Pfeilstorch
Encyclopedia
The term Pfeilstorch is given to stork
s injured by an arrow while wintering in Africa
, before returning to Europe
with the arrow stuck in their bodies. To date, around 25 Pfeilstörche have been documented.
The first and most famous Pfeilstorch was a White Stork
found in 1822 near the German
village of Klütz
, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was carrying an arrow from central Africa
in its neck. The specimen was stuffed and can be seen today in the zoological collection of the University of Rostock
. It is therefore referred to as the Rostocker Pfeilstorch.
This Pfeilstorch was crucial in understanding the migration
of European birds. Before migration was understood, people had no other explanation for the sudden annual disappearance of birds like the White Stork and Barn Swallow
. Some theories of the time held that they turned into mice, or hibernated at the bottom of the sea during the winter , and such theories were even propagated by zoologists of the time. The Rostocker Pfeilstorch in particular proved that birds migrate long distances to wintering grounds. While migration habits and the possibility of getting injured by human hunters are not unique to storks, smaller bird species may obviously not have sufficient stamina
to complete a long migration flight with a large foreign object stuck in a wound in their body.
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
s injured by an arrow while wintering in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, before returning to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the arrow stuck in their bodies. To date, around 25 Pfeilstörche have been documented.
The first and most famous Pfeilstorch was a White Stork
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
found in 1822 near the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
village of Klütz
Klütz
Klütz is a town in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated near the Baltic Sea coast, 22 km northwest of Wismar, and 33 km northeast of Lübeck.-External links:...
, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was carrying an arrow from central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
in its neck. The specimen was stuffed and can be seen today in the zoological collection of the University of Rostock
University of Rostock
The University of Rostock is the university of the city Rostock, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area...
. It is therefore referred to as the Rostocker Pfeilstorch.
This Pfeilstorch was crucial in understanding the migration
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
of European birds. Before migration was understood, people had no other explanation for the sudden annual disappearance of birds like the White Stork and Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas...
. Some theories of the time held that they turned into mice, or hibernated at the bottom of the sea during the winter , and such theories were even propagated by zoologists of the time. The Rostocker Pfeilstorch in particular proved that birds migrate long distances to wintering grounds. While migration habits and the possibility of getting injured by human hunters are not unique to storks, smaller bird species may obviously not have sufficient stamina
Stamina
Stamina may refer to:* Endurance* Stamen , the male organ of a flower* Stamina , an American racehorse* Stam1na, a Finnish heavy metal band...
to complete a long migration flight with a large foreign object stuck in a wound in their body.