Black Stork Nest in Karula, 2021

[Swenja]

I am glad you liked my pic
I'll send you another one with the same title!

@Heloise If you look at me, I look back.
In your photo Kaia is making air conditioning for the eggs. The temperature in the sun are warm.

[Swenja]

13:54:39 Camera on. Kaia is in the nest and incubates.
It's windy. The camera has dropouts.



Sound and picture seem asynchronous. F5 did not fix it.
Maybe it will fix itself after a while.

[Swenja]

14:42:02 Karl II comes home
Kaia remains seated. Karl II goes on the curved branch.



14:44:44 Karl II flies away.
14:49:15 He brings moss.
Karl II goes on the curved branch again.
Kaia gets up and spreads the moss. She steps on the eggs a couple of times. Then she continues to incubate.



15:52:57 Karl II flies away.

This time Karl II did not even try to incubate the eggs. Kaia is not hungry and so he flew away again.

[Anne7]

Hello everyone

Many thanks, Swenja and Heloise!

It seems that Karl II and Kaia have found a rhythm to everyone's satisfaction. Karl II does the night shifts. Kaia spends the night in a Bed & Breakfast. After her early breakfast, she comes home and takes care of the eggs, so that Karl II can go fishing. After having brunch, Karl II flies home to see if his wife and eggs are still all right, and to make sure that no moss or branches are missing. They spend some time together on the nest. Then Karl II leaves again, to have a snack with his friends. In the late afternoon, he comes home again to relieve Kaia, who will then be able to have a (hopefully extensive) evening meal.

14:49:15 He brings moss.

The interaction between Karl II and Kaia was quite stunning when Karl II brought the moss.

14:49:22 Karl II has arrived with moss and wonders where to put it.


14:49:23 He decides to put it near Kaia's head


14:49:29 He drops the moss. Kaia is telling him something.
Was he perhaps standing on a feather ?

[Anne7]

14:29:30 Kaia keeps talking to Karl II


14:29:36 It looks as if she is asking him to step back.
Karl II observes Kaia intensely... and steps back a little.
"Is this all right, sweetie?"


14:29:36 More talking...

[Heloise]

It seems that Karl II and Kaia have found a rhythm to everyone's satisfaction. Karl II does the night shifts. Kaia spends the night in a Bed & Breakfast. After her early breakfast, she comes home and takes care of the eggs, so that Karl II can go fishing. After having brunch, Karl II flies home to see if his wife and eggs are still all right, and to make sure that no moss or branches are missing. They spend some time together on the nest. Then Karl II leaves again, to have a snack with his friends. In the late afternoon, he comes home again to relieve Kaia, who will then be able to have a (hopefully extensive) evening meal.

What a great summary! Thanks, Anne7
Swenja, thank you for the timeline, photos and video

[Swenja]

The interaction between Karl II and Kaia was quite stunning when Karl II brought the moss.

Kaia seems to be very talkative. She also gives her sounds a fair amount of body language.
No human can understand that, but Karl II always reacts in a very coordinated way. The two get along wonderfully.

@Heloise you are welcome

[Heloise]

It's really always funny
Kaia wants to help and shows Karl II where to put the moss
They are a harmonious couple!

[Anne7]

Swenja, Heloise, yes, it's such a joy to observe these two.

Kaia is very talkative, and the good Karl II does everything to please her. They are really great.

[Heloise]

17:40 Kaia is still incubating.
From time to time she gets up.
Some photos:



In the meantime, she steps on the egg
(Edit: looks like she's stepping on an egg/touches it)

[Swenja]

18:13:40 Karl II comes to the nest.

Where have you been for so long, Karl II?




18:14:30 Kaia flies away from the curved branch. Karl II incubates now.

[Anne7]

In the meantime, she steps on the egg

I don't think she is really 'stepping' on the eggs.
In any case, I think she does not put her body weight on the foot with which she touches the eggs. I have rather the impression, as so many times before, that it is more a kind of 'sensing the eggs'.
But I may be wrong...

What do you think?

EDIT: I have a few examples of it.

[Heloise]

What do you think?

I think exactly the same! She only touches the egg, it looks like she is stepping on it
Thank you for the photos!

[Heloise]

18:13:40 Karl II comes to the nest.

Where have you been for so long, Karl II?
https://up.picr.de/41148089ka.jpg

Kaia´s facial expression is remarkable

[Swenja]

I think that I would also use the word "Karl II steps on Kaia" for this picture, although Karl II does not do it on purpose or with his full strength and weight.
So I think we also use "she steps" when "Kaia is feeling an egg with her toes."
That was when he got rid of the branch this morning.

[Heloise]

I think that I would also use the word "Karl II steps on Kaia" for this picture, although Karl II does not do it on purpose or with his full strength and weight.
So I think we also use "she steps" when "Kaia is feeling an egg with her toes."
That was when he got rid of the branch this morning.
https://up.picr.de/41148170cv.jpg

Wonderful photo, many thanks!
Yes, we know also Kaia, who sometimes behaves this way!
Sometimes she rules over Karl II, she is a very modern and "equal" woman

[Anne7]

I think exactly the same! She only touches the egg, it looks like she is stepping on it
Thank you for the photos! :thumbs :

Thank you, Heloise.

I think that I would also use the word "Karl II steps on Kaia" for this picture, although Karl II does not do it on purpose or with his full strength and weight.
So I think we also use "she steps" when "Kaia is feeling an egg with her toes."
That was when he got rid of the branch this morning.
https://up.picr.de/41148170cv.jpg

OK, Swenja. Thank you.
Yes, here Karl II was definitely 'stepping' on Kaia, even if it was by accident (and not forceful).

But I wonder if they accidentally step on the eggs in the same way, or if it is (sometimes) a conscious 'sensing' or 'feeling' of the eggs.
Presumably it could be both? Maybe sometimes by accident, sometimes consciously...?

[Swenja]

With Kaia and Karl II, touching the eggs is very careful and perhaps has information for them.

I remember Kati. With her it often looked like she was stepping on the eggs because she hadn't seen them. Kati was roughly there at times. Maybe Kati also used this way to get information about the eggs.

[Anne7]

With Kaia and Karl II, touching the eggs is very careful and perhaps has information for them.

I remember Kati. With her it often looked like she was stepping on the eggs because she hadn't seen them. Kati was roughly there at times. Maybe Kati also used this way to get information about the eggs.

Thanks, Swenja!

I have the same impression.

[Heloise]

But I wonder if they accidentally step on the eggs in the same way, or if it is (sometimes) a conscious 'sensing' or 'feeling' of the eggs.
Presumably it could be both? Maybe sometimes by accident, sometimes consciously...?

We do not know the answer, both options are possible. Maybe Urmas would know that.
Anne7, if I may, I would quote you using your "motto", thank you!

“Clearly, animals know more than we think, and think a great deal more than we know.”
— Irene Pepperberg