Latvian black storks - 2018

[Liz01]

19:55 Kaupo has arrived

[Michi]

Hello Liz, Solo, Sue and all,

only now I've found time to open the computer (my free days are over, I've to work again).
So much informations today and so many nice postings and beautiful pictures I would like to talk about. But I'm quite tired and can't manage all that I want. So at first many thanks for todays interesting reports, pictures and videos, especially for the beautiful collages! And of course for the peekaboo-video! So cute!

Michi,
Yesterday I thought about the fifth egg.
It seems to me that the parents do not care anymore for it. It was in the sun for a quite long time. It is not turned anymore. I do not see any help for the fifth chick to hatch.Only then, if the nest bowl will be loosened. It looks like it doesn't matter for them, that it hatches? They have enough chicks. :puzzled

But it's just a feeling that it could be like this. We have to wait.
I would be happy to see four chicks growing up. That's more than I've seen so far.

It could be right, that the parents at least since yesterday don't take much care for the fifth egg. Yesterday I wondered about, that Kaupo in the afternoon was a very long time standing in the nest, he didn't incubate. I've seen that he has rolled the egg some times; but I guess, his most concentration applies to the storklets. The egg doesn't play a big role anymore.
You have said: "It looks like it doesn't matter for them, that it hatches? They have enough chicks."
When one thinks about, that a fourth and a fifth egg were most likely only laid for reserve (as I have read; sorry, I don't know where), one could think, that it is so, as you have written. For the parents there are enough chicks.

I feel pity for the fifth storklet, that it most probably now dies in its egg.
What I don't understand is the contrariety between the loud egg talk you've heard and the disability to break the egg shell. Mustn't a storklet with a strong voice have the strength to break the shell? Especially when there was - two days ago - already a quite big crack? And: Is continued incubating really necessary, if a storklet is already ready to hatch? I have doubts about it.
All in all there remains many questions why the storklet can not hatch.

I admit I'm also a bit relieved, that there - most likely - will "only" be four storklets. That's already a lot, and I would be very happy, if all four would raised up by the parents. I'm also very pleased that today obviously all storklet - also the youngest - have eaten well. This is really wonderful!

9:25 The egg is without any crack or hole!
Can it be that the heat yesterday, the crack has closed again? For me there was too much dehydration. Without moisture, it could not hatch. ....

I am sorry; I've no idea if a once existing crack can be closed again. Indeed it seems that the crack which was there two days ago, is no longer there. Yesterday and in todays pics I haven't seen it. But this is a question you must ask an expert, Liz.

[Michi]

also feeding 4 storklets is hard situation for adult storks and yes, for the last chick(s) it is already difficult between the bigger siblings

Indeed it is. And I really hope, that the parents here raise up all four chicks. Until now it looks good. Enough food and also the youngest and smallest one gets its fishes. Since the events in the Hungarien nest I have a special look at the smallest storklets.
But now I will enjoy the time with these exceedingly cute foursome of storklets.

[Liz01]

May 23

Good Morning Michi, Solo, Sue and all

6:56 Gaja has arrived and starts feeding She has brought nice fish and frogs!






The change over takes only a few seconds.
All have eaten well

Change over and feeding Video
https://youtu.be/h9PL133zv1E

[Liz01]

..............
I am sorry; I've no idea if a once existing crack can be closed again. Indeed it seems that the crack which was there two days ago, is no longer there. Yesterday and in todays pics I haven't seen it. But this is a question you must ask an expert, Liz.

Michi, I will read in the Latvian forum. Maybe there is an answer. If not, I will ask.

[Liz01]

8:33 while Gaja is preening herself, the storklets are sleeping




9:27 they awake .. one of them is begging

For me they are have less food today? Maybe I'm wrong

I've to go for few hours..

EDIT: 7:39 she stand up.. no begging and no feeding

8:02 she stands up again .. begging storklet .. they are waiting for food. She did not feed them.
8:44 She stands up.. no feeding

[Liz01]

9:36 begging storklets


9:37 a little piece of food for all That's not good

She tried again, almost nothing came out. I hope Kaupo comes soon and brings enough

9:41 she settles on the storklets

I've to go

[Solo]

... 9:37 a little piece of food for all That's not good ...

[Solo]

10:08


10:16 stand up, storklets begging, empty crop - maybe the youngest little ps, Gaja preening herself

[Solo]

10:32 another feeding attempt, very very little "things" - storklets closest to the camera ate nothing


it was digging, aerating, nestrearranging




10:46 settled down

Kaupo

[Solo]

11:13 change and nice feeding

[Solo]

interesting feeding - difficult position the storklets farthest from camera

[Solo]

after digging, aerating, cleaning Kaupo covered the chicks
11:29:47


11:56:49 stand up, little ps, ruffled his feathers, preening the storklets and himself

[Liz01]

Dear Solo, thank you very much for reporting

11:13 That's a late change . It is too dry.. no rain!

All have eaten It was enough. Kaupo could eat back

[Liz01]

10:08
https://s7.postimg.cc/6x0eyrsl7/MS_10.08.jpg.......

that's so cute

[Liz01]

12:57 Kaupo is preening


13:00 Feeding.. the fourth got nothing.. I could not crawl over the egg

[Liz01]

13:49 another feeding


all have eaten. But they are still hungry. I've heard begging calls

[Liz01]

14:46 A change over
14:47 Gaja starts feeding the cuties

The fishes were to big for two of them As I could see, only two were able, to swallow the big fishes . I think this are eels






I have to zoom the video

each got a eel And there is enough for another feedings!
https://youtu.be/IjGn2kTKmQ8

[Liz01]

I've been thinking about the poor 4th chick that didn't manage to hatch.
.............
Pipped eggs that do not hatch:
If embryos develop to the pipping stage, or at first shell cracking at hatching, they are normally healthy enough to hatch unless the external conditions are not optimal.

"The problem is usually caused by either:
1) poor ventilation or
2) improper humidity."

http://extension.msstate.edu/content/pi ... -not-hatch

viewtopic.php?p=587717#p587717

Thank you Anne
This supports my theory. We have had a big crack in the egg.I saw that Gaja did not protect the egg from strong sunlight for a quite long time. In my view it was on purpose!
A kind of birth control

[Liz01]

16:40 Gaja is feeding the Storklets.. again eels






zoom video
https://youtu.be/iqr-2fD0OPM