Latvian black storks - 2020/2021

[Liz01]

13:25 feeding

[Liz01]

The 'strange black feathers' most likely came from Mom, when she arrived that morning, the 20th at 5.44, she had very dirty black feet from collecting food
i assume she stood with her dirty black feet on the storklet, so his plumage became dirty black, too. Later in the afternoon on the 20th the chick was already almost 'clean' again.

balistar thank you! that is possible

[Liz01]

17:50 Mom came home. All is OK with her.
17:52 she starts feeding her hungry little ones

[Abigyl]

Not eating?? They look well fed...

[balistar]

13:22 Grāfs comes home. It looks like Grāfiene was very startled at his arrival. It takes 2 minutes until she was breathing normally again. She was standing with the back to the left for a long time to protect the storklets from the sun when he arrived, for her, very suddenly

...

Unknown behavior after the arrival of the male with the female
[youtube]hXAt6K9xqWs[ /youtube]

....

Liz, i've watched your video twice and had my windows closed, so, no disturbing noises from outside.

For the entire minutes from the male's arrival to the female's departure, a strange noise could be heard in the background, like a beating, as if a metal clapper is striking something, sometimes rhythmically, sometimes arrhythmically. This beating was partially accompanied by the female's head up and down movements. I think she wasn't startled by the male's arrival, but by the strange beating. Maybe some kind of machine used by forest workers ? Or are there farms in this area and farmers using machines this time of the year ?
Oddly enough, it had started with his arrival and stopped at the same time as her departure.

[Liz01]

June 22

Good Morning Abigyl, balistar and everyone

balistar, my guess is, because of the very high heat - 33 degrees normal, at the nest definitely 40 degrees and more, she was startlet when he arrived . She is exhausted! She was a Mombrella in great heat all the time.

6:12 Grafiene comes home. She is feeding her storklets

[Liz01]

[Liz01]

She is making the bed for the kiddos

[Liz01]

8:38 Grāfs came home
Grāfiene was breathing in the same way as yesterday. But not for long. She flew away.


Feeding a lump of food

[Liz01]

happy little ones with full crop

[Liz01]

9:38 another feeding by Dad

[balistar]

Liz,

it is admirable how the parents can provide shade for their storklets for so long in this heat. Yesterday also Grāfs, he stood for 3 hours, almost motionless with open wings to give them shade. What a grueling muscle work it takes. Admirable.

sorry for interrupting the chronology (pics from yesterday, 21st):

since 13.25 he is standing like this, giving shade for the storklets


16.09 first little movement by Grāfs


17.06 meanwhile there is shade in the nest


17.50 Grāfiene arrived, parents were greeting each other heartedly (that was very nice to watch and hear)


Regarding Graefiene's behavior yesterday:
the heavy breathing, the head movements, that's really interesting. I've just watched the video a third time and i'm slowly starting to wonder whether the beating noise i thought i heard is not maybe her breathing and is transmitted so loudly by the microphone ? now that unsettles me a little

Strangely enough, at Estonian Nest 1 i was once able to perceive the female breathing just as long and violently when the male suddenly and very quietly arrived. She was definitely startled, there was no other sound to be heard than her heavy breathing.
OT, yes, but being able to compare observations of other nest cams is positive.

I am very interested in what Solo's experts will say....

[Liz01]

balistar, thanks for the great pictures.
I think a chronology is not so important, especially since it is documented sporadically here. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer observers who are also documenting.

and thanks for the information what you have seen- heard on the Must-toonekurg nest.
this is not OT. It's all very interesting for me .
at least, you can roughly compare

[balistar]

Yes, there are less documentators, on several threads
I'd really like to do more, but unfortunately since beginning of May i have so many health issues.... and this week i shall recieve my first shot of vaccination... i'm sitting more often at the doctors or in hospital than i'm able to follow the cams continously....

I used to document at the Estonian 1 nest, but there are enough documentators who extensively document what is happening in the nest.
So, i'll try to do more here.

Have a great day
(i must rush out again, my car needs to get the TÜV)

[Liz01]

17:49 Grāfiene! comes home - and feeding


she brought a lot of small fishes

[Liz01]

21:01 Grāfs comes home


Dinner for the storklets. that was much food!


all have a huge crop!

[Liz01]

June 23


good morning balistar and all

5:41 Breakfast is coming in Grāfiene brought a lot of small fishes







balistar, I'm incredibly sorry about your poor health. I hope there is a possibility that one day you will be better

[Liz01]

feeding is over

[Liz01]

6:24 another feeding. small black things




all have eaten well!

[Liz01]

8:16 Grāfs brings the third breakfast