Black Stork Nest In Karula 2023.

Cameras Watching over Black Storks nest
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Jo UK
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Black Stork Nest In Karula 2023.

Post by Jo UK »

KOTKAKLUBI Youtube Channels
https://www.youtube.com/c/Kotkaklubi

.
THE LOCATION

This Black Stork nest is located in Karula National Park which is possibly the best breeding area for Black Stork in Estonia nowadays.

Karula National Park
The smallest (surface area: 123 km²) and hilliest national park in Estonia, Karula National Park is located in the Karula Uplands, on the borders of Valga and Võru counties.
The unique, beautiful terrain of the Karula Uplands formed more than 10,000 years ago as a result of the action of glacial ice. With the continental glacier retreating, the northern section of Karula came to feature predominantly dome-shaped kames, or hills covered with fields, grassland or forests. Kames are separated from one another by small, wet meadows, forest stands, patches of marshy ground and lakes. The hilly section of the national park is its most densely populated area. The southern part of Karula features groups of eskers and kames with mires and forests, where human settlements are quite rare. The highest point in the uplands is Tornimägi Hill (137.8 m) in the village of Rebasemõisa. The Karula Uplands boast 60 lakes, of which 40 are located in the national park. The largest among them is the picturesque Lake Ähijärv (176 ha) with its winding shoreline, next to Ähijärv is Karula National Park visitor centre.
Karula is the name of a former parish, thought to come from the word karune, or rough. This word perfectly describes the region, which abounds in wooded hills difficult to access or cultivate.
The varied terrain of Karula was placed under national protection, with the original landscape protection area being designated a national park in 1993. The park was established to preserve the natural environment found in the hilly landscapes characteristic of Southern Estonia, where forests and lakes abound, as well as species under protection and the cultural heritage of the area.

© https://kaitsealad.ee/en/protected-area ... nal-park-0

Image
© https://kaitsealad.ee/en/protected-area ... nal-park-0

Karula rahvuspargi Lüllemäe kuplistik sügisel (The Lüllemäe Hills of Karula National Park in autumn)
Image
© Photo: Arne Ader
© https://kaitsealad.ee/en/protected-area ... nal-park-0

Video
Here you can watch a beautiful video of Karula National Park:
The hidden treasures of Karula National Park - Karula rahvuspargi peidetud väärtused


© Keskkonnaamet



THE NEST

The original nest was found in February 2016 by the Eagle Club's (Kotkaklubi) nest search camp.
The old nest collapsed after the 2017 breeding season.
A new - artificial - nest was build by Urmas & Friends in the same tree, before the 2018 breeding season began.

Image
https://www.looduskalender.ee/n/en/node/3350



SUCCESSIVE BREEDING SEASONS

2016 - Karl (715R) and Kati
There were 4 eggs. 3 hatched. One of the 3 chicks had a severe growth retardation and did not develop normally. That chick clearly had a health problem and has been eliminated by Kati. The other 2 (Kulla and Kalli) were well fed and fledged successfully. They had no transmitter.

2017 - Karl (715R) and Kati
There were 4 chicks. Although the youngest looked healthy, it was eliminated by Kati.
The reason why bird infanticide (brood reduction) occurs on a nest is well described here:
viewtopic.php?p=686634#p686634
The remaining 3 storklets (Unu, Tali and Usin) were well-nourished and fledged successfully. They had no transmitter.

2018 - Karl (715R) and Kati
There were 4 eggs, but only 3 hatched. All 3 storklets were healthy and well-fed. All 3 fledged successfully. Unfortunately Päike and Maru perished during their first autumn migration. Our Karula perished in Turkey, shortly before his 3rd birthday.

2019 - Karl II (716C) and Kati
Karl perished on his way home in the spring of 2019. A new male took his place (Karl II). Kati accepted him immediately. There were 4 eggs. All 4 chicks hatched. Kati eliminated the youngest chick. Another storklet was knocked from the nest by a goshawk. The 2 remaining storklets, Oru and Aru, fledged successfully, but perished during their first autumn migration

2020 - Karl II (716C) and Kaia
Kati didn’t return to the nest in spring. Probably she perished.
Karl II waited on the nest. Finally a very young (presumably 2 years old - born in 2018) female arrived (Kaia).
She laid 2 late eggs, but abandoned them. Kaia was then very skinny and not in good condition, and probably also too young to take on a maternal role. No chicks hatched.

