Tajo Internacional (Natalio/M and Zica/F)

[marika.solo]

youtube chat info - thx to everyone

@ЛюбовьКучеренко-я6н​​
- 07:40
Светлана-ни​​
- 8.15 - Зика пыталась покормить птенцов, но они такое не едят. / Zica attempted to feed the chicks, but they are not eating it.
@ЛюбовьКучеренко-я6н​​
- 09:18
@Светлана-ни​​
- 9.33 - попытка покормить птенцов, у Зики нечего дать. / Feeding attempt; Zica has nothing to regurgitate.

- 9.59 - прилетел Наталио, улетела Зика / 9.59 - Natalio arrived, Zika flew away
- 10.00 - кормление / 10.00 - feeding
@паніСвітланаК
- ​​12:23 крик Наталіо / 12.23 Natalio calling

- ​​12:24 прилетіла Зіка / 12.24 Zica arrives
- ​​12:29 годування / 12.29 feeding
@ЛюбовьКучеренко-я6н​​
- только два хорошо едят .а один какой-то не очень хочет / Only two eat well and one doesn’t really want to
@anapg75​​:
- Muy buena ceba a las 12:29 / very good feeding at 12.29

[marika.solo]

ZICA: from 18:14 (12.05.2026) - to (out:09.59.40)
WARMING / GUARDING (than nest care: aerating, rearranging + preening and area monitoring)

warming from - to
- ........... - 06.51.04 (06.58 - some kind of threat nearby)
- 07.17.13 - 08.08.13
08.15 feeding nr 1 (something few - everyone picked something)
- 08.26.43 - 09.18.51
09.33 feeding nr 2 (something few - everyone picked something)

NATALIO in 09.59.30 - ZICA out 09.59.40

[marika.solo]

Zica spotted a threat outside the camera view. She took a defensive stance: she lowered her body over the chicks, spread her wings, and puffed her feathers. We could also hear the soft bill-clicking

(the shadow in the water at 06:59:30 shows a bird taking off from the rocks)



black stork probably



and one bird flies in opposite direction

[marika.solo]

08.15 FEEDING nr 1 ZICA
everyone ate some pieces - crops are not full/their necks are thin

[marika.solo]

09.33 FEEDING nr 2 ZICA
everyone ate some pieces - crops are not full/their necks are thin

the size difference

[marika.solo]

NATALIO: from 09.59.30 - to (out: 12.24.24)
WARMING / GUARDING (than nest care: aerating, rearranging + preening and area monitoring)

warming from - to
10.00 feeding nr 3
- (no warming)

12.23.32 Natalio noticing Zica (?), calling/singing, fluffing of the white under-tail coverts - 12.23.53 again - 12.24.12 again - 12.24.15 ZICA landing - 12.24.24 NATALIO out

Here you can clearly see the often mentioned feather — his distinguishing feature. (There are also other differences between the male and female that help us tell them apart.)

[marika.solo]

Natalio enough often steps on the chicks

Why do storks step on their chicks? (Explanation)

The Blind Spot:
Storks have eyes on the sides of their heads, providing them with a nearly 360° view of their surroundings (protection against predators). Their binocular vision (depth perception using both eyes) is directed forward and slightly downward, but they cannot see directly beneath their long bills. The area immediately around their feet is a "blind spot" for them.

Weight Control:
Although it looks scary, but the parent does not transfer its full body weight onto the leg that touches a chick. They have an excellent sense of touch and body awareness (proprioception) in their legs. As soon as they feel a soft, moving object (the chick) under their foot, they instinctively shift their weight away - to the other leg or support themselves with their wings.

[marika.solo]

FEEDING nr 3 NATALIO

little one is first in the raw



for one of them it is harder to reach the food, but some pieces this storklet ate too



maybe Benjamin ate the most

[marika.solo]

youtube chat question:

@паніСвітланаК
​​Why can’t the male see that he needs to turn round and cast a shadow over the chicks?
​​Can baby birds die from the heat?

my answers:
​​The rock does not overheat; it stays cool. Later in the season, we will see the chicks pressing their foreheads or bodies against the stone to cool down
​​Chicks can die from overheating (heatstroke), but I have never seen it happen. They are much stronger than we usually think and can handle a lot.
​​They get most of their water from food. However, in extreme heat, the parents bring water in their bills. They shower the chicks or let them drink directly from their bills

[marika.solo]

ZICA: from 12.24.15 - to (out: 20.09.43)
WARMING / GUARDING (than nest care: aerating, rearranging + preening and area monitoring)

warming from - to

- 12.28 feeding nr 4 (they are in food coma to approx. 15h)
- alarm call: 16.37.40 - 16.37.56 + bill-clicking
- 19.27.58 Zica covered her chicks - 20.00.52 up

20.09.38 NATALIO landing - 20.09.43 ZICA out

-----
The chicks were very inactive this afternoon, mostly sleeping. It’s likely a reaction to the low barometric pressure.
Zica was standing over the chicks (shading/airing) while cleaning her feathers. Occasionally, she engaged in aerating the nest floor. The chicks, woken up by her bill movements, were visibly protesting this disruption of their sleep.
They finally "woke up" after 17 h, ready for the next feeding (they chirping).