In March, before installing the web camera in the nest, we waited impatiently for the start of male bird Karl’s migration. Karl did have a tracking device but the lack of GSM cover in southern Sudan kept us in the dark during four months, from mid-November 2018 when Karl reached his wintering site. However, on March 16 during the spring migration Karl’s locations were registered and all seemed to be in order. We had nearly two weeks of time to install the camera at the nest. The nest could be seen in the web camera from March 24 onwards.

Black stork     Must-toonekurg        Ciconia nigra

Starting today (August 26) the webcam will stop transmission from the web camera for this season. As a reminder, here is  a small summary of the nesting of female Kati and male Karl.

Web camera images by Tatjana, LK forum

… And so was the departure

Black stork     Must-toonekurg          Ciconia nigra

Young stork Aru left the nest today probably on its migration, on the ninety-thirrd day of nest life.

Yesterday the young bird wasn’t fed by male Karl, probably he too has gone on his migration.

The young bird Aru (letter A on the leg number) has injured the underside of its wing on its test flights but the slight tear seems to be healing. It is the bird that spends most of its time in the nest. The other young bird can be seen in early morning

Black stork          Must-toonekurg         Ciconia nigra

The young birds were 86 days old today, next week they will be three months on August 16. The migration period should be starting for the young birds.

Black stork  Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

In early morning they set off on flights but the young birds must be back in the nest around eight o’clock because male Karl might come to the nest with the early morning prey about then. Who arrives too late in the nest may be left without food – and who wants that.

Female stork Kati

Black stork        Must-toonekurg        Ciconia nigra

The young storks have flying exercises in the morning, everything seems to be order with the orienteering sense of the young birds. After that they have to wait for male Karl with the morning meal and the day goes on.

For some days we have no longer seen mother Kati in the nest. As we already know from earlier years the female leaves first, to head quietly for the wintering grounds.

The forum viewers voted about names for the young storks:

Mother Kati arrived at the nest; young storks waiting for food

Black stork        Must-toonekurg         Ciconia nigra

Both parents, mother Kati as well as father Karl, come to feed the young birds nicely. Yesterday one of the young storks made its first trip out from the nest. and it is evident that if the weather allows, days with flying exercises will become common.

Black stork       Must-toonekurg          Ciconia nigra

Male Karl arrived to feed the young storks

Black stork        Must-toonekurg      Ciconia nigra

Last night in the evening viewers noticed that the brown-coloured transmitter of  one of the juveniles caused more ”agitation” in the adults than the black ”rucksack” of the other one.

Today in the morning the male cautiously circled the nest and the juveniles loudly begged for food from him – as usual when one of the adults is noticed in the vicinity.

At three o’clock the young storks, observing the doings of the ringers under the trees, decided to leave the nest …

Black stork          Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

The Eagle Club birdmen had planned a serious working day. In addition to ringing, both young storks would get ”backpacks” with radio transmitters.