2021- Karl II (716C) and Kaia
There were 4 eggs. One of the eggs broke during incubation. 3 chicks, Udu, Pikne and Tuul, hatched and fledged successfully. Little Tuul was predated shortly after starting his first migration. The 2 others flew to Africa, but spent well the winter there. Pikne perished in Turkey next summer, most probably caused by power lines. Body was not found by locals. Udu flew in mid of next summer into northern Italy, stood there up to late autumn and wintered second winter in Turkey (close to Trojan archaeological site). No more information about Udu, because transmitter used is not good for to follow Black Stork.

2022- Karl II (716C) and Kaia
In 2022 three egg hatched between May 28 and May 31, 2022 All three chicks grow up well (Waba, Voog and Iks, plus foster chick named Bonus. They were fed additionally in two places ("fish restaurants visited by adults") to enhance body condition for all four chicks by migration start. Two chicks (Waba and Bonus) got also transmitters, they both flew into Africa, in Africa only Waba did have good GSM network in Sudan, but we do not know about Bonus, yet. We need to wait for first spring migration of Bonus, it may start somewhere in June, if everything is fine with Bonus. Just before autumn migration also Kaia was caught and fitted with rings and transmitter

Karl II and Kaia (718U)
Karl II was caught in July 2020, after breeding failed with two eggs in nest (only year where unsuccessful breeding in this nest, so far). Karl II got rings, visible one 716C. Kaia was caught similarly, at the fish restaurant in August 2022, just before autumn migration. She got white ring with black code 718U. At least we hope it was Kaia. Soon we can either confirm it or reject. As we used formerly used transmitter on Kaia, it is a bit lazy in transferring stored data. Could be that Kaia arrives earlier home as data downloaded about wintering and migration.

Link to Birdmap

https://birdmap.5dvision.ee/index.php?lang=en
Video of Kaia at the fish restaurant, before she had the transmitter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvRzMGH ... Kotkaklubi


LIVE STREAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R4aT5y ... Kotkaklubi
Jo UK
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Post by Jo UK »

Last year we had a different camera. It has night vision and a moderate zoom function. There is no pan-tilt function, but really, we only need zoom for instance, to be able to identify food brought to the nest by the adults, or to have a closer view of the chicks, if desired.

Following text by Urmas and Triin ;-
We are using the AXIS P1455-LE camera at the nest. Therefore we’re able to meet the wishes of the friends and supporters of the Black stork to see what is happening in the nest at night. Black stork cameras don't need to be camouflaged. So far, we haven't noticed the camera disturbing nesting birds. On the contrary, adults have sometimes wanted to lift the camera into the nest like nest material that has fallen away. The camera is transmitted via mobile Internet. The image is transferred to the server of the Estonian Fund for Nature, where the video is being prepared and saved for YouTube streaming. The livestream is broadcasted through the Eagle Club YouTube channel. We recommend following the Kotkaklubi channel in case the link for the broadcast changes due to technical reasons. All other Estonian eagle and black stork nest cameras and a Capercaillie camera can also be found on the Eagle Club channel. The use of the stream from the nest elsewhere for non-commercial purposes is not prohibited, but please let us know if possible (send a message to urmas (ät) kotkas.ee)

To help identification of Kaia, ring 718U, here is a picture of her eye and beak.
Image
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Post by Jo UK »

IMPORTANT EVENTS ON THE NEST 2023

12.04.2023 Karl II arrived 12.15
20.04.2023 After a long and anxious wait, Kaia arrived at 14.26

27.04 2023 Very late - near midnight - an eagle owl attacked the nest crashing into Karl II. No apparent injury or damage. Video by Swenja viewtopic.php?p=897413#p897413

EGGS
First egg - April 28, seen at 09.20
Second egg - May 1, seen at 05.04 but laid at 01.48. (Thanks for night vision camera)
Third egg - May 3. seen at 05.19
Fourth egg - laid at 04.47. Seen at 06.32.

