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The return of the Old Man

10,000 Birds

Nesting is now confined to Morocco, irregularly in Boghari in Algeria and in Birecik, Turkey.” (The Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World states that “disturbance by local people, tourists, and egg and zoo collectors has similarly reduced the colonies, and more protection is vital”. But this range is now much reduced.

Morocco 226
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The Storks of Africa

10,000 Birds

Sometimes they have to protect their catches from piratic African Fish Eagles who swoop down as soon as they that see a Saddle-bill has successfully caught a fish. Saddle-bills are more strictly restricted to wetland environments where they are adept at catching their own fish with their enormous upturned bills.

Africa 241
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Africa’s endangered species

10,000 Birds

This is despite the fact that the Northern Bald Ibis was one of the earliest officially protected species, thanks to a decree by Archbishop Leonhard of Salzburg in 1504. This colony outlived dozens of others as it was protected by the local religious belief that the ibises migrated each year to guide Hajj pilgrims to Mecca.