White Stork

Description:

Ciconia ciconia is a species of birds in the family Ciconiidae. It's a large bird, reaching 100–115 cm from beak tip to the end of the tail. Wingspan is 155–215 cm. They breed in Europe, North-West Africa, South-West Asia and South Africa. They overwinter in Africa from Sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as South Africa.

Habitat:

Lake Kerkini National Park is an artificial reservoir in Central Macedonia, Greece. Built in 1932 and redeveloped in 1980 due to silt accumulating from the Strymon River that reduced the lake's capacity for storing water. The lake is one of very rare examples where human interventions benefited wildlife. Lake Kerkini is situated along the flyway for birds migrating to the Aegean Sea, Balkan, The Black Sea and other migratory destinations, and is why it is one of the top bird-watching sites in Europe with about 300 species of protected and rare birds like the Pelican and the Pygmy Cormorant nesting or visiting the lake. Besides birds there are 32 species of fish in the lake and with the Water Buffalo they contribute to the ecosystem's equilibrium. There are 25 species of reptiles and over 4700 species of invertebrates, of which 1396 represent species found nowhere else in Greece and at least 46 new to science. At the shore of Kerkini Lake and in the mountainous forests one might see Otters, Red Foxes, Wildcats, Weasels, European Polecats, Beech Martens, Grey Wolfs, Wild Boars and Golden Jackals. Lake Kerkini and the surrounding areas which span 83,100 hectares was caracterized as a National Park in 2006, though a whole range of regulatory conservation efforts span all the way back to 1972, starting with prohibition of hunting in the northeastern part of the lake. Three conventions are affiliated with this site; "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat” (Ramsar Convention) "Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals" (Bonn Convention) "Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats" (Bern convention) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Kerki... https://greeceinsiders.travel/kerkini-la...