Latvian black storks - 2023- 2024

[Liz01]

August 18

Selfie by an nuthatch

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August 19

Lesser spotted eagle family can be heard on the the nest area. They are quiet close to the nest

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Mushrooms grow in the moss on the right branch

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VOTE THE BLACK STORK AS BIRD OF THE YEAR 2025!
https://www.vogeldesjahres.de/wahl/Schwarzstorch/

Sweet memories
Ogris


Ogris


Urga & Ogris

[Liz01]

and their four healthy storklets


november


snow

[Liz01]

November 15th.

thank you my friend! Interesting link by an old friend:

𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐯𝐢𝐚

Authors: Eng.LSM.lv (Latvian Public Broadcasting)


©Novadu Ziņas LTV

The Baltic States and Poland have been observed to have the fastest declining black stork populations compared to other Western European countries. As ornithologist Māris Strazds assessed, the situation in Latvia with the conservation of the black stork population is poor, Latgale Regional Television reported on November 14.
One of the newest black stork micro-reserves is located in the forest of Kastuļina parish in the Krāslava municipality. This spring, a nest with four chicks was found in a 70-year-old stand of aspen near an abandoned farmstead.

Gaidis Grandāns, an environmental expert at Latvian State Forests, said: "Currently, the breeding population of black storks in Latvia is estimated at around 100 pairs, but it should be taken into account that of these 100 pairs, far from all are successful, so those nests with young birds should be protected as a priority."

The black stork is a specially protected species in Latvia, most common in South Latgale and South Kurzeme, but populations elsewhere have been declining in recent years.

"Globally, the species is not endangered and the population of black storks in Western Europe is even increasing, but in the Baltic States and Poland we are now seeing a long-term decline," Grandāns said.

Ornithologist Māris Strazds is blunt: it is almost impossible to maintain the population of black storks in Latvia. When asked how the black stork is doing in Latvia, he said: "Terrible, and there is no chance that something will seriously change for the better."

Latvia currently has about 330 micro-reserves for the black stork, covering more than 6,000 hectares.

"There are more micro-reserves than actual nests, but you also have to understand that any place where there has not been long-term forestry activity, there will inevitably be other natural values," Grandāns explained.

Micro-reserves on private land are currently compensated at €196 per hectare. The State Forest Service (VMD) has said that it plans to increase compensation in the near future.

Environmental experts recommend keeping an eye on the microreserve areas marked "Birds" on the "LVM GEO" website and avoiding visiting them in April-September, as black storks are sensitive to noise.

[Liz01]

November 17th.
camera was working short



video to the report above Nov. 15th.:
Baltijas valstīs samazinās melno stārķu populācija
Black stork population declining in the Baltic States


Video description:
Latvijā mikroliegumus veido visiem ligzdojošajiem ērgļiem, ūpjiem, melnajiem stārķiem, medņiem, kā arī atsevišķu sugu pūcēm un dzeņiem. Šobrīd gan novērots, ka tieši Baltijas valstīs un Polijā melno stārķu populācija salīdzinoši ar citām Rietumeiropas valstīm samazinās visstraujāk. Valstī pašlaik ir aptuveni 330 melnā stārķa mikroliegumi 6,6 tūkstošu hektāru platībā, tomēr speciāli uzskata, ka reālais ligzdotāju skaits ir vismaz trīs reizes mazāks.

GT:
In Latvia, micro-reserves are created for all nesting eagles, ospreys, black storks, capercaillies, as well as certain species of owls and woodpeckers. It has been observed that the black stork population is decreasing the fastest in the Baltic States and Poland compared to other Western European countries. There are currently approximately 330 black stork micro-reserves in the country, covering an area of ​​6.6 thousand hectares, however, it is believed that the real number of nesting birds is at least three times smaller.

[Liz01]

November 23rd





it looks just great. someone was in the nest and on the parent branch.


The flight altitudes of migratory birds are being investigated in connection with predator avoidance. Until now, it was hardly known to what height predators fly to in order to catch prey. Now there is evidence, with the discovery of a transmitter near a peregrine falcon nest.
viewtopic.php?p=940386#p940386

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the snow is gone