MATS - adult male, Pärnu county

[marika.solo]

IN PREPARATION

Spring Birdmap: Starts 15 February. (Autumn data ends 14 February.) Publication may follow 1–2 weeks later. Storks appear only after reaching GSM coverage during a data session.

Migration Tracking of MATS

Bird Profile:

• Sex: Male

• Age: unknown, adult

• Origin: unknown

• Territory: a large Pärnu County territory from Audru to Matsalu, including the nesting site where Madi (2022) hatched

• Wintering ground: Ethiopia (Amhara Region)

• 1st spring migration with transmitter (tagged on 03.06.2025)

Ringing data:
I have both the ornithological and color ring numbers, but I’ve been asked to handle them with caution (e.g. to prevent misuse in false reports).
If you see a stork with a ring in the wild, on a webcam, or in the media, please contact me by Private Message.

AUTUMN/WINTER MIGRATION 2025/2026: viewtopic.php?f=170&t=313&p=51046#p51046
Mats is wintering in Ethiopia


Spring Birdmap 2026 since:
FIRST BIRDMAP UPDATE FOR MATS on:

Spring migration 2026
Data source:

0/ Departure (Left wintering grounds)/Migration started on
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1/ Crossing the Gulf of Suez (Sinay/Egypt)
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2/ Crossing the Gulf of Iskenderun (Turkey)
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3/ Crossing the Sea of Marmara (Europe)
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4/ Arrival( Estonia)
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Continuation:
- News (if available): viewtopic.php?f=85&t=336
- Autumn migration 2026:

[marika.solo]

MATS

birdmap description (2025)
An adult male, who was reparing the nest and guarding the territory alone. He did not have a mate in 2025.
Mats was caught and equipped with a tracking device in early June. No earlier information about its origin. Mats' territory is quite large, extending from Audru polder in south to Matsalu Bay in north.
In the past, parent birds from the same nest have had difficulties feeding their young (e.g. Madi 2022).
Since Mats had no offspring in 2025, he started migrating early, on July 25. As an experienced migrant, he moved quite directly to the migration stopover in Romania, on the Danube floodplains. Arriving there in August 6. Apparently, the conditions there were not suitable and Mats returned to Moldova, over 300 km to the north. Back to initial destination he moved in the beginning of September.
update:
Mats continued its migration in September 21, reaching fish ponds in Jordan valley by 26th. We will see, if that is wintering site or stop over.

PHOTOS (birdmap)

First attempt to trap Mats was unsuccessful, he did not step in fish basket, 2025 May 28

Second attempt was successful and we agreed to track Mats year around. Near the finish of the meeting, Mats and Renno, 2025 June 3
photo: https://birdmap.5dvision.ee/admin/pildi ... 151913.jpg


Mats in its feeding grounds, 2025 July 10. Photo by Merike Pikkmets