First chick hatched June 1, 2023 at 01.26
Second chick hatched June 1, 2023 at 16.45
Third chick hatched June 3, 2023 at 20.41.
Fourth chick hatched June 5, 2023 at 05.01

BROOD REDUCTION
On June 15, 2023, at 19.39, Karl II removed chick number 4 from the nest. It is believed, but not seen, that he dropped the chick in the forest. With thanks to Swenja for this image.
https://up.picr.de/45845274ez.jpg
Jo UK
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Post by Jo UK »

Reserved
Jo UK
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Post by Jo UK »

Reserved
Jo UK
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Post by Jo UK »

Here is a drone photo of the Karula nest, from the opposite direction to the one we usually see. Thankyou Urmas

Image
Jo UK
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Post by Jo UK »

Last year Karl II arrived at the nest on April 11. Kaia arrived on April 12.
Today is April 9 - we must keep watch on the tracker maps to follow their progress.
How many of us remember the days before tracker maps? We didn't know when to watch the nest in expectation of arrivals.
As soon as the webcam is public it will be posted here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R4aT5y ... Kotkaklubi
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Post by Jo UK »

With thanks to Liz01 who posted this summary of the events leading to Bonus being added to the Karula nest on
June 30, 2022
https://looduskalender.ee/forum/viewtop ... 06#p867306


On 28.05.2022 #6 died due to Janika's brood reduction in the afternoon
On 01.06.2022 Male Jan is missing
On 03.06.2022 Janika takes chick #5 away from the nest brood reduction
On 05.06.2022 #4 died shortly before rescue ( a few minutes)
On 5.06.2022 Storklets are taken from the nest and brought in the Vet Clinic
On 29.06.2022 #3 fell from the nest and had badly broken wing! it was euthanized
On 30.06.2022 #1 was introduced as a foster chick to the nest of Eedi
On 30.06.2022 #2 was introduced as a foster chick to the nest of Karl & Kaia
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Swenja
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Post by Swenja »

Thank you @Jo UK!
Now the camera transmission is there! Thanks @ Urmas and Kotkaklubi!

April 11

And the nest is already visited by black storks :2thumbsup: So a black stork without a ring.

A stranger
Image

Image

A black-footed black stork. :unsure:
Image

Karl II you really have to fly faster now.
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Francesca_V
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Post by Francesca_V »

Hi Svenja,
Thanks for the pics!
Can you see if it is a male or a female?

PS Karl has about 80 km to fly. So he will hopefully arrive tomorrow.
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Swenja
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Post by Swenja »

Hello @Francesca_V!
Nice to read you.

I think it's a male because of the singing and nest work.




Continue with April 12 content.

Now the nest is empty.

Image
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Francesca_V
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Post by Francesca_V »

Swenja, nice to see you too! :wave:

Ah, OK, Thanks.
So it is going to be very ... exciting when Karl II arrives. :shock:
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Post by Hellem »

:hi: all

From chat by Irena S (12:32AM):
​Looks like from 7:54 till 9:54 was one (first) stork and from 12:41 till 13:06, from 13:30 till 13:44, 16:09 till 16:37 was another (second) stork
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Liz01
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Post by Liz01 »

:hi: Jo, thank you for opening the topic. And thanks for reporting to everyone :2thumbsup:

the nest was empty overnight

Hellem, :hi: Irena S is right, there were two different males.
Image

different legs
Image
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Liz01
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Post by Liz01 »

7:21 Arrival of a strange male- he is singing
Image

sings again
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Post by Liz01 »

7:51 BS takes a bunch moss, brings it to the nest edge,. He settles down and is poking in the moss bunch
Image

S/He is singing like a male. but he does not bring branches :puzzled:

8:00 he/she flew away

Info by Kotkaklubi
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asteria
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Post by asteria »

:hi: Good morning!
Last year KarlII arrived on April, 8 and in 2021 on April, 11.
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Liz01
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Post by Liz01 »

9:52 a stranger visit the nest. Is singing
9:55 he/she put old nesting material in the nest bowl
10:08 he flew off

Swenja :hi: can you please put the today's date in your first post? that would be graet. :D
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Swenja
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Post by Swenja »

A black stork with a breast spot visited here 2 years ago. The stain is not easy to see. I don't know if it's that stork.
Maybe I can find a comparison picture.

Image

It was 2020, 3 years ago.

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asteria
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Post by asteria »

In 2021 KarlII flew in and immediately started moving branches and then brought nest material.
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