The accomodations afforded the storks testified to their special status in the region - Lake-town's chimneys were specially designed with a solid, broad, flat top to encourage the creatures to build homes. Smoke could escape through vents in the side of the stack and seemed not to other avian families nesting just above. Some folks even knocked out the ends of a small barrel and affixed it horizontally to the summit of their chimney - a chimney pot designed to attract Esgaroth's favorite bird. Slaying one of the creatures was almost tantamount to murder, and resulted in a heavy fine and social disgrace.