Hi Murray,
I take it that your query refers to the Black-necked (Satin) Stork and not
the real Jabiru Jabiru mycteria of South America. As I have just submitted
my PhD thesis on the Black-necked Stork (to be called the Satin Stork if and
when split from the Asian birds) I can answer most of your questions about
the species.
Black-necked Storks are solitary territorial nesters and as far as anyone
knows are monogamous. They are likely to mate for life but divorce could
possibly occur if one of the partners did not shape up to expectations.
Many stork species have been recorded as reaching over 30 years of age in
captivity. They are likely to live for up to this age in the wild but my
banding programme has only been going for four years so, although I have
found out some great movement information, longevity information will take
many years more.
Young birds have dark brown irides like the adult male and the females
attain their yellow irides as they are moulting into full adult plumage at
about 2 years of age. The timing of the attainment of adult plumage is
still being determined and I will know more about this in the near future
when I assess the known data.
Regards
Greg Clancy
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