The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average 100–115 cm (39–45 in) from beak tip to end of tail, with a 155–215 cm (61–85 in) wingspan. The two subspecies, which differ slightly in size, breed in Europe (north to Finland), northwestern Africa, southwestern Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan), and southern Africa. The White Stork is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa from tropical Sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as South Africa, or on the Indian subcontinent. A carnivore, the White Stork eats a wide range of animal prey, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and small birds. It takes most of its food from the ground, among low vegetation, and from shallow water. It is a monogamous breeder, but does not pair for life. This conspicuous bird has given rise to many legends across its range, of which the best-known is the story of babies being brought by storks.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Stork
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1568:
Anglo–Spanish War: At San Juan de Ulúa (in modern Veracruz, Mexico), Spanish naval forces forced English privateers to halt their illegal trade. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_San_Juan_de_Ul%C3%BAa_(1568)
1779:
American Revolutionary War: John Paul Jones led the Continental Navy to victory in the Battle of Flamborough Head, one of the most celebrated naval actions of the war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flamborough_Head
1846:
Using mathematical predictions by French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier, German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle became the first person to observe Neptune and recognise it as a hitherto unknown planet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_of_Neptune
1952:
In one of the first political uses of television to appeal directly to the populace, Republican vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivered the "Checkers speech", refuting accusations of improprieties with contributions to his campaign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkers_speech
2008:
A gunman shot and killed ten students at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in Kauhajoki, Western Finland, before committing suicide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauhajoki_school_shooting
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
analemma: An egg-shaped or figure-eight curve that results when the Sun's position in the sky is plotted out over the year. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/analemma
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
You got to set your mind right and the rest will come to you naturally. No restrictions, no hang-ups, no stupid rules, no formalities, no forbidden fruit — just everyone getting and giving as much as he and she can. --Ray Charles https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ray_Charles