Pärnu county (Kergu + Kerli) / Must-toonekurg 3

[Maria L]

[Maria L]

wypróżnienie






dobranoc

[marika.solo]

I will fly soon

[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 15/08/2026 (in the evening - whole day)
Log compiled from chat observations and structured with the assistance of Gemini AI.

Events Timeline

Morning / Forenoon

08:53:00 The storklet regurgitates a pellet.
09:40:00 Wing exercises observed in the nest.

Afternoon / Evening

20:16:16 FEEDING: Female (Kerli) arrives and feeds the storklet.
20:23:00 – 20:24:00 Calls of common cranes (Grus grus) heard in the distance.
20:47:00 Storklet vocalises while resting in the nest.

Night / Early Morning
22:08:00 – 22:14:00 Cracking branch sounds heard below the nest.

Summary Highlights
* Feedings: Total of 1 feeding recorded (20:16:16).
* Presence: The single chick remains in the nest overnight.

Note: Comments prior to 19:15 are missing. (I am on holliday.)

[marika.solo]

previous day (15.08) viewtopic.php?p=63779#p63779
next day (16.08)

August 15
Hello everyone

CHICKS
- 1st chick: 63 days old (hatched on 14.06)

EGGS
unhatched (laid on 13.05 at 22:22 and 16.05 at 02:05)

Stork chicks grow exponentially. 90 days in the nest is like 18-21 years for humans. This means that 1 day in the nest is like almost 3 months for a human child. That is why their transformation is so amazing and fast.

Chicks become capable of flight at 68–72 days of age (maiden flight). The timing of the maiden flight depends on several factors. (Urmas Sellis)

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Info on the late nesting:
- viewtopic.php?p=57312#p57312
- viewtopic.php?p=57325#p57325
- viewtopic.php?p=57342#p57342

[marika.solo]

For our storklet (the late-hatched chick now 63 days old), the decisive factor will be

1/ whether the adults continue to find sufficient food / since 14.08 only Kerli and
2/ whether parental care continues to take precedence over the increasing drive to migrate /Kergu is migrating already.

KERGU left for migration
2022 - 12.08 ( 2 chick)
2023 - 29.07 (no nesting)
2024 - 30.07 (no nesting)
2025 - 11.08 (3 chicks still on the nest, but already fledglings approx. 1 week)

KERLI left for migration
2024 - 22.07 (no nesting)
2025 - 16.08 (3 chicks still on the nest, but already fledglings approx. 2 weeks)

1/ Chicks become capable of flight at 68–72 days of age (maiden flight). The timing of the maiden flight depends on several factors. (Urmas Sellis)

- Estimated MAIDEN FLIGHT (68–72 days): 19–22 Aug for our storklet.

2/ By tracking 35 tagged chicks, Polish researchers found that young storks left the nest permanently at an average age of 87 days, with the latest departure recorded at 108 days. Before their definitive departure for migration, fledglings usually fly within an average distance of about 200 m from the nest. As they grow older, this distance gradually increases to about 500 m. (Dr Anderwald)

- Estimated DEFINITIVE DEPARTURE (87 days): 8 Sep for our storklet.

3/ Survival is higher in chicks that remain at the nest for a longer period after fledging. They gradually become independent while still receiving food from their parents. For another 2–4 weeks after the maiden flight, they may return to the nest to rest or spend the night. (Dr Strazds)

- Estimated end of the regular post-fledging nest period (about 2 weeks after the maiden flight): 2 Sep for our storklet.

4/ During the post-fledging period, young storks mainly practise flying, landing and manoeuvring close to the nest. According to Prof. Zieliński, they learn to locate feeding sites and forage independently only after their definitive departure from the nest during migration.