Black Stork Nest in Karula, 2021

[Swenja]

07:29 second breakfast Karl II

[Swenja]

Hello @ Anne7
Thank you very much for the track data.
Karl II doesn't have to fly that far to get food. That is a good fact.
The youngsters probably also need a lot of food now. They need to prepare to fly.

[Swenja]

U! Today you go on the curved branch.

[Swenja]

08:38 U wanted to take off?

[Swenja]

U You still have to take the baby feathers away.





There aren't that many baby feathers. Do you see!

[Swenja]

U preens thoroughly





Well cleaned!

[Swenja]

10:10 feeding Kaia

[Swenja]

At T you can also see slowly floating movement. No more little hopping.

[Heloise]

Good morning!

Thank you, Swenja!
So much has already happened in the nest!
I'm glad Kaia hasn't finished feeding yet! She is such a good young stork mother!

Today it is hot (maximum temp. 29°), but tomorrow it will be cooler.
https://freemeteo.ee/weather/karula/7-d ... ry=estonia

Heavy rain is coming at night.
https://freemeteo.ee/weather/karula/map ... ry=estonia

[Anne7]

Good morning!

Today, the two oldest storklets are 60 days old. The youngest one is 58 days old.

Heloise
I’m very happy to see Kaia too!
She’s an amazing young mother!
Thanks for the weather report.

Many thanks, Swenja!

08:38 U wanted to take off?

U often finds himself on the edge of the nest, gazing at the forest and the surroundings, as if he were gathering his courage to take ‘the big decision’.
He has also lost almost all his baby down. And a few little white feathers won't stop him from making his first flight soon, I think...

Yes, Swenja, you are right!
Just like you, I am very happy that a lot of food is being brought in, at the moment. The more 'reserves' the youngsters have built up, the better. That is very important, especially when they will be facing their own challenges. During their first independent weeks, they will have to learn everything by trial and error. Where do I find food? How do I catch it? Where can I rest?
They will definitely loose some weight during the first weeks of their first migration.

But first of all, our storklets have to learn to fly now, and hopefully they will still be cared for in Hotel Daddy for several weeks.

[Heloise]

Hello Anne7!
Thank you for the information!

I also hope they are very strong before leaving the nest!

Now... being in the nest is hot and boring. It's nice to have fun with a little beak fight

11:32
U and T (U started)



P and U (P started)

[Heloise]

11:36


Little T loves to preen the siblings



Because it's so hot, the camera image is blurry again due to the drought...

[Heloise]

12:19 Feeding by Karl II

[Heloise]

12:23 The U


U and T collect something

[Heloise]

P is training

[Heloise]

[Anne7]

At 14:25:19 Karl II arrives.

He stood on the nest rim, without feeding the storklets.

He flew away at 14:26:05
The storklets were surprised.



Something seems to be stuck in his throat. One can see it clearly in the below picture.


Hey Dad, why are you leaving? You didn't feed us!

[Anne7]

At 14:44 Karl II is back.

This time he regurgitated.
I saw 1 fish, pulled out of his beak by U (in front).
The fish came with its tail first.
If it was a spiny fish, then that's a hell of a pain!

Look at poor Karl II's face. His eye is bulging out.




I'll check again if there was more food...

Yes, the lucky bird (T?)in the background had a nice fish too.



Heloise

[Heloise]

Hello Anne7!
Maybe Karl II wanted, but couldn´t regurgitate earlier...

Hungry storklets are waiting for their dad



I tried to see what he brought...
He´s beak was closed until the last moment.



It seems to me that there were more fish caught from Karl II's beak

[Swenja]

Hello @Heloise and @Anne7
Thanks for pictures, timeline and comments!

At 14:25 Karl II must have met his Queen. The children had to wait.

This is T




15:54 Rain is coming. Did it just thunder?