Black Stork Nest in Karula - 2017

[Jo UK]

Looking for news of Karl, he can be seen on the Migration map, in Sudan, but that was a week ago. Let's hope for an update soon. Eedi can be seen on the other side of the Red Sea.

[Urmas]

This weekend we had volunteers camp of 12 people for to enhance suitable feeding streams on Karls territory. We cleaned a part of small river of different wood fallen there during storm 2016 July. After that work today about in noon we removed camera on nest together with Ain Nurmla and camp volunteers. As the weather was sunny, the batteries of system were a bit charged and stream was running. Some participants noticed that from their devices. Unfortunately no saved stream available anymore. We immediately noticed that a bigger part of nest has been fallen down and we can see though the nest center. Ain made some photos up on nest, hope he posts some here as well. Also one of volunteers photographed situation as seen from a ground level.

[Jo UK]

Thankyou for that news, Urmas and thanks to you and all the volunteers who cleaned the area.
Thank heavens the nest remained intact while the storklets needed it!

[UteL.]

Then we can not watch Karl in his nest next year... or?

And if not, he might lead us to a new nest! And in 2019 we might have a camera again!?

Now we hope to receive a message from his channel

Thank you, Urmas

[Jo UK]

UteL, we can not know what will happen next year, until next year. We hope for the best and wish all storks and stork helpers every success.

Have you seen our latest fund-raising efforts? With so many generous and kind people around the world, we now have reached 1,845 Euros.
https://www.leetchi.com/c/nonprofit-eag ... kotkaklubi

[Jo UK]

Urmas sent e-mail about the possibilites for Karl and Kati's nest, next year. He mentions three suggestions.

1. " We can leave it like it is. IN this case the storks will probably return to the nest. Then we can see how they behave with a partial nest left on the tree. If they decide not to stay in that place we can, hopefully, find their new nest, according to data from Karl's transmitter. Of course, it needs to be working correctly by then. It is most likely that it will be working well.

2. It is likely that the storks will try to repair the nest at first, before they decide to build a new one.. We do
not know, if it is safe for brood, but it would be a fully natural process, which might happen without our interference.

3. We can build an artificial nest in nearly the same place and watching
nest life would be easier next years, but we can miss natural behaviour of storks in this situation."


Urmas sent some photographs of the damaged nest, taken by Siim Vahtrus from the ground during removal of camera. Ain on tree

Pics coming next.
(I ruined my mouse, with tea, this morning, and the new one is not well-trained yet.)

[Jo UK]

Photograph of Ain up the tree.


Nest damage is visible


I know those pictures are too big but I didn't want to lose detail by making them smaller.

[UteL.]

Urmas sent e-mail about the possibilites for Karl and Kati's nest, next year. He mentions three suggestions.

1. " We can leave it like it is. IN this case the storks will probably return to the nest. Then we can see how they behave with a partial nest left on the tree. If they decide not to stay in that place we can, hopefully, find their new nest, according to data from Karl's transmitter. Of course, it needs to be working correctly by then. It is most likely that it will be working well.

2. It is likely that the storks will try to repair the nest at first, before they decide to build a new one.. We do
not know, if it is safe for brood, but it would be a fully natural process, which might happen without our interference.

3. We can build an artificial nest in nearly the same place and watching
nest life would be easier next years, but we can miss natural behaviour of storks in this situation."


Urmas sent some photographs of the damaged nest, taken by Siim Vahtrus from the ground during removal of camera. Ain on tree

It would be interesting to see it. The experts must decide what is more important, the flight of the chicks with transmitter or the nest 2018. preferably both

thank you for the information

[Liz01]

Jo, thanks for the pictures
I'm sure Karl can manage it It is our Karl, he can!

Thanks for reporting and pictures! Also many thanks to Urmas and the 12 volunteers who has cleaned the territory and the river! That's great!
Karl will be delighted. I'm afraid he will not know

[Summi]

Urmas, Jo and volunteers, thank you all.
I'm happy that the nest survived the season and we could see the three wonderful storklets grow up.

[aquiline]

First of all I'd like to thank Urmas, Ain and all the volunteers for all the work they have done and are still doing. And of course for the photos

I think the hole in the nest is rather big and until April it is a long time and probably the hole will enlargen. So perhaps Karl and Kati might prefer building a new nest. We could find it by Karl's transmitter, and hopefully there will be a possibility to install the cam.

