An eventful day
Text: Urmas Sellis
Photo: Mutikluti
The toughening of Donna and Padis' chicks is still very much needed. The night temperatures are slightly over zero degrees Celsius and the daytime temperatures don't exceed 15. The biggest chick was able to stand in the morning—he's already 13 days old. Padis left the chicks alone in the nest for eight minutes—let them adjust. The actual reason could be another Black Stork flying nearby—perhaps boundary lines are being drawn (negotiations about airspace!) out of view of the chicks.
Donna's job includes the ventilation of the nest floor. In the evening hours the chicks were very restless under Donna, and mother decided to let the chicks tear about until they were tired out. It's the first noticeable time that the chicks sat in a circle on the nest floor during feeding time. The nestlings' first rain brought peace to the nest before ten p.m., but the quiet only lasted as long as the rain. Donna remained in the nest but didn't remain on the chicks until dark.
Some disruption in viewing may occur on Wednesday. We'll hopefully be making a couple of technical adjustments in the picture.
Photo: The largest chick stands—the observation of our viewer, Mutiklut.
