Karula National Park 2/ Must toonekurg 4

[marika.solo]

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July 23
Hello everyone

CHICK () +
- 1st chick: 62 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 2nd chick: 62 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 3rd chick: 61 days old (hatched on 23. 05)
- 4th: on 24. 05; brood reduction by female on 28.05 - 4 days old

- one chick, Bonus 2, adopted on 18.06
- info about the 2nd saved chick: viewtopic.php?p=59858#p59858; and next: The young stork at the rescue station is showing improvement, although its leg coordination remains problematic. Its movements still resemble those of a much younger chick. It is uncertain whether its condition will progress sufficiently to allow for migration, but only time will tell.

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.

Leg Ring Identification:
Three of the chicks carry rings 7201, 7202, and 7203, while the adopted/foster chick (referred to as "Bonus") carries the distinct ring 710L.

[marika.solo]

Time-Line

06:23 – 07:17 — The chicks remain alert in the nest; chick 7203 displays active curiosity, observing the surroundings from the nest edges.

07:17 — First Feeding: An adult arrives at the nest from the camera side and delivers a small portion of food.

08:34 – 08:48 — Bonus and 7202 engage in wing exercises, jumping, and social interactions with 7201.

09:09 — Second Feeding: An adult arrives and delivers medium-sized fish. The chicks compete for the food, with 7201 and 7203 successfully securing larger fish.

14:53 — Third Feeding: An adult delivers a generous feeding of small fish, allowing all four chicks to feed adequately.

14:55 — Chick 7202 exercises its wings in the nest immediately after feeding.

15:05 — Fourth Feeding: An adult parent arrives from the camera side and delivers another portion of fish.

16:44 — Fifth Feeding: An adult parent delivers a feeding to the nest.

17:10 — Chick 7203 moves toward the outer branch on the right side of the nest, testing its balance and exploring branching options.

17:29 – 20:34 — Periodic stream interruptions occur. The chicks remain resting and preening in the nest for the remainder of the evening.

19:15 — Bonus and chick 7202 interact in the nest, playing with a stick and pulling it from each other.

[marika.solo]

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July 24
Hello everyone

CHICK () +
- 1st chick: 63 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 2nd chick: 63 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 3rd chick: 62 days old (hatched on 23. 05)
- 4th: on 24. 05; brood reduction by female on 28.05 - 4 days old

- one chick, Bonus 2, adopted on 18.06
- info about the 2nd saved chick: viewtopic.php?p=59858#p59858; and next: The young stork at the rescue station is showing improvement, although its leg coordination remains problematic. Its movements still resemble those of a much younger chick. It is uncertain whether its condition will progress sufficiently to allow for migration, but only time will tell.

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.

Leg Ring Identification:
Three of the chicks carry rings 7201, 7202, and 7203, while the adopted/foster chick (referred to as "Bonus") carries the distinct ring 710L.

[marika.solo]

Nest Activity Log (24 July 2026)

04:16:07 – Camera switches to day mode.

05:15 – Chick 7203 reaches the mounting pole on the right side of the nest (on the fourth attempt).

06:54:16 – 06:54:19 – Male arrives; feeding (fish).

06:54:54 – Chick 710L regurgitates food, which is quickly consumed by the chicks.

07:01:15 – Chick 7203 pulls chick 7202 by the tail.

08:27 – Chirping heard from the chicks.

08:32 – Chick 7202 plays with the other chicks.

08:37:37 – 08:37:41 – Male arrives; feeding.

08:47 – Chick 7201 wing-exercises and jumps, vocalising afterwards.

09:42 – Chick 7201 and Bonus play with chick 7202 whilst it is lying down.

10:02:53 – 10:03:04 – Male arrives; feeding (frogs and small fish).

10:17:12 – 10:17:29 – Male arrives; feeding (fish from the feeding basket).

10:34:31 – 10:34:51 – Male arrives; feeding (large amount of fish).

10:34:49 – Male retrieves an uneaten fish from the nest edge and departs carrying it in his bill.

10:54 – The chicks stand motionless, resting after feeding.

11:11:53 – 11:12:12 – Male arrives; feeding (fish from the feeding basket).

11:32:23 – 11:32:40 – Male arrives; feeding (fish from the feeding basket).

11:35:14 – Bonus drops a fish, which chick 7203 quickly catches.

11:38 – Chicks vocalise intensely in anticipation of a parent.

11:45:56 – 11:46:18 – Male arrives; feeding (fish from the feeding basket). Before departing, the male retrieves a fish from the nest edge for himself.

