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Kyla Uribe
Professor Encinias
CAS 115
13 November 2023

My Fun Fact

Everyone has that topic where they know literally every single thing about it, whether it
be about cars, animals, nature, the ecosystem, sea life, politics, space, countries, you name it.
That’s the great thing about being a human, we retain information that we deem interesting to us.
So, with that in mind I'm here to state that my fun fact is knowing everything about a Shoebill
Stork. Now you may be wondering, what is a Shoebill Stork? Well it was once classified as a
stork but when scientists realized that the Shoebill had a skull complex of a pigeon and
characteristics like a stork they classified it as its own: Balaenicipitidae.
Shoebill storks aren’t your typical white storks with orange bills. They stand at 4-5 feet
with a wingspan of 7.7 feet wide. Their enormous beaks contain sharp edges that swiftly
decapitate prey, and also separate out vegetation that may be grabbed with it. Shoebill's diet
consists of lungfish, bichirs, catfish, tilapia, watersnakes, and sometimes even small alligators.
They are located in the wetlands of East Africa. Where they create their nest with floating
vegetation and plant material from surrounding areas. They tend to use deeper areas of swamps,
tucked into tall, dense vegetation, away from disturbances.
What is so interesting about the shoebill stork is their hunting technique. They are very
patient birds, who wait for hours to get the perfect strike. When the time is right they unleash
their lightning-fast bill to snatch up their prey. What I find so disturbing is how motionless these
animals can be. There are multiple zoos in East Africa, where individuals can enter the exhibit of
the Shoebill stork and take pictures with it. Now with the knowledge I have of these creatures, I
would never and I mean never meet or come close to it. A bird that is my height, with a
wingspan that's 2 feet taller than me, with a deadly stare, and not to mention their deep, booming
“machine gun” croak, yeah absolutely not.
However, Shoebill storks are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting. In
East Africa wetlands are being destroyed due to human activities like agriculture, urbanization,
and drainage for development purposes. As the wetlands disappear the suitable environment that
the strokes call home slowly is threatening their survival. Also, since they are a prehistoric bird
they are often hunted for their unique bills for trophies and curiosities. This illegal trade of these
distinctive animals has put more pressure on their already endangered population.
Every person I've met in my lifetime, has never heard of the shoebill stork. So, it has
always been my honor to tell them everything they need to know about these ugly yet beautiful
creatures that God has created. However, as I slowly tell my fun fact to others, it starts to break
my heart. In 2015, when I stumbled upon the Shoebill stork they actually were not endangered,
they were thriving in the wetlands of East Africa. But as climate change, economic development,
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and hunting progresses, these birds are at risk. Thank you, for letting me tell you a little bit about
the Shoebill stork and its treasuries and struggles. As I end this blog today I would like to say
that conservation efforts are crucial. Protecting and restoring their wetland habitats,
implementing stricter laws against hunting and poaching, and raising awareness about the
importance of these unique birds. By working together and helping others understand the
importance of the shoebill stork, we can make a difference to ensure that future generations can
still witness the beauty of the shoebill storks.