Jõgeva County (new nest -2025) / Must-toonekurg 2

[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 09/08/2026 (in the evening - whole day)
Log compiled from chat observations and structured with the assistance of Gemini AI.

Events Timeline

Night / Early Morning
Two fledglings spent the night in the nest.
06:27:45 One fledgling departs the nest.
06:42:00 The second fledgling departs the nest.
07:15:00 Nest is empty.

07:20:23 One fledgling returns to the nest.

Morning / Forenoon
08:02:00 Fledgling begins begging behaviour.
08:03:00 Adult male delivers food and feeds the single fledgling present.
08:04:00 - 08:05:00 Fledgling continues vocalising/chirping in the nest.

09:11:34 Adult male arrives near the nest.
09:11:44 Second fledgling lands in the nest; begging behaviour observed.
09:12:00 Male lands in the nest.
09:12:50 male regurgitates food to feed the two fledglings.
09:13:00 A fish falls out of the nest.
09:13:05 Adult male departs.

Afternoon / Evening
12:00:46 The third fledgling arrives on the upper branch.
12:35:25 The third fledgling flies down past the nest.
12:35:43 The third fledgling lands in the nest.

12:46:00 One fledgling departs the nest, diving towards the forest.
13:29:00 Another fledgling departs the nest.

14:23:47 A fledgling arrives in the nest.

Metal rings identified on fledglings 710N and 710M.

17:33:47 Fledglings react to an approaching bird.
17:34:15 Fledgling 710J flies to the nest. Not the best landing.

Summary Highlights
Feedings recorded: 2 feedings observed during the day (08:03 for 1 fledgling; 09:12:50 for 2 fledglings).
Presence: All 3 fledglings returned to the nest by 17:34.

[marika.solo]

08:03 1st feeding - 1 storklet present - 1 (?) big fish



09:12 2nd feeding - 2 storklet present - 1 (?) big fish, tug of war



and the fish falls down

[marika.solo]

12:00 one of them fledgling landed on the upper branch



12:35 storklet jumped/flew down to the nest - the attempt failed



and immediately next successful landing

[marika.solo]

12:36 everyone "at home"

[marika.solo]

14:57:25 zoom in - "N" and "M" are on the nest

little "J" is flying home



landing is still not simply

[marika.solo]

and on the nest with his siblings

[marika.solo]

every storklet is on the nest for night-resting

[marika.solo]

previous day (09.08) viewtopic.php?p=63445#p63445
next day (11.08)

August 10
Hello everyone

14:05 Again, the same (?) strange stork arrives at the nest; away again at 14:08.

14:33 “J” back on the nest, begging display – is the strange stork still nearby?
14:59 “N” back too; both begging.

15:00 The strange stork lands on the parent branch, enters the nest and attacks the storklets. First “J”, then “N” (grabbing it by the neck). Both escape to the parent branch.
Intruder poops on the nest floor, preens, observes the storklets and the surroundings.

“N” continues begging intensely; the attacker repeatedly goes after our storklet.

15:12 Attacker away.

[marika.solo]

17:06 "M" arrived too

[marika.solo]

CHICKS
- 1st chick: 78 days old (hatched late evening 24.05)
- 2nd chick: 77 days old (hatched early morning 25.05)
- 3rd chick: 77 days old (hatched afternoon 25.05)
Brood reduction by male
- 4th chick: 20 days old (hatched late evening 26.05)
- 5th chick: 17 days old (hatched afternoon 28.05)
prof. Zielinski (youtube chat info):
The direct cause was that male brought an insufficient amount of food, resulting in nutritional stress, which is the biological trigger that prompts adult birds to start the process of brood reduction.

MAIDEN FLIGHT
- 03.08.2026 at 16:22:45 a short flight by one of the storklets (? 70-71 days old)
- 04.08.2026 at 10:00 longer flight by one of the storklets (? 71-72 days old)
- (05.08 - 2 fledglings for sure, 1 stayed on the nest)
- (06.08 - all 3 fledged?)
- 07.08 - 3 fledglings for sure (empty nest) - 74 days old

FEMALE last noticed on 06.08.2026

1/ By tracking 35 chicks with transmitters, Polish researchers found that these young birds permanently left their nests at an average of 87 days of age, with a maximum of 108 days. Before their definitive departure for migration, the fledglings initially fly within an average distance of up to 200 meters, and as they get older, this distance increases to an average of up to 500 meters.(Dr. Anderwald)

2/ Survival rates are higher for chicks that spend more time at the nest after fledging, as they return to the nest and gradually gain independence while still receiving food from their parents. For another 2 to 4 weeks after becoming able to fly, they will return to the nest to rest or spend the night. (Dr. Strazds)

3/ Fledglings learn to search for foraging sites and acquire food on their own only after their definitive departure from the nest (migration). (prof. Zielinski)