Photo: White Stork Birds Ciconia Ciconia Camargue France

A White Stork (Cicconia ciconia) stretches its wings in its nest in the Parc Naturel Regional de Camargue in the Plaine de la Camargue, Camargue in the beautiful Bouches du Rhone area of Provence in France.

The White Stork, proper or scientific name, Cicconia ciconia, is found in the warmer parts of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia, and is a large wading bird, meaning it enjoys spending time in shallow water at the edge of lakes and rivers. It likes to go where the weather is warm and so will spend the winter time in Europe in the tropical areas of Africa down to South Africa where it is nice and warm - coming back to Europe when it gets warmer there again.

These birds can grow to be huge; some of them growing as tall as 125cm and with a 200cm wingspan, and weighing up to 10 lbs. As can be seen in the pictures it is mainly white, with just black on their wings and beaks, which are sometimes red as well as their legs. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Bird Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

...

Drainage of wetlands and loss of habitat has caused the numbers of these birds to drop, as well as the occasional collision with power lines that they cannot see when they are flying.

The stork has of course, long been an emblem of fertility and luck to couples wanting children, as legend told of storks leaving babies on expectant parents' doorsteps. Scientists think that this idea came about because these large birds like to nest near human habitations so they were generally around when new families were made - hence their association with babies.

White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, in a nest with chick, Parc Naturel Regional de Camargue, Plaine de la Camargue, Camargue, Les Bouches du Rhone, Provence, France, Europe.