Bangau Bluwok (Mycteria cinerea)
The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is a bird of the Ciconidae species, often found in shallow waters, coastal mangroves, rivers, sandy beaches, swamps and muddy rice fields. The characteristics of this bird are that it has a body length of about 110 cm, has a long and large yellow beak, a white body, black spots on the primary wings, long pink legs and has a pink bald face. The distribution of the Milky Stork includes Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, eastern Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Milky Stork as a Vulnerable (VU) species. However, due to a drastic population decline, the IUCN changed the Milky Stork’s status to threatened (EN) in 2013.
The Milky Stork is highly dependent on wetlands. Milky Storks usually live in groups and are sometimes seen with other species when hunting for fish, shellfish, shrimps and crabs. Milky Storks use several mechanisms to find food. The Milky Stork will usually locate its prey and capture it by cuddling. The cuddling method is where the Milky Stork will walk slowly in shallow water with its beak half open and inserted into the water up to three-quarters of the way. When the prey touches its beak, the Milky Stork will close its beak quickly and swallow the prey whole.
Although the Milky Stork is currently a protected species in Indonesia, the bird is still under threat of habitat loss as many mangrove areas are converted into agricultural land, fish farms and ponds, and rice fields. Other threats to the species include hunting for food and trade.
