Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

documenting the life on streamed black stork nests
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

More preening, Karl's face is so cute :)
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He starts to whistle silently, one chicks also stands up for protection.
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10.55 KAIA arrives. Karl leaves.
Karl was in the nest for 6 minutes.
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

10.56 FEEDING (2) Two piles of frogs. The chicks eat them in a speed of light :lol:
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After feeding Kaia goes to the curved branch. ( pay attention to #3's body posture- in the middle)
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

11.46 Trying to bite the tail feathers ;)
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12.13 Just a very handsome little storklet.
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13.00 Kaia moves to the other side. The chicks are twittering. Kaia is preening herself.
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13.02 Kaia flies out to the left. Chicks are now alone.
Kaia was in the nest for 2 h 7 min.
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

Observation about preening:

Karl is always very caring, spending a lot of time individually grooming and preening the chicks, whereas Kaia doesn't do that. While she is in the nest, she often stands away from the kids, not facing towards them. And not taking care of them in such a way.

I have noticed already before ( not only in this nest) that male storks tend to be more gentle ones and very caring about their offspring. They also have more responsibilities- nest building, providing more food, raising chicks alone while females leave for migration earlier.

So I wonder- is this the nature of female black storks in general to pay less attention to their offspring than the males?
Not saying anything bad about Kaia- she is doing everything she can to raise healthy chicks. But it is causing a lot of stress to her. She shows it in her often nervous behavior. Also, this is only her second year of raising chicks, so we can't talk about a lot of experience here..
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

Some nest activities while the chicks are alone at home:

Excercising, preening, sleeping, and the circle continues :P

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Adria
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Adria »

Hi Mandli. I noticed that the cubs were getting quite lonely. The young are relatively small and cannot yet overcome the various dangers, especially from predators. Is such parental behavior okay ? :?
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

Adria wrote: 21 Jun 2022, 17:51 Hi Mandli. I noticed that the cubs were getting quite lonely. The young are relatively small and cannot yet overcome the various dangers, especially from predators. Is such parental behavior okay ? :?
Hey Adriana!

Yes, it is actually very normal. Parents start leaving the chicks alone for longer periods at about two feeks of age. The chicks demand more food and both parents need to go hunting simultaneously. But this is a more dangerous period, no doubt about that. Clearly the chicks can't defend themselves. ( Fingers crossed for the best!)

Actually, These chicks were guarded by their parents quite a long time. I have heard that in some years when food is scarce, the parents leave the chicks even earlier than two weeks. ;)
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

Standing so tall 8-)
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

17.42 KARL . The chicks start begging instantly.
Chicks were alone for 4 h 40 min.
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17.42 FEEDING (3) Lots of fish. I can't see anything, but I imagine that everyone got a good meal.
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17.44 Karl leaves. He was in the nest for 2 minutes.
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Madli
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Re: Karula National Park (Karl II and Kaia)

Post by Madli »

Little Mini #3 getting stronger :P Although the balance is not yet very good.
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Comparison of the plumage changes. #3 in the middle.
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