Saaremaa's Black Storks, Vol. 1
Piia and Priit's Three Chicks
These are busy times for Eagle Club members with the active checking of both the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and black storks' nest. To come is still the spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina). For this year, we've concluded work with the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
Familiar to residents of Estonia's largest island, Saaremaa, are Piia and Priit, two of the island's most successful black storks—they have three well-fed chicks in the nest.
Their chicks are two weeks younger than Donna and Padis' three, but their weights are about the same. Eagleman Rein banded, weighed, and measured the chicks as is his custom when he visits the nest.
The old birds were not seen during this time. Piia and Priit were fitted with GPS tracking devices last summer, and we're pleased to report the devices have not disrupted the lives of the birds in any manner. If all goes according to plan, we'll equip some of Piia and Priit's chicks with tracking devices, as well.
