Race:
Ciconia ciconia asiatica Severtsov, 1873

No Synonyms

Description

Rare breeding migrant. Inhabits a cultivated landscape with separate trees, meadow sites and small areas of shallow water. Appears at end February – end March. Nesting in quite widely separated pairs. The bulky nest arranged on man-made constructions (ancient mosques, water-pressure tanks, sheep-sheds, uninhabited houses, electricity and telegraph poles) or on trees (Elm, Mulberry, Russian Olive) at 3.5-7 m above ground. It is build by both partners from thick twigs; inner flat cup lined with dry grass, rags, pieces of paper and other soft material. If not disturbed, nest is used for several years and only repaired. Clutches of 3-5 eggs, found mid-March – April. Juveniles fly end June – mid-July. Autumn migration peaks in September – October.

Distribution

Episodically nests in Southern Kazakhstan, north up to Turkestan and east to Merke. In lower Assa river one bird with stick in the bill observed early May 2002. Wandering birds were observed close to Mugodzhary Mts., near Ulanbel', in Andasayskiy Reserve and 8 May 1989 on Kapchagay reservoir. Stray birds were recorded on Manas Island (Aral Sea) and on lower reaches of Syrdarya river. A winter record (January 10th, 1992) of one bird near Taraz is known. On Chokpak singles recorded 24 March 1974, 8 September 1971, 29 September 1967, 25 September 1981 and 26 October 2000, a flock of 19 birds. Occasionally single birds observed in winter to the south of Chimkent.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.