Black Stork Nest in Karula, 2021

[balistar]

Fantastic!
If we're not careful then # 1 is on the way south and we wonder.

Swenja,

[Liz01]

17:53 Karl comes home


17:56 he stands with open beak

17:56 he starts feeding
he brought a lot of small fishes they are eaten within a few seconds
first huge pile fish


second huge pile fish


all have a huge crop. great to see they are stuffed

https://youtu.be/9jvhSd16Ubk

[Swenja]

17:53:13 Karl II is here.



17:53:27 Kaia flies away.

17:57 feeding time! Karl II gave al lot of fish!

[Anne7]

It was a great feeding!
Karl II regurgitated 3 times.
The first time (17:57:40) only a few fish, but the second (17:57:44) and third (17:57:51) loads were huge!

"We're ready, Dad. Let's go!"


Go for it!


"Wummy" . "Whaw awe you saywing?" .

[Swenja]

It was a great feeding!
Karl II regurgitated 3 times.
The first time only a few fish, but the second and third loads were huge!

The chicks are fine.



The amount of food that the parents now have to bring is enormous. I hope that they will continue to have so much luck hunting and that the foraging will continue to be successful.

edit: Karl II was gone only 2 hours.

[Bibibu]

In LIZ01's slomo I saw that it wasn't so little that Kaia spat out after all.....klasse

it looked so little to me at first.

And Karl also had a lot with him..... now they are surely more than full.

Full and tired ..... now there is a nap for the children ;)
...

Short nap

[balistar]

.....
"Wummy" . "Whaw awe you saywing?" .
https://up.picr.de/41409704yq.jpg

Anne,

[balistar]

17.59 ....after the great feeding

the #3 - in a special way - wanted to say
"thank you, Dad, for this abundant meal and the water you gave us today when it was sooo hot"



but that tickled Karl II and he quickly pulls his neck away and ...



... accidentally knocks # 3 over, he tumbles and falls, with his foot in the air

[balistar]

still 17.59

#3 fell on his back and Karl II is surprised



but #3 is quickly up again, Karl II preens his back

"oh sorry, my child, this was not my intention"
"i'm ok, Dad, you can stop preening me"

[Anne7]

.
19:22 "Dad, I urgently need to..." . "Overboard, kid."


"Ouch! That twig is a nuisance."


"Phew. I did it. That hurt."


Do you see the imprint of that twig?

[balistar]

21.10 Rain, Rain, welcome Rain, fill up the brooks, ditches etc.

the rainshower arrives at the nest, Karl steps slitghtly on two chicks while he wants them moving together
"come on, kids, wake up, get together, rain is coming"



Karl stands with his legs apart over his chicks sheltering them from getting too wet
they are so big now, that they don't fit all well under Karl, but he does best he can - wonderful Dad, Karl II
the youngest #3 is closest under Dad, between his feet



21.17 Karl II, the Guardian ( Heloise)
the chicks were twittering, did they think it will rain fish ?

[Anne7]

Thank you very much, Balistar.
Lovely photos and observations!

I am glad that Karl II is at home to shelter his chicks.
They can already regulate their body temperature, but down feathers are not water proof.
Without Karl II, the chicks would be soaked in no time.

[Heloise]

21.10 Rain, Rain, welcome Rain, fill up the brooks, ditches etc.
...
21.17 Karl II, the Guardian ( Heloise)

https://up.picr.de/41411416oa.jpg

Hello balistar, I heard you!



It's so good to come and read the day!

Many thanks for the beautiful photos, videos, observations, Liz01, Swenja, Anne7, Biker, balistar!

You are all just wonderful and well-experienced observers!
We need rain, but I hope the chicks don't get cold, they can't fit under Karl II anymore

They warm each other:



Maybe if it rains longer, Karl II will still cover them.

You must have something in your beak!



The chicks want to eat, they eat some food leftovers or something (moss?)

[balistar]

Anne, Heloise


21.27 this chick - i think it's #1 - was laying and got wet, the other two were picking rain drops from his back
now he is up and shakes the water off



21.40 it's still raining, wet chicks cuddle up together, warming each another



21.48 rain past by, chicks still sitting together in a "cloud"

21.50 Karl II touch them gently "get up, get up, shake that water off"
and all three get up and respond

[Biker]

As the day began it ends.

An exemplary, attentive guard even in the morning.

[Heloise]

21.27 this chick - i think it's #1 - was laying and got wet, the other two were picking rain drops from his back
now he is up and shakes the water off

[Swenja]

A skein chicks.

[balistar]

As the day began it ends.

An exemplary, attentive guard even in the morning.


https://up.picr.de/41411736ja.jpg

Biker, beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you


Also i want to thank everyone for the lovely pictures, the videos, the reporting, the comments, the respondings. It was again a very nice day in nest that i enjoyed to have spent with you, kind people.

Good night

EDIT: Swenja

[Heloise]

Thank you balistar, Biker!

Good night!

.....

Loving, caring daddy Karl II.

[Swenja]

Thank you all from me too!

Summary
Karl II was in the nest overnight.
07:51 Kaia came, Karl II away
10:27 Kaia away
10:33 Karl II brings water. Chicks alone for 1 minute.
10:41 Karl II brings grass. Chicks alone for 2 minutes.
15:53 Karl II away
17:53 Kaia away

Karl II is in the nest overnight.

Today 4 feedings could be observed, whereby Kaia divided her 2 feedings into 2 partial feedings each.
No puree or meatball feedings.

Good night!