North American jabiru (SciiFii)

The North American jabiru (Jabiru americanus) is a species of large stork, most closely related to the South American jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, lakes, riverbanks, and ponds across North America to help boost biodiversity. The adult North American jabiru is 120–140 cm (47–55 inches) long, 2.3–2.8 meters (7.5–9.2 ft) across the wings, and can weigh 4.3–9 kg (9.5–19.8 lb). Sexual dimorphism is high, one of the highest of any stork, with males being about 25% larger than females. Males weigh an average of 6.89 kg (15.2 lb) whereas females weigh an average of 5.22 kg (11.5 lb). Large males may stand as tall as 1.53 meters (5.0 ft). The North American jabiru is a carnivore and eats prodigious quantities of fish, molluscs, and amphibians. It will occasionally eat reptiles, bird eggs and small mammals. It will even eat fresh carrion and dead fish, such as those that die during dry spells, and thus help maintain the quality of isolated bodies of water. They feed in flocks and usually forage by wading in shallow water. North American jabirus detect prey more through tactile sensation than vision. They feed by holding their open bill at a 45 degree angle to the water. When prey is contacted, the storks close their bill, draw it out of the water, and throw their head back to swallow. It is an opportunistic feeder. The nest of sticks is built by both parents around August–September (in the Southern Hemisphere) on tall trees, and enlarged at each succeeding season growing to several meters in diameter. Nests are often deeper than they are wide, they can be up to 1 meters (3.3 feet) wide and 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) deep. Half a dozen nests may be built in close proximity, sometimes among nests of herons and other birds. The parents take turns incubating the clutch of two to five white eggs and are known to more territorial than usual against other North American jabirus during the brooding period. Raccoons, adapiform primates, and other storks (including their own species) are occasion predators of North American jabiru eggs, but most nest predators appear to avoid these huge-billed birds and there are no known predators of healthy adult jabirus. Although the young fledge around 110 days old, they often spend around another 3 months in the care of their parents. Because of this long length of time spent brooding, pairs have difficulty breeding in successive years. Less than half of active pairs in one season are active the next season. Only 25% of successful pairs are successful the next season. The lifespan average in the wild is 36 years, but the lifespan can be almost 50 years in captivity. The conservation status of the North American jabiru is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American jabiru's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.