Black Stork Tracks

[looduskalender]

Son of Priidu in Lithuania (Part 2)

Submitted by Kotkaklubi on 15 September 2008 - 9:12pm
Text by Urmas Sellis and Darius Stoncius
Translated by Scott Diel

Photos by Deivis Dementavicius and Saulius Rumbutis
Map by Google


Lithuania Eagle Club members were unable to rest having not found Son of Priidu (and Piia) and decided to give it another try on September 11th. This turned out to be a good decision, regardless of the bad weather and the storks' shyness.


Son of Priidu rested during the daytime on a plowed field.

Son of Priidu wasn't at all alone at his stopping point—he was found together with an additional eight black storks. Among this group, four were this year's young birds (including Son of Priidu), two from last year, and three had the appearance of old birds. One of the older birds was banded—banded in summer 2006, some kilometers from this stopping point. This is interesting news for us, since before now we believed that before nesting the young birds didn't journey to the northern countries! Well, Lithuania isn't exactly northern…
In all cases, Son of Priidu was in full health and his behavior didn't differ from his companions in any way. When eaglemen visited the creek below the crumbled dam, it became clear why this was a gathering place for storks...


The valley below the dam.


And in the stream at the valley's bottom.

…there a mass of dead, dying, as well as live fish was discovered. The reason for the situation wasn't clear, but hopefully it isn't a case of poisoning which would make the fish dangerous to those who feed on them… In all cases, it seemed the entire stork gang had stuffed themselves.


The crumbled dam is being repaired, which will obviously make this stopping point less attractive next year.

Many thanks to Lithuanian eaglemen Deivis and Saulius for the good news and their help!

Today we know that Son of Priidu and his group of traveling companions left Lithuania on the 12th of September and have probably made it to Ukraine (if not farther).

See the map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... urce=embed

[looduskalender]

New bigger map of tracks is here:

http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/node/1686

[Jo UK]

Another map showing how far they have travelled, up to October 30.

http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/node/1824

[Jo UK]

Raivo in Kenya today

Urmas wrote to our contact in Kenya - Tania. Let's hope she will see Raivo soon.
This is a screen capture of the image which Urmas sent.

[Urmas]

Last location of Raivo on map is of last night (Dec 27) and probably this morning he will continue the track to southernmost part of Kenya.
We could hope, that Raivo will stop near Tanyas place:
http://www.wildernessdiary.com/birds-2008
it is on the border of Tsavo National Park.

Urmas

[Lucy]

Thank you, Urmas! This is a very good message!

It seems, then, that Raivo didn’t change his travel preferences choosing Kenya for his wintering place. As I remember, he also spent there both, 2006/7 and 2007/8 winters. I wonder whether this time, as in the previous winters, he will be traveling between Kenya and Tanzania.

Good luck, Raivo!!! And have a looksee for Tanya! We want to see your photo from African safari!

[Jo UK]

Renandeli found more tracks - in Spain and Gibraltar

http://www.iberianatureforum.com/index. ... pic=2123.0

[Olga]

Renandeli found more tracks - in Spain and Gibraltar

http://www.iberianatureforum.com/index. ... pic=2123.0

Hi, there in BirdForum net is a fresh photo of a Black Stork, November, Southern Spain. 2008.http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showph ... user/15559

black-stork-7959_by_john_henry_South_Spain_23-12-2008_BirdForum.net_.jpg

[Lucy]

Happy New Year 2009 from all storks, black and white, from Africa !!!



From me too!

[Bisky]

Lucy, I love the black tie--quite elegant!

[Patsycat]

Look what Dutch Eaagle Fan posted in HH!
Pete's Pond is a watering hole in Africa - with a 24hr cam - and this is what they saw....

--------------------------------

Some of the European Storks travel very far!

Look what was captured off the Pete's Pond web cam:





Credits go to "SHOEBUTTON" for these pictures. The black one is an Abdim's Stork

[Jo UK]

Does anyone know where in Africa Pete's Pond is?
I know it is a famous webcam, but where?
Fascinating that a Black Stork was seen there.

[NancyM]

Does anyone know where in Africa Pete's Pond is?
I know it is a famous webcam, but where?
Fascinating that a Black Stork was seen there.

Pete's Pond is in the Mashatu Game Reserve in northeast Botswana - northeast of Gaborone, Botswana, and north of Pretoria, South Africa

from the website: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/vid ... camafrica/
"One man's passion to protect Botswana's wildlife and give animals room to run free in expanded territory has led to a success story at Mashatu Game Reserve. Pete Le Roux believed wildlife could repopulate the reserve if they avoided the Limpopo River, where poachers lurked. Using the remnants of an old irrigation system from the area's failed attempts to grow cotton, he carved Pete's Pond into the landscape as an alternative watering source—and as his answer to the rampant poaching and senseless killing of Africa's wildlife. The idea worked."

also
http://www.mashatu.com/reserve.htm

wonderful cam! I have seen many white storks and yellow billed storks on that cam, the Abdim's stork (not the same species as our black stork) is a new sighting this year at least for me

Abdim's stork: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdim%27s_Stork

[Jo UK]

Raivo in southern Kenya

http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/node/2415

[Urmas]

Our tagged black storks are on way to us. By yesterdays (1st of April) data:
Oss - in the middle of Belorussia;
Valdur, Kaku - in southern part of Romania;
Raivo - probably in Bulgaria (weak last transmission);
Priidu - in Turkey;
Lembit - on the African coast of Suez Gulf (probably crossing today).

[Kuremari]

Just wonderful!
thank you Urmas!

[asteria]

And where are tagged BS now?

[Urmas]

Most of storks have transmission time tomorrow :
Oss could be at home (two days ago was on Latvian-Lithuanian border)
two days ago:
Kaku - Ukraine
Valdur - northern Romania
Raivo - Bulgaria
Priidu - Bulgaria
Lembit - Lebanon

[Kuremari]

i have forgotten- where do these storks nest?
is there anywhere info about that?
and thanks for update, Urmas!

Priidu- Saaremaa
Raivo - Lääne-Virumaa

[asteria]

Oss is the winner.