8x10 Oil on Light Walnut
 
There are 9 species of storks who live on all continents except Antarctica.  Of course they do… delivering babies.  Since Victorian times, the legend is that they deliver babies, but also the stork is a symbol of fertility and considered good luck.  Their lifespan is about 30 years and they are almost voiceless although they communicate with a brief hissing noise and bill-clattering.  Depending on the species, nests are found on chimney tops – especially in Europe - in trees and even on the ground.  They use the nests for many years which become very large (over 6 feet in diameter and 10 feet in depth) with sticks being added with each nesting