

The shoebill stork uses a unique hunting technique called ‘freeze and seize’ to catch their prey. The diet of a Shoebill Stork is mainly comprised of water mammals such as lung fish, mad fish, cat fish, eels, baby crocodiles, water snakes, tilapia, snails, Nile monitors, turtles, small waterfowl and even frogs. In fact Uganda is a birders paradise with very many unique and rare bird species in the world. The Shoebill stork is best sighted in Uganda which has a set record of about 1000 shoebills, and birders can best sight the bird in areas such as Mabamba Swamp close to Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park with in the swamp in Ishasha sector, Semliki wildlife reserve, and Ziwa rhino sanctuary without forgetting Nabajuzi swamp in Masaka region and Bigodi Swamp near Kibale National Park. The shoebill stork is a non-migratory bird with very limited seasonal movements due to habitat changes, food availability and disturbance by humans. However, few sights of the bird have been reported in Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, the Central African Republic, northern Cameroon, and Botswana. Shoebills are aquatic birds that predominantly inhabit freshwater swamps in central and eastern African countries mainly southern Sudan, South Sudan, eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, western Tanzania, and northern parts of Zambia. The Shoebill stork is endemic to the African Continent. The life span of a shoebill stork can go between 35 to 50 years. Shoebill storks have a longer life span as compared to other birds. Young shoebill storks reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years. Once the chicks hatch, they are catered for by their parents until they are around 105 days when they are able to fledge. Both parents take part in building the nest on a floating platform. The female lays its eggs in a nest measuring about 1 to 1.7 meters wide, and can reach 3 meters deep. A female shoebill stork can lay between one to three eggs which measure between 80 to 90 mm high, 56 to 61 mm wide and weigh approximately 164 grams.

It is a shy bird, but it is also a fierce hunter. It is a top predator in its ecosystem and it has no natural predators. The shoebill stork is a fascinating bird. The shoebill stork has been known to kill and eat human beings, but this is rare. It will then regurgitate the bones and other indigestible parts. The shoebill stork will swallow a baby crocodile whole. The shoebill stork eats fish, amphibians, reptiles, and even small mammals. It uses its long bill to probe the mud for food.

The shoebill stork is found in swampy areas of Africa. The shoebill stork has a long neck and legs, and its bill is about 25 cm (10 inches) long. It is mostly gray, with a white belly and black wingtips. The shoebill stork is a very large bird, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet). The shoebill stork is a carnivore and it will eat just about anything it can catch, including baby crocodiles. It gets its name from its large bill, which is shaped like a shoe. The shoebill stork is a large wading bird that is found in Africa. The shoebill stork can swallow baby crocodiles whole.
