What are my storks eating? (1 Viewer)

[Henry_Flower]

Our local stork family seem to have been having a very vegetarian diet this year, though they look good on it. Does anyone have any idea what the lump is in these pictures? (Delivery by the parent, then the same thing being held by a chick).

Thanks!

 

[Cicada]

I certainly didn't realise that storks might go for the vegetarian option on such a scale. Do you think it could be some sort of fodder beet like a mangelwurzel?

 

[nartreb]

Can't make it out too well, but it looks awfully furry for a vegetable.

I'm thinking it's some kind of small ground squirrel

 

[Nutcracker]

Looks more like a tuft of grass roots to me - sort of stuff they might use for lining the nest, rather than eating. Maybe the chick was just playing with it?

 

[Henry_Flower]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Still a bit of a mystery, then; there have been a lot of grassy-looking deliveries this year, which the chicks do fall on and look as if they're eating. Maybe they're just very playful!