Black Stork Nest In Karula 2023.

[Francesca_V]

Poor little ones! They must be so hungry, and Daddy Karl II didn't feed them.

[Swenja]

20:40 night vision



Feeding = 0

Karl II last feeding August 27, 14:05.

Kaia last feeding on July 23.
Kaia visits the nest on August 15.
Kaia migrates south on August 22.

[Francesca_V]

wow.

but Karl II is still there - he ist around, says Ornitrack.

[asteria]

to all!

Either KarlII fed the storklets outside the nest or they taught fishing themselves. They were wet today, it means they tried to find food in water as their dad.

[Jshallri]

I don’t think Kalvi needs hunger to be in a bad mood!

[Swenja]

August 29

Good morning!

06:02 Kalvi and Kerri are back in the nest.
06:03 Kiire is back too.



Kalvi tries to pull the legs of the siblings already in the early morning.

[Swenja]

Someone is above the nest. Who is there?





The chicks are startled for a moment.

[Swenja]

.







The chicks are 89, 89 and 87 days old.

[Swenja]

06:32 Kiire flies away.



06:42 Kalvi and Kerri fly away too.

[Swenja]

08:13 Kerri is back and tweeting.

Karl II comes too. Kerri asks for food. He flies away again.

Kerri holds Karl II by the ring for a very short moment.






Kerri continues to tweet.

[Swenja]

Kerri stands in the nest.
There is nothing to see of the siblings. Karl II also seems to have moved further away.



Kerri flies away.

08:42 Kiire is back.

[asteria]

Good morning!

KarlII will be the last one who leaves the nest. When all the storklets fly away, he returns home and prepares the nest for wintering. When it happens, it will mean that the season is over.

One more thing: the last night before starting their migration young storks usually stay in the nest.

[Swenja]

08:43 Kalvi is back and Kerri too.





They ask for food.

[Swenja]

08:46 Karl II is here.
He gives fish for the chicks.
The chicks eat quickly, because they are very hungry.

[Swenja]

It's a good breakfast.

[Swenja]

after feeding



08:48 Kerri finds a fish in the edge of the nest.
Kerri eats the fish. The siblings don't really seem to have noticed.






08:48 Kiire flies away.
08:49 Kalvi flies away.
08:49/50 Kerri does ps and flies away too.

08:51 Kiire is back in the nest.
08:57 Kiire flies away again.

[Swenja]

10:33 the chicks are back together in the nest.

[Swenja]

11:29 all chicks fly away one by one.

[tsang6482]

Perhaps not a popular opinion, but I'm wondering if Kaia has become an unreliable partner for Karl II.

This crossed my mind seasons ago when I noticed her stinginess on food, in which she quickly take back food after regurgitating them to the chicks. I interpreted that as a sign of her being hungry, or inability to find enough food, hence she had to conserve food.

This year in particular, the amount of food she provided to the chicks was quite inadequate (not to mention repeatedly taking food that Karl was feeding chicks with). Her extended disappearance since late Jul really sealed it with me on that point. While I haven't been following the nest too closely (I'm more interested in early development), seeing what Karl II has done has been really tough.

[Anne7]

Hello everyone

This very early morning Urmas sent an e-mail (no pics yet)
That was before Karl II was on the nest this morning

Yesterday we took fish (ca 50) out of traps about one hour driving from the basket...
Karl II ate fish in basket Sunday after noon and today morning, but did not feed the chicks [yet]. We can't do anything to change that, most probably something in his instincts directs to do so. Though, last night also Otter took his part in basket, but also Karl II got enough to fill the crop.

Urmas (in field today)

I think Karl II will indeed close the fish-restaurant soon. It is now almost September.
It is time for our storklets to start their migration, and for Karl II to refuel (maybe a few more days) before heading south himself.