Dlaczego Skierka przestała karmić swoje pisklęta?! / Why did Skierka stop feeding her chicks?!
feeding by Królewicz, 15.07.2025 at 06.33
https://youtu.be/aGcT9AZDPPc?si=zDMGThU1XChMqMc9
15 Jul 2025
Cała nadzieja w Królewiczu, ponieważ Skierka przestała już karmić pisklęta i 7 lipca była przy gnieździe ostatni raz. Przez ten tydzień przebywała jednak cały czas w rewirze całkiem blisko, bo zaledwie 1,6 km! Najdalej do 3,0 km. Młode są więc karmione już tylko przez samca i potrzebują opieki jeszcze co najmniej przez 7-10 dni. Oczywiście nie powinniśmy mierzyć ludzkimi kategoriami zachowania samicy, która w ubiegłym roku wykarmiła aż pięć piskląt prawie do samego końca. Prawdopodobnie powodem porzucenia lęgu jest w tym sezonie mniejsza obfitość pożywienia i Skierka musi wcześniej przygotować się do migracji. Samica złożyła pięć jaj, wykluło się pięć piskląt, ale aż trzy padły z niedożywienia. Podobne przypadki obserwowaliśmy w tym roku także w innych gniazdach bocianów czarnych, np. na Mazowszu. Trzymajmy kciuki za dwa pozostałe bociany!
by D. Anderwald
All hope rests with the Królewicz, as Skierka has stopped feeding the chicks and was at the nest for the last time on July 7th. However, she remained within the immediate vicinity of the nest for the entire week—a mere 1.6 km! The furthest she could reach is 3.0 km. The young are now fed solely by the male and require care for at least another 7-10 days. Of course, we shouldn't judge the behaviour of the female, who last year nursed five chicks almost to death, by human standards. The reason for the abandonment of the clutch is likely the reduced food supply this season, and Skierka must prepare for migration in advance. The female laid five eggs, five chicks hatched, but three died from malnutrition. We've observed similar cases this year in other black stork nests, for example, in Masovia. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the two remaining storks!
by D. Anderwald
correction :
All hope now lies with Królewicz, because Skierka has stopped feeding the chicks and was last seen at the nest on July 7th. However, she has remained in the territory all week, quite close by—only 1.6 km away! At most, she has gone up to 3.0 km. So now the young are being fed only by the male and will still need care for at least another 7–10 days.
Of course, we shouldn't judge the female's behaviour by human standards—last year, she raised as many as five chicks almost to the very end. The likely reason for abandoning the brood this season is the lower availability of food, and Skierka needs to start preparing for migration earlier. The female laid five eggs, five chicks hatched, but unfortunately, three died from malnutrition. We've observed similar cases this year in other black stork nests as well, for example in Mazovia.
Let's keep our fingers crossed for the two remaining storks!
by D. Anderwald