WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A mustering of storks

Yellow-billed storks fishing in Luangwa River, Zambia

The term ‘a mustering of storks’ derives from ‘muster’, meaning a general gathering or assembly; while ‘mustering’ is applied particularly to troops arranged together for an inspection. The word is also used in the animal world for a round-up of livestock, especially in the Antipodes. The other collective nouns for storks include flight and phalanx (used when migrating).