Black Stork Nest in Karula - 2018

[Anne7]

Anne7 , it's a viper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_berus

Oh, a viper! Their bite is poisonous, isn't it? Thanks, Hellem!

[Liz01]

Anne7 , it's a viper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_berus

Hellem, can it be a grass snake? She has brought much amphibians. Grass snakes live in the same habitat.

The strange animal could be a Bufotes viridis.. It also lives in estonia and is very rare. Finally I found the english name: green toad

[UteL.]

Oh, a viper! Their bite is poisonous, isn't it? Thanks, Hellem!

Has she still moved? Did she still have life?
Can she still be poisonous if she is dead?

[Liz01]

Oh, a viper! Their bite is poisonous, isn't it? Thanks, Hellem!

Anne
Black storks eat snakes. It is completely normal for them. There are many at the Hungarian nest. Sara is a specialist. I also saw it at the Latvian nest.
I think it was not a poisonous snake. They are rare!

[UteL.]

White storks eat many snakes, mice, moles and amphibians, fish rather rare, lies on the habitat. Storks are omnivores.

[Anne7]

Anne
Black storks eat snakes. It is completely normal for them. There are many at the Hungarian nest. Sara is a specialist. I also saw it at the Latvian nest.
I think it was not a poisonous snake. They are rare!

Hello, Liz Thanks.
Yes, I know that BS eat snakes. But I don't know much about snakes.
This one seemed to have a black stripe on its back. I can not recognize it.

Are vipers rare? I thought they were rather common.
A viper is poisonous, well, it's bite is poisonous.
If directly injected in the bloodstream via the teeth.
But I do not know if that same poison is harmful if it is in the digestive tract of a BS?

[Liz01]

Hello, Liz Thanks.
Yes, I know that BS eat snakes. But I don't know much about snakes.
This one seemed to have a black stripe on its back. I can not recognize it.

Are vipers rare? I thought they were rather common.
A viper is poisonous, well, it's bite is poisonous.
If directly injected in the bloodstream via the teeth.
But I do not know if that same poison is harmful if it is in the digestive tract of a BS?

in Estonia there are only two snakes. The grass snake and the common adder.
I know the common adder from my childhood. Their poison is not deadly! It coul be, that it was an common adder.
I'm in a hurry. Anne you can google if the are dangerous for other animals. I do not believe it

[UteL.]

in Estonia there are only two snakes.

Hellem is from Estonia !? He should know....

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Look at the egg and the chicks ... it's always a miracle

[Hellem]

in Estonia there are only two snakes. The grass snake and the common adder.
I know the common adder from my childhood. Their poison is not deadly! It coul be, that it was an common adder.

Common adder = European viper, it was a young viper, the vipers are very common in Estonia

https://www.britannica.com/animal/European-viper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_berus

[Liz01]

Hellem is from Estonia !? He should know....

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We mean the same snake! In deutsch- Kreuzotter.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreuzotter

[Anne7]

In Estonia, there are only two snakes. The grass snake and the common adder.
I know the common adder from my childhood. Their poison is not deadly! It could be, that it was a common adder.
I'm in a hurry. Anne you can google if they are dangerous for other animals. I do not believe it

OK, Liz, I did some research.

Apparently, there are 5 reptile species living in Estonia. (Including the two snake species you mentioned.)

Systematic list of Estonian reptiles

A. Lacertidae
1. Common Lizard, Lacerta vivipara Jacquin
2. Sand Lizard, Lacerta agilis L.

B. Anguidae
3. Slow Worm, Anguis fragilis L. (a legless lizard)

C. Colubridae
4. Grass Snake, Natrix natrix (L.)

D. Viperidae
5. Adder, Vipera berus (L.)
http://bio.edu.ee/loomad//animals/Roomajad/VIPBER2.htm


1. Common Lizard, Viviparous lizard

© CC Charlesjsharp

2. SAND Lizard

© CC Krzysztof Mizera

3. Slow worm

© CC Marek bydg

4. Grass snake

© CC Marek Szczepanek

5. Adder

© CC Benny Trapp


The reptile we saw was an adder (viper), as Hellem said.


If bitten by an adder, the effect of the poison can cause serious heart or respiration problems in a human. In some cases, a snake bite can cause an allergic reaction, putting a person’s life in serious danger, as noted by doctors.
http://bnn-news.com/confronted-snake-117607

Diet of vipers (adders)
Adders usually eat small rodents, such as the short-tailed vole. They will also eat lizards, frogs and newts, and have been seen taking young from the nests of ground-nesting birds. When hunting, adders strike swiftly at the prey, injecting a lethal dose of venom. They then wait until the prey dies before starting the often lengthy swallowing process. Like all snakes, adders eat their prey whole, their teeth are designed to grip the prey as it is swallowed. Their jaws are linked by extensible connective tissue so each of the four main bones can move independently. This means they are able to swallow items much larger than the width of their head. The lower ends of the ribs are not joined as in most animals and can also open out considerably. The adder's digestive fluid is amazingly powerful and will digest the flesh and bones of their prey almost completely. Only the hair and teeth of rodents pass through intact.
https://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/adder

[UteL.]

It is good

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The venom of venomous snakes is dangerous only to humans, Anne

[Liz01]

It is good

Usually one says thank you! if someone helps!

EDIT: I will avoid this thread in the future. There are enough to write here!

[UteL.]

Thank You, Anne

[Hellem]

The birds who eat vipers: snake eagles, buzzards, crows, magpies, pheasants, storks

The mammals who eat vipers: badgers, polecats, foxes, hedgehogs

[Anne7]

The birds who eat vipers: snake eagles, buzzards, crows, magpies, pheasants, storks
The mammals who eat vipers: badgers, polecats, foxes, hedgehogs

Thanks a lot, Hellem!

So it’s important to understand the difference between poisonous and venomous.
VENOMOUS: It injects venom from its fangs to kill (or harm) you.
POISONOUS: You have to eat the snake for it to kill (or harm) you.

Apparently, vipers are venomous, but not poisonous.

Venoms are typically designed to cause harm or be lethal when injected into the bloodstream. It’s much less common for them to cause problems when they’re ingested.
(Although any cut or wound in the mouth or throat could cause big problems, of course.)

No-one should eat a poisonous snake at all - it would harm or kill.
Still, it is not recommended to eat the head of a venomous snake.

[Anne7]

I saw a feeding at 15:24
The food was something black and it looked rather mushy and well-digested.
The storklets did not like it a lot.


16:53 Waiting for Karl.
It is windy.


Does someone know at what time was the last feeding?

[Timea]

about 17.30:

I think they are so adorable

[Swenja]

17:31 the little ones are so hungry.
Where is Karl?

[Anne7]

about 17.30:
I think they are so adorable

Oh yes, they surely are.

17:31 the little ones are so hungry.
Where is Karl?

I believe he has a hard time to catch enough fish.
I hope he will arrive soon, with a full crop. Cross my fingers.

18:30 still no Karl.

18:39 Finally, there he is! He has muddy legs, I think. Katie leaves. She must be hungry too.

18:40:30 Feeding fish. Perfect size. The storklets are very hungry. All three have eaten well.