The Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) can’t help it, he’s ugly. His face is hard to love.
When he’s amorous, or hot, or in a bad mood he inflates his fleshy throat sac which intimidates the other storks. It’s ugly, too.
Find out more about him in this vintage article …
(photos from Wikimedia Commons; click on the captions to see the originals)
Why would something so ugly be associated w delivering babies?
Nan, actually it’s another prettier stork that nests in Europe that’s associated with babies — the white stork
I am wondering if you know if the Painted Bunting is still in the O’ Hara backyard or when it left? Thanks and also thanks for your always wonderful blog.
Betty Rowland, It could still be here. Someone went to visit it on Tues 2/25 and found it at home