Artificial nest would not be my proposal, because if it will not be accepted by the storks, then a lot of work would be in vain.

Is there any possibility to repair the nest with an artificial bottom, invisible for the storks, so that they can reinforce the nest??? We know Karl is a great architect
This could be the solution making life easier for Karl and Kati.

Now it is your turn, dear experts

[Jo UK]

aquiline, I really like your suggestion. Let's hope the experts agree. Their attention to this topic has been drawn

[Anne7]

Good evening everyone!

Also my thanks to all the good people who cleaned up the area!

About the damaged nest:
At first sight, one would say: let the storks decide, they will try to restore the old nest (if, indeed, there will be something left to restore after the winter?) or build a new one or maybe even leave the area and look for an other existing empty nest... They don't need human help, they will manage.
On the other hand, probably, all that building/surching will make them lose precious time and energy, and maybe it will be too late by then to raise successfully some new strong storklets next season? So, probably, preparing a solid structure/foundation, on which the storks can continue building their nest, is not a bad idea?

Unfortunately, we don't have a crystal ball, so it's difficult to make a wise decision.
Of course, the wellbeing of the storks should always be the only concern!
(Having a camera on the nest is very interesting, but much less important.)
Considering the fact that black storks are an endangered species, and thus every single new healthy storklet is very precious, I personally believe that constructing a safe and solid artificial nest structure in the same area (or, yes, Aquiline, if possible?, a solid 'bottom' in the existing nest) is probably the best solution. Would helping with building a nest diminish their ability to build nests their selves in the future? I don't know. Black storks often take over an existing empty nest, don't they? In my opinion, it makes not much difference if that 'empty nest' was build by an other stork, a raven or a human.

But anyhow, I trust and respect Urmas' decision.

[Jo UK]

I hope members will continue this discussion of how to proceed with the nest situation.

In the meantime, may I ask for help, please?
There is a small group of us who are trying to write a popular yet factual story (e-book?) about the lives of black storks. We hope to be able to sell it and raise funds for Kotkaklubi/Black storks.

The question we need to be answered is this - when a storklet falls from the nest and is caught on a branch lower down the tree, does an adult take food to it?
One of us says Yes, the adults will feed it. Another says No, if there is no floor to feed from, how can it happen?
So if anyone can help us with an answer, we shall be grateful (and better educated)

[Biker]

Not quite the inquired case... but there is a report
"The Black Stork Ciconia Nigra in Luxembourg" about crashed nests. In three known cases the parents feed the survived young storks on the ground and on wood piles and similar higher places.

http://www.luxnatur.lu/publi/wb18015030.htm

--- 4.4 Nestlingszeit und Ausflug der Jungvögel
Nach etwa 65 Tagen Nestlingszeit erkunden die Jungstörche zuerst das Horstumfeld und fliegen dabei gerne stehendes Totholz an oder stehen unweit vom Horst am Boden. Wenn, wie in drei Fällen bekannt wurde, der Horst gegen Ende der Brutzeit abstürzt und die Jungvögel überleben, so werden diese am Boden resp. auf in der Nähe befindlichen Erhebungen (Jagdkanzel, Holzstapel, etc) weitergefüttert.---

[Liz01]

Biker thanks for the link!

Anne, This are very good thoughts about the storks. I agree with you
Especially the last point. Urmas will know, what to do. He is the expert!

Also important is, that Karl survives and returnes to his territory. The conditions in the migration area are difficult.

[chrisitz]

yes, the most important is, that Karl survives. I am a bit worried about Karl. Since 17.10. there is absolutely no migration....

[Solo]

yes, the most important is, that Karl survives. I am a bit worried about Karl. Since 17.10. there is absolutely no migration....

chrisitz,
very probaby Karl is on his way to south or he is in his wintering area
maybe only: 15.10.2017 Device on Karls back did not send more locations, probably he is out of GSM network. (Urmas wrote on birdmap site)

news - topic Black Stork Tracks: viewtopic.php?f=65&t=2 - actually p. 134 viewtopic.php?f=65&t=2&start=2660

[chrisitz]

solo, thank you so much for information and the new forum link. Now I know not to be alone with my sorrows. I really hope, that everything is ok with karl and all the other storks during their long way.

[Biker]

as regards subject matter
viewtopic.php?p=553825#p553825
It is an interesting project, i wish those (yet) unknown members much success (and fun).