BBC Wildlife - UK (2020-08)

LEFTThegreateradjutantisvery

particularwhenit comestonesting.

It needslarge,broad-limbedtrees

withsparsefoliage– thesortthat

areoftenfoundonprivatelandand

ingardens.Butduetotheirmessy

feedinghabits,nottomentiontheir

scruy appearanceandassociation

withbadluck,thebirdshavefor

yearsbeenhighlyundesirableguests.

Landowners,oblivioustothespecies’

rarity,wouldfelltreestogetridof

them.Fortunately,attitudes are

starting to change.

BELOWThestorksnestcolonially

andselecttreesthatcansupport

severalfamilies,maintaining

thepersonalspacearoundtheir

dwellingswithaggressivedisplays

andjousting.Greateradjutants

arecreaturesofhabit,andreturn

to the same trees year after year.

PHOTO STORY GREATER ADJUTANT

56 BBC Wildlife August 2020