Black Stork Nest in Karula 2020

[Anne7]

Good morning everyone!

Thank you for all reports, videos and pictures.

Liz, your pics are really wonderful !

10:20 Karl II flies in. He sings.


10:20:19 The female arrives. They greet each other.


10:22 The little female preens Karl II, while scratching her head.


10:34 Mating (attempt)
10:34:19 Again, the female flies out during mating with Karl II on her back

10:34:32 Karl II is quickly back

10:34:36 The female flies in.

They both preen

10:59 Again, Karl II would like to mate, again the female walks away from him

11:00 Karl II poops over the nest rim

A lot of preening

[Solo]

.. So rare and nice to see 2 BS on a nest

on this and the Sigulda (Latvian) nest
(they are 4 another black stok nests with stream and pairs and on two they are already chicks )

[Anne7]

11:21:27 The female poops in the nest


11:21:35 The female flies out to the right


11:27 Karl II flies out to the right

11:28 Karl II is back and sings

13:20:47 Karl II flies out to the right


13:23 He is back and sings

... BTW: I am amazed that the lady still has brown feathers. Maybe she can't find a water where she can clean her plumage? It is unusual for me. Black storks love to take a bathe. Usually you can see it, in breeding birds if they are sitting in a wet nest. Kati was also sometimes muddy on the plumage.

I have been wondering too.
This does not look like mud, I think.
Could it be that this young female spent some time (wintering?) in peatlands?
Peat water in bogs is yellowish or brownish and contains tannins that may have 'dyed' her white feathers in a fairly persistent way. (Just like an old tea stain on a white shirt can hardly be washed off.)

[Bibibu]

hen it would be recognizable forever and ever .... a special model, so to speak, unique

I have been wondering too.
This does not look like mud, I think.
Could it be that this young female spent some time (wintering?) in peatlands?
Peat water in bogs is yellowish or brownish and contains tannins that may have 'dyed' her white feathers in a fairly persistent way. (Just like an old tea stain on a white shirt can hardly be washed off.)

[Summi]

13:40 Karl alone on the nest, standing on one foot and waiting.

[Anne7]

hen it would be recognizable forever and ever .... a special model, so to speak, unique

Yes, maybe... the peat water is nothing but a hypothesis.
But not forever and ever, after moulting she will have a white belly again.

[Anne7]

13:53 Karl II flies out to the right

[Bibibu]

It is sad, but maybe it should really only remain a lovely summer love for two in view of the time this year.
I hope that love will continue next year.
When I read reports like this ... with egg-laying, which can also take about a week, hatch and rearing, then you are around mid-September to travel south.

[Bibibu]

If she doesn't take mud baths again after moulting

Yes, maybe... the peat water is nothing but a hypothesis.
But not forever and ever, after moulting she will have a white belly again.

[Anne7]

If she doesn't take mud baths again after moulting

That's true.

[Anne7]

14:33 Karl II is back. I think he has eaten well.
14:50 He flies out to the left

[Liz01]

.........I have been wondering too.
This does not look like mud, I think.
Could it be that this young female spent some time (wintering?) in peatlands?
Peat water in bogs is yellowish or brownish and contains tannins that may have 'dyed' her white feathers in a fairly persistent way. (Just like an old tea stain on a white shirt can hardly be washed off.)

Anne, thanks for the hint. This is very likely.

and thanks for your great pictures.
I feel pretty good when I see Karl and his dirty lady at the nest. Now everything is almost normal.

Unfortunately, I will from now rarely be able to observe, no matter which nest. I will be very busy. But I hope that by May 10th I will have finished the work so far, that I can at least observe.

[Liz01]

.........
When I read reports like this ... with egg-laying, which can also take about a week, hatch and rearing, then you are around mid-September to travel south.

That would be too late for this region. I have read in the Latvian forum that the parents have leave the nest and chicks. They have starved to death.
It is simply too late for successful breeding. Karl und his Lady should have a nice summer, together. Just like last year Kaupo & Gaja. It was very interesting to see that there is actually a bond, even without a chick.

[Abigyl]

15:29 Who is here? Takes long time.

[Hellem]

15:29 A strange BS landed on the nest, Karl II chased it away

[Anne7]

15:29 A strange BS landed on the nest, Karl II chased it away

Thanks, Hellem!

I will make a few pics.

15:28:19 Karl II comes rushing in.

15:28:31 He is defending the nest


15:28:43 A black stork can be seen in the forest on the left


15:28:59 Karl II goes after him. An amazing take-off!

[Anne7]

.
This went really fast:

15:29:08 The strange stork arrives from the left.


15:29:08 He puts his feet on the nest rim.


15:29:08 He immediatly turns around, within the same second.

[Anne7]

.
15:29:09 The strange stork flees because Karl II is chasing him


15:29:10 There's the boss


15:29:19 Karl II flies out again.

[sova]

15:29 A strange BS landed on the nest, Karl II chased it away

In any case, it's clean ... but it didn't show any ID

[Anne7]

In any case, it's clean ... but it didn't show any ID

Sova!
I was hoping for a second that it could be our Karula.
But no, no rings, no transmitter...


15:30:33 Karl II comes in again. He is still very excited and calls a lot.




Then he calmed down.
15:40 Karl II lies down in the nest.

15:46 He leaves again.