Pärnu county (Kergu + Kerli) / Must-toonekurg 3

[marika.solo]

previous day (12.08) viewtopic.php?p=63535#p63535
next day (14.08)

August 13
Hello everyone

CHICKS
- 1st chick: 60 days old (hatched on 14.06)

EGGS
unhatched (laid on 13.05 at 22:22 and 16.05 at 02:05)

Stork chicks grow exponentially. 90 days in the nest is like 18-21 years for humans. This means that 1 day in the nest is like almost 3 months for a human child. That is why their transformation is so amazing and fast.

Chicks become capable of flight at 68–72 days of age (maiden flight). The timing of the maiden flight depends on several factors. (Urmas Sellis)

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Info on the late nesting:
- viewtopic.php?p=57312#p57312
- viewtopic.php?p=57325#p57325
- viewtopic.php?p=57342#p57342

[marika.solo]

For our storklet (the late-hatched chick now 60 days old), the decisive factor will be

1/ whether the adults continue to find sufficient food and
2/ whether parental care continues to take precedence over the increasing drive to migrate.

KERGU left for migration
2022 - 12.08 ( 2 chick)
2023 - 29.07 (no nesting)
2024 - 30.07 (no nesting)
2025 - 11.08 (3 chicks still on the nest, but already fledglings approx. 1 week)

KERLI left for migration
2024 - 22.07 (no nesting)
2025 - 16.08 (3 chicks still on the nest, but already fledglings approx. 2 weeks)

1/ Chicks become capable of flight at 68–72 days of age (maiden flight). The timing of the maiden flight depends on several factors. (Urmas Sellis)

- Estimated MAIDEN FLIGHT (68–72 days): 19–22 Aug for our storklet.

2/ By tracking 35 tagged chicks, Polish researchers found that young storks left the nest permanently at an average age of 87 days, with the latest departure recorded at 108 days. Before their definitive departure for migration, fledglings usually fly within an average distance of about 200 m from the nest. As they grow older, this distance gradually increases to about 500 m. (Dr Anderwald)

- Estimated DEFINITIVE DEPARTURE (87 days): 8 Sep for our storklet.

3/ Survival is higher in chicks that remain at the nest for a longer period after fledging. They gradually become independent while still receiving food from their parents. For another 2–4 weeks after the maiden flight, they may return to the nest to rest or spend the night. (Dr Strazds)

- Estimated end of the regular post-fledging nest period (about 2 weeks after the maiden flight): 2 Sep for our storklet.

4/ During the post-fledging period, young storks mainly practise flying, landing and manoeuvring close to the nest. According to Prof. Zieliński, they learn to locate feeding sites and forage independently only after their definitive departure from the nest during migration.

[marika.solo]

11:02 feeding by KERLI

[marika.solo]

17:30:56 feeding by KERLI

17:30:37 begging display
17:30:44 Kerli landing on her favourite branch
17:30:55 K. hoping to the nest - feeding
17:31:16 K. to the lookout branch 17.31:35 K. took off

[marika.solo]

.....
Kergu's GPS transmitter location points only come at 22 pm and Kerli's at 20.08. ....
.... Maybe today his transmitter will still transmit information, although it was already on 28%. I would like to hope that he hasn't left here yet.
....

[marika.solo]

19:58:50 feeding by KERLI

[marika.solo]

..... Kerli spent the night near the nest and has already returned three times today to feed the chick. Most of her foraging time was spent among the solar panels next to the wind farm, where she is likely finding mostly frogs. ....

[marika.solo]

Kergu reached Belarus. Continuation in migration thread.

[marika.solo]

youtube chat info - thx to everyone
YouTube comments do not reflect all nest events throughout the day, including chick feedings; therefore, the log is unfortunately incomplete.

NEST ACTIVITY LOG 12/08/2026 (in the evening - whole day)
Log compiled from chat observations and structured with the assistance of Gemini AI.

Events Timeline

Morning / Forenoon
06:48 Animal calls (ungulates) heard in the vicinity of the nest.
10:58 The chick begins begging.
10:59 Female Kerli flies past the nest and lands on a nearby branch.
11:01:58 - 11:02:17 Feeding by Kerli.

Afternoon / Evening
13:25 The chick stands up, stretches its wings, and defecates.
13:26 - 13:29 Wing exercises and jumping in the nest.
15:44 Movements/sounds heard below the nest.
16:01 Distant gunshot/shooting sounds heard in the surrounding area.
17:30:56 - 17:31 Feeding by Kerli.
19:56 The chick displays begging behavior.
19:58:50 Feeding by Kerli (including a frog).
21:21 Calls of Common Cranes (Grus grus) heard in the distance.
21:35 - 21:36 Vocalisations of a Pine Marten (Martes martes) heard near the nest.

Summary Highlights

• Feedings:
  3 times, all provided by Kerli (11:02, 17:30, 19:58).
• Migration Update:
  Male Kergu did not visit the nest. Telemetry data received later in the evening confirmed that Kergu has started autumn migration and has reached Belarus.