Ogre Municipality (Vidzeme Region)

[marika.solo]

What does a "wing droop" mean in this context?

The observation of drooping wings is a highly significant clinical sign that fits into both scenarios discussed above:

Support for the lead poisoning hypothesis: In avian medicine, a wing droop is one of the most classic signs of peripheral neuropathy caused by lead toxicity. Lead disrupts the nerve signals to the muscles. Because the wings of large birds are heavy, the weakened shoulder muscles can no longer hold them in the correct, tightly tucked position. If this is lead-induced, the neurological damage directly correlates with her altered mental state and irritability/aggression towards the chicks.

Severe physical exhaustion or infection: Drooping wings are also a general sign of a bird operating under extreme physical stress. If the wound at the base of her bill is chronically infected or inflamed (which is highly likely with an embedded projectile), she may be suffering from a systemic infection or fever. A bird experiencing such deep physical discomfort will have an extremely low tolerance threshold for demanding chicks.

[marika.solo]

RINGING

10:25 breaking branches and voices
10:35 ringers approached the nest - 10:38 one of the storklest noticed them
they are growling and the 2 bigger defends the nest (one of them is pecking the climber repeatedly)
10:45 every storklet is safely in the bag
Janis is cleaning the lens (10:47 and 10:55 again)
10:57 J.K. takes a feather (maybe it is Meija's feather)
Janis measured the cross sections of the nest
11:04 chicks are again "at home"

Janis Kuze manipulates with chicks really very, very carefully.

[marika.solo]

[marika.solo]

I particularly expected them to be covered, given the current situation in the nest. The chicks are already highly stressed by the female's aggressive behaviour.

These nestlings were already under immense pressure and tension from the morning encounters with the female before the climber even reached the tree. Their stress baseline was elevated, which explains why their defensive reaction was so intense and explosive (especially the oldest, most dishevelled chick).

In a sensitive situation like this, covering them immediately with a cloth is even more critical. It cuts off visual stimuli, helping to calm their overstimulated nervous systems, and prevents them from blindly backing away to the very edge of the nest where a fatal fall could occur.

[marika.solo]

I don't know for sure who climbed up, but they handled the chicks very gently, using a proper, swift grip. What surprised me is that the climber remained up in the tree – in my 10 years of watching stork streams, I have never seen this before; only the bag was lowered down.

While it might look unusual to see the climber stay in the nest while the bag goes down alone, it is a highly practical decision in these conditions:
Energy conservation in the heat: Climbing a massive tree in climbing gear when temperatures are reaching +30°C is physically punishing. Climbing down and then having to ascend all over again a short while later poses a real risk of heat exhaustion. Staying secured in the harness at the top is far safer for the climber.

[marika.solo]

Sex of the chicks: Some interesting information came from the ground – the two older chicks are most likely females (girls), while it is not yet clear for the third, smallest one.

Nest dimensions: Jānis Ķuze measured the nest while at the top; it has impressive dimensions of 100 × 110 cm, with a height/thickness of 60 cm.

A rare find in the nest: Jānis Ķuze also managed to find a dropped feather belonging to the female, Meija, inside the nest. This is a crucial breakthrough, as examining this feather could provide definitive laboratory answers regarding her health and the suspected heavy metal or lead poisoning.

[marika.solo]

@Trīne.11:
MS :nekādas prognozes neizsaka.Vēros tālāko notikumu gaitu ligzdā.

Dr M. Strazds is making no predictions at this stage; he will continue to observe the further course of events in the nest.

[marika.solo]

Dear Triine, thank you very much for the video and the information from the ringing team.

[marika.solo]

11:24 AM @Trīne.11 Gredzeni: 0X51, 52 un 53, salikti augošā secībā, sākot ar vecāko.


(https://forums.dabasdati.lv/viewtopic.p ... 46#p456446)
Message from the ringing team via Triine:

OX51, OX52 and OX53, listed in ascending order starting from the oldest.

So it goes:

Oldest: OX51 – female

Middle: OX52 – female

Youngest: OX53 – sex undetermined