Jun 11, 2011: Of course, I`ve read long ago that birds have some special tendon mechanism in their legs allowing them to clasp branches tightly without effort. But, still, for me it`s very hard to imagine — how, oh, how it`s possible to have rest in such posture? The body (the storks weight is ~4 kg) is balancing on a very long leg; the leg stands on a wobbly branch, and the body is covered with feathers which probably serve as a good sail for the wind even when they are folded. The second very long leg is folded and lifted up to the body. Holding such a long leg hanging — does it take no effort from a bird, too?2011-06-Lyuban1

Leningradskaya oblast, Tosnenskiy raion, Ilyinskiy pogost village

species White stork Ciconia ciconia