Pärnu county (Kergu + ?)

[bozena Isia]

April 19

Kergu still lonely

[marika.solo]

April 22
Hello everyone

snow covered the nest (10.22.32)


Kergu arrived singing (19.20.33)

[marika.solo]

[Foxicon]

April 23



I thought this was such a beautiful image of Kergu, so much snow around. It must be tricky to come from such warm weather into cooler weather! But Kergu looks lovely against the snowy white of the nest.

[marika.solo]

out and in more times and arrival with new nest material

09.58


10.17

[marika.solo]

owl flew to Kergu's nest

[marika.solo]

April 24
Hello everyone

it rained in the morning and the snow partially disappeared





at 08.46 he is singing, fanned tail feathers and is moving the branches on the nest rim

[marika.solo]

owl flew to Kergu's nest

"In Pärnu county, a male bird Kergu, who arrived already on April 3, is waiting for his nest. However, no female birds have arrived at the nest. Black storks have decreased throughout the breeding area, and females reach the northernmost breeding area less often.

Late last night, a owl (unfortunately, I can't determine the species) threatened Kergu, who was sleeping on the nest, in some way, but it was clear that it was an attack event. Adult and large birds know how to protect themselves, but birds of prey are always dangerous for young birds."
(https://www.looduskalender.ee/n/node/8505 - Posted by Looduskalender - Wed, 24.04.2024 - 09.09)

[Adria]

It would be best for Kergu to leave this area, (as he is having trouble finding a partner for the second year) and move down to Latvia, Lithuania. The situation in Estonia is probably critical , as regards the number of black stork individuals, which we can also see on the nest in Jugeva (an empty nest for two years) and the nest in Karula is still empty .

[marika.solo]

- BS are faithful to their breeding area, only occasionally they change their nest
- the situation in Latvia and Lithuania is not better
- the BS population in the Baltic region is at the northern end of the European range

Estonia:
- the population has been declining for a long time
- for several years, a large proportion of unpaired birds have been observed
- there is a shortage of females

Urmas and colleagues have written articles on this topic, here you can read more - interesting (and sad) information:
2024: Low juvenile survival threatens the Black Stork Ciconia nigra in northern Europe
2021: The abundance, reproductive success and apparent survival in the Estonian black stork population in 1991–2020
2019: Solitude at periphery: lack of partners limits reproduction of the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) at the margin of the distribution range
2015: Spatio-temporal variation in nestling sex ratio among the Black Stork Ciconia nigra populations across Europe
2005: Have recent changes in forest structure reduced the Estonian black stork Ciconia nigra population?
2003: Nest trees - a limiting factor for the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) population in Estonia
2001: Foraging habitats of the black stork in Estonia
2000: Will the black stork remain to breed in Estonia?