
It Is universally regarded as bird
of good omen. On the continent, when
a stork selects mans chimney or roof
tree to build its nest, he counts himself
lucky, as the bird is believed to bring
good fortune. Often, to attract storks,
their roofs in inviting locations. Some
times an old cartwheel Is used. As no
hunter would dream of shooting stork,
the population shows a slow increase,
with more nests each season. It Is
thought possible that the high esteem
in which the stork Is held may IN some
roundabout manner find its origin in the
circumstance that the bird is related to
the sacred ibis Of Egypt, for many
centuries an object Of generation there.
X y
England has a bird which resembles
the stork. It is the spoonbill, large,
white, long-legged bird, but with a curl
Gus variation in the shape Of its bill.
The white stork has long and sharply
pointed bill, while the spoonbill has q
heavier one which fattens out at the
end much in the shape of spoon. While
the spoonbill formerly was quite numer-
GUS in the eastern countries Of England,
in recent years its numbers have dimin-
ished, whether from lack of food or other
reasons, naturalists do not agree.
Then there is the black stork. This
creature does not seem to have the
regular habits of the white stork. It is
a migratory bird. but does not follow the
precise routes annually that the white
stork does. It is an occasional and
casual visitor to British shores but
cannot be depended upon to return at
regular seasons. It does not appear to
breed in England but on the continent.
The black St0rk is accounted handsome
bird. Its black plumage has a metallic
luster with shimmering gloss OF purple,
blue, copper and green. The legs and
beak are scarlet.
X 4 X 4
The black stork does not have the
same reputation for bringing good luck
that the white stork does, and in Eng
land, at least, it has been shot by
hunters. A notable fact about the storks
is that they are voiceless. That fact
may give the impression Of adding to
their dignity. In the breeding season.
however, they have a way of Gathering
their beaks noisily and, indeed. at such