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

[marika.solo]

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August 13
Hello everyone

CHICKS
- 1st chick: 81 days old (hatched late evening 24.05)
- 2nd chick: 80 days old (hatched early morning 25.05)
- 3rd chick: 80 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

LAST SEEN
FEMALE last noticed on 06.08.2026, MALE last seen on the nest on 09.08.2026
12.08.2026 youtube chat info:
@Вожик-е7б​ ... я её видела последний раз 5 августа ... / I observed her last on 05.08

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)

[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 13/08/2026 (in the evening - whole day)
Log compiled from chat observations and structured with the assistance of Gemini AI.

Events Timeline

[marika.solo]

10:20:23 one visitor lands on the nest - out at
she (to me female stork probably) observed the surrounding, put out 3 (or more?) fish, pooped on the nest rim and rested on the parent branch
later preening, ruffling the feather and away at 11:03:42 from the "arrival" branch

[marika.solo]

the fish falls down little later and next fish same failure (at 10:25:42), 10:38:25 again

[marika.solo]

11:03:41 departure


11:45:41 BS with transmitter - our male is back after 3 days absence (most probably it is he)
710R

[marika.solo]

11:45:41 BS with transmitter - our male is back after 3 days absence (most probably it is he)
710R





the first fish is eaten ... our male swallowed two, but the third fish slipped from his bill, too (they’re hard to handle when they're dry – at the rescue centre, I saw them carrying them over to soak in a small pond) ... but our male swalloved more of them successfully again and again
btw. Urmas is feeding BS in Jõgeva nest with trout

[marika.solo]

better view on the ring number



our male is carefully observing the nest surrounding (no storklets in sight)

[marika.solo]

who is here?



someone unwanted

[marika.solo]

12:00:45 away

[marika.solo]

The loud noises mentioned in the chat repeatedly are sonic booms caused by NATO military jets.

Active military exercises are currently taking place in Estonia, including low-altitude training (150–300 m above the terrain). When the jets break the sound barrier at lower altitudes, it creates very loud explosions or gunshot-like sounds.