Black Stork Nest in Karula, 2021

[Heloise]

11:07:40 Karl II flew to the left...

Hello!
Thank you everyone who has taken photos and captured the events!
In the spring there is no time to monitor all the time, it is great to know later what has happened.

There is a beautiful spring in the forests of Karula. I hope to see the family grow soon

[Swenja]

Hello @Heloise
Isn't it currently too dry in Karula National Park? I didn't follow the weather like that, but some rain would be good soon.

Kaia has not yet laid an egg in the nest. I hope to see an egg soon.

Many Greetings!

[Heloise]

Hi, Swenja! Thank you!
Yes, it hasn't rained in a long time.
Yesterday I drove around in the forests of Southern Estonia, but saw that there was water in the lower places, also in ditches. Until recently, there was snow in the forest! It will probably rain soon.
Esmaspäev=Monday:



We look forward to the good news!

[Swenja]

12:20:03 Kaia is in the nest. She arrived quietly.



Her right eye seems fine.



She is waiting for Karl II. Today she is very calmly alone in the nest. Not nervous at all.

[Michi]

Hello everyone,

13:28 Karl II arrived.

They great each other nicely. Karl II laid down in the nest.

13:31 Karl II starts to dance. But in vain. Again Kaia went to the curved branch.

[Swenja]

13:28:54 Karl II comes home. They greet each other.
Karl II has magnificent feathers on his Po.


13:29:38 Karl II sits. Kaia touches him gently and
13:30:50 Karl II stands up.

They are preening.

13:34:05 mating

[Michi]

13:33 Karl II forced Kaia to come down from her branch. Successful!
The following mating looked also successful.

[Michi]

a couple of late evening views incl. a mating event:
...

Balistar
I'm a bit late but want to say a big thank you for your great, detailed report including the nice comments from the night before. It was very interesting. And a lot of work!

Thanks a lot also to Swenja and everyone for the continuous reports! I'm very grateful!

[balistar]

Heloise, Swenja, Michi and all,

thanks all for the reporting, pictures, video and weather report

Good that Kaia's eye is fine. Maybe she touched a branch with her eye while flying rapidly through the forest, the eye was then irritated. Keeping it closed for a while is best then.

......
She is waiting for Karl II. Today she is very calmly alone in the nest. Not nervous at all. ..

Yeah , while she was waiting for Karl II, i had the impression she even showed more interest in the nest than the days before. She was poking in/around the nestbowl and at the branches at the nest edge:

12.47 / 12.48







Michi , thank you. I couldn't sleep that night, that was the reason

[Michi]

...
Was it ever that difficult for Karl to mate with Kati ? Does anyone know or remember ?

With Kati it was never so difficult. Surely, also Kati has refused mating every now and then, but not that much. It was no problem for Karl II to mate with Kati.

Meanwhile, 13:54, Karl II has tried to mate several times since he is back at nest. Kaia always refused it, except the one at 13:33.

[aquiline]

thank you to everybody for all the work you are doing

Kaia's belly is still looking a little brownish - so it is really her

And yes, Swenja, Karl's feathers are really beautifully white

[Michi]

14:01 Finally a mating. It looked halfway successful.

Edit:
14:04 Kaia is on Karl II's back.

[Michi]

Kaia's belly is still looking a little brownish - so it is really her
...

Indeed, Aquiline! This should be proof enough. It is really Kaia.
But also without this I had no doubts that this female is Kaia from last year.

[Michi]

14:10 Again Kaia on Karl II's back. She is doing like mating with him, she grabbed his beak. :)

[Swenja]

Hello balistar, Michi und aquiline

Kaia often rubs her right eye. The eyelids look a little puffy.

[balistar]

With Kati it was never so difficult. Surely, also Kati has refused mating every now and then, but not that much. It was no problem for Karl II to mate with Kati.
...

Thanks, Michi, for the reply. That's what i almost suspected.

I think, Kaia seems now to slowly warm to it more and more. Karl II will show her

Just for the record:
Yesterday there was another, i think successful, mating at 17:12, that was not reported (and i forgot it, too ).
I took pictures, but i don't insert them now, because i don't want to disturb the chronology too much

14:10 Again Kaia on Karl II's back. She is doing like mating with him, she grabbed his beak. :)

Little princess Kaia, vice versa it must be, vice versa !!

[Michi]

14:13:53 Karl II left.

14:15:13 Kaia followed him. Both flew to the right side.

[Michi]

16:25 Karl II arrived

[Swenja]

16:54 Karl II wants to breed. He sits in the nest.



17:08 Karl Il loosens the nest floor. He is resting and preening.

18:32:08 Karl II flies away.
18:36:28 He is back and sings short.
18:41:40 He flies away again.

[Swenja]

20:04:48 Karl II is here and sings.

Karl II stands in the nest and rests. Kaia is not there. Where does she have her resting place? Kaia is mysterious.

22:04:43 Its dark and Karl II makes noises.