Happy Holidays to everyone!
small talking
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
BLACK STORK CALENDAR 2026
click on the arrow in the upper right corner - watch in full screen and/or download our calendar
click on the arrow in the upper right corner - watch in full screen and/or download our calendar
Re: small talking
Happy Easter!
Takie piękne pisanki zrobiła Wiesia (nieustannie obserwując i pilnując gniazda w Bolewicach) ❤
Wesołych świąt dla Wiesi i wszystkich z forum oraz przekazów YT.
Wiesia made these beautiful Easter eggs (while constantly observing and guarding the nest in Bolewice) ❤
Happy Easter to Wiesia and everyone on the forum and YouTube.
Takie piękne pisanki zrobiła Wiesia (nieustannie obserwując i pilnując gniazda w Bolewicach) ❤
Wesołych świąt dla Wiesi i wszystkich z forum oraz przekazów YT.
Wiesia made these beautiful Easter eggs (while constantly observing and guarding the nest in Bolewice) ❤
Happy Easter to Wiesia and everyone on the forum and YouTube.
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
May the spirit of Easter fill your heart with love, peace, and joy.
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
Happy Birthday dear Maria!
Wszystkiego najlepszego w dniu urodzin!
Życzę Ci spełnienia marzeń, spokoju i samych udanych lęgów w Twoich ulubionych gniazdach.
Dziękuję Ci bardzo za Twoją niesamowitą pracę na forum i za to, że zawsze trzymasz rękę na pulsie. Twoja pasja i czas, który nam poświęcasz, są dla nas bardzo ważne.
Sto lat!
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
Wlodek Witek https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%82odek_Witek
"Włodek Witek (ur. 1959 w Sopocie) – polski fotograf i konserwator zabytków papierowych i fotograficznych w Bibliotece Narodowej w Oslo ... "
https://www.instagram.com/wlodek.witek/p/DYGuaypjF4Y/
2026-05-09
Little did I remember that I had a tiny scissors stuck away on a shelf is a special object, a gem, which charmed me at some antique marked years ago. Now the image has been created ( only yesterday) I learnt such stork scissors were first made for midwives to handle and cut umbical cords. Later repurposed to practically any sawing kits women keep at home. Such a practical little tool will allways be needed, in every home. Well here I wanted to make a cyanotype as a tribute to Florentino, a black stork who I followed on his nest last season via a live cam streaming from a forest in the middle of Poland. I spent sleepless hours in his company and his mate’s Fermina’s 3 offspring. He did not return from migration South. Unmarked, Flo’s fate will not come to light easily. Fermina is alive. Flo was a very dedicated male and lived at least 10 years, giving offspring for the fascinating but shy and rare birds in Europe. Not registered in Norway.
"Włodek Witek (ur. 1959 w Sopocie) – polski fotograf i konserwator zabytków papierowych i fotograficznych w Bibliotece Narodowej w Oslo ... "
https://www.instagram.com/wlodek.witek/p/DYGuaypjF4Y/
2026-05-09
Little did I remember that I had a tiny scissors stuck away on a shelf is a special object, a gem, which charmed me at some antique marked years ago. Now the image has been created ( only yesterday) I learnt such stork scissors were first made for midwives to handle and cut umbical cords. Later repurposed to practically any sawing kits women keep at home. Such a practical little tool will allways be needed, in every home. Well here I wanted to make a cyanotype as a tribute to Florentino, a black stork who I followed on his nest last season via a live cam streaming from a forest in the middle of Poland. I spent sleepless hours in his company and his mate’s Fermina’s 3 offspring. He did not return from migration South. Unmarked, Flo’s fate will not come to light easily. Fermina is alive. Flo was a very dedicated male and lived at least 10 years, giving offspring for the fascinating but shy and rare birds in Europe. Not registered in Norway.
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
Katarina Glebowicz Witek
2026-08-26
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 2207520000
Dear friends, I am bringing you the sad news that yesterday morning Włodek set out on his last journey. ...
R.I.P.
2026-08-26
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 2207520000
Dear friends, I am bringing you the sad news that yesterday morning Włodek set out on his last journey. ...
R.I.P.
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
LATVIA
Today, 2 November 2026, Māris Strazds passed away.
Although we never had the chance to meet in person, Māris was one of those people who helped me better understand the world of Black Storks, a world I have been observing and exploring with deep interest for the past ten years.
He always kindly and generously answered my questions, sharing his knowledge and experience. I will be forever grateful for that.
Sometimes people come into our lives without us ever meeting them face to face, yet they leave a profound mark on our hearts.
Māris, thank you for everything you shared, for your dedication to Black Storks, and for the legacy you leave behind. You will be remembered. Rest in peace.
information: https://www.facebook.com/LOB.lv/posts/p ... pxCVqHCaVl, big thx to Liz for hint
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Saying goodbye to Mara Strazda No Māra Strazda atvadoties https://www.lob.lv/2026/11/no-mara-stra ... Yf5gjMI8Cw
In memoriam. Ornitologs Māris Strazds devies pēdējā lidojumā
Māris Strazds (1960–2026)
Foto: motacilla.lv
(source: https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/latvija/in- ... juma.50347)
Today, 2 November 2026, Māris Strazds passed away.
Although we never had the chance to meet in person, Māris was one of those people who helped me better understand the world of Black Storks, a world I have been observing and exploring with deep interest for the past ten years.
He always kindly and generously answered my questions, sharing his knowledge and experience. I will be forever grateful for that.
Sometimes people come into our lives without us ever meeting them face to face, yet they leave a profound mark on our hearts.
Māris, thank you for everything you shared, for your dedication to Black Storks, and for the legacy you leave behind. You will be remembered. Rest in peace.
information: https://www.facebook.com/LOB.lv/posts/p ... pxCVqHCaVl, big thx to Liz for hint
-----
Saying goodbye to Mara Strazda No