The Arrow-Stork was discovered in northern Germany, alive and fairly well, in 1822.The only problem was that it had an 80 cm long spear stuck in its neck.
A spear whose origin was Central Africa.
The discovery of the Arrow-Stork solved the mystery of where birds go each fall. Prior to finding the bird (who had somehow survived the entire migration in an impaled state) birdwatchers speculated that birds turned into mice or hibernated each winter - perhaps at the bottom of the sea.
This Pfeilstorche and the 25 other recorded pfeilstorches were the first proof that birds migrate long distances and don’t nap away the winter months.
Thanks to Paul for sending us some Friday cool stuff.
Happy weekend!