12:13 – 12:29 – Chicks chirp continuously, tracking a passing parent or bird in flight.

14:06 – All chicks resting peacefully in the nest.

16:49 – Social interaction/vocalisation between chick 7202 and chick 7203.

18:05 – Minor conflict between chick 7203 and Bonus; Bonus subsequently moves closer to chick 7202.

18:10 – Chick 7203 wing-exercises and practices jumping.

22:14 – Chick 7202 gently preens resting Bonus with its bill.

[marika.solo]

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July 25
Hello everyone

CHICK () +
- 1st chick: 64 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 2nd chick: 64 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 3rd chick: 63 days old (hatched on 23. 05)
- 4th: on 24. 05; brood reduction by female on 28.05 - 4 days old

- one chick, Bonus 2, adopted on 18.06
- info about the 2nd saved chick: viewtopic.php?p=59858#p59858; and next: The young stork at the rescue station is showing improvement, although its leg coordination remains problematic. Its movements still resemble those of a much younger chick. It is uncertain whether its condition will progress sufficiently to allow for migration, but only time will tell.

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.

Leg Ring Identification:
Three of the chicks carry rings 7201, 7202, and 7203, while the adopted/foster chick (referred to as "Bonus") carries the distinct ring 710L.

[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 25/07/2026 (in the evening - whole day)
Log compiled from chat observations and structured with the assistance of Gemini AI.

Events Timeline
by user Natalia / @Наталья-б9с7й

05:47 – Aggressive interaction: Chick 7202 pecked Bonus in the back.
07:51 – Feeding (small amount of food)
08:46 – Chick 7203 stepped onto the right branch and returned immediately
10:07 – 12:18 – Stream freeze frame
13:31 – Feeding
14:28 – 15:02 – Chicks resting in the nest
16:39 – Feeding
17:42 – Feeding
18:31 – 18:46 – Chick 7203 wing exercises and jumped onto Bonus's back (mating-like behaviour / mounting behaviour)
18:35 – Feeding
20:00 – Feeding
20:35 – Bonus resting on chick 7202
20:43 – 21:16 – Stream freeze frame
22:40 – Chicks exercising / jumping

[marika.solo]

[marika.solo]

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July 26
Hello everyone

CHICK () +
- 1st chick: 65 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 2nd chick: 65 days old (hatched in the night 21./22.05)
- 3rd chick: 64 days old (hatched on 23. 05)
- 4th: on 24. 05; brood reduction by female on 28.05 - 4 days old

- one chick, Bonus 2, adopted on 18.06
- info about the 2nd saved chick: viewtopic.php?p=59858#p59858; and next: The young stork at the rescue station is showing improvement, although its leg coordination remains problematic. Its movements still resemble those of a much younger chick. It is uncertain whether its condition will progress sufficiently to allow for migration, but only time will tell.

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.

Leg Ring Identification:
Three of the chicks carry rings 7201, 7202, and 7203, while the adopted/foster chick (referred to as "Bonus") carries the distinct ring 710L.

[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 25/07/2026 (in the evening - whole day)
Log compiled from chat observations and structured with the assistance of Gemini AI.

Events Timeline
by user Natalia / @Наталья-б9с7й

06:04 – Fledging / Branching: Chick 7203 flew up to a branch above the nest.
06:48 – Maiden flight: Chick 7203 flew directly into the forest (first flight from the nest).
07:55 – Feeding: 1st feeding of the day.
09:10 – Feeding: 2nd feeding of the day.
10:14 – Feeding: 3rd feeding of the day.
11:08 – Feeding: 4th feeding of the day.
11:35 – 11:36 – Note: Chat discussion notes that chick 7203 is 64 days old.
12:42 – Feeding: 5th feeding of the day (chirping heard beforehand).
13:09 – Feeding: 6th feeding of the day by the female.
15:15 – Feeding: 7th feeding of the day (small fish delivered for the three chicks present in the nest).
17:23 – Feeding: 8th feeding of the day.
17:23 – 22:45 – Nest status: Chick 7203 remained absent from the nest following its morning flight.

Chat members discussed its absence and identified Bonus by the remaining white downy feathers on the neck.

Reference made to juvenile mounting behaviour ("mating-like behaviour"), noted as normal development in young storks (citing Prof. Zieliński). (by me)

[marika.solo]

MAIDEN FLIGHT 7203

Departure: 06:48:06

Return: Not returned yet (fledglings may stay away from the nest for up to 48 hours)

Note: Initial flights are usually within 200 m of the nest