Storks

I have storks breeding in my backyard now. I don't know if they have done that before, not in recent years anyway, but they seem to be successful this year. There actually are three young in the nest and they seem pretty big now. They will probably fledge soon. I know there are quite a few storks breeding here again now, but it is very nice to have these big birds breeding right in the middle of the city.

I sat and watched them for a while yesterday afternoon, and seemed to have ended up in a spot where some homeless people hang out. There was one man sitting on a bench to my right, who probably has some kind of disorder. He was talking to himself, gesticulating violently, but not doing any harm. On the bench to my left were three or four men, drinking beers and talking about the storks and the other birds. At some point one of the men put his beer on the bench and turned the other way. Just at that moment the man from the bench to my right walked over, took the beer, and walked back again, looking very innocent. After that the men on my left got into a heated argument about disappearing cans of beer. It was an interesting debate, because one of the men seemed into psychology and he was telling the others how to let go and relax. Then a woman turned up to join the man, and later a black man joined them. These two then got into an argument about money lent and not returned. There was a lot going on in the space of about an hour, but it never felt uncomfortable somehow. We all just sat there, all minding our own business, while a lot of people walked past to have a look at the storks on their nest.

Close to the nest you also get a good chance to see Gray Herons trying to catch a meal. They are much more common here maybe, but still very beautiful. City birds, that you will sometimes find in the middle of the road. Schoffies.



For some really nice pictures of the storks, check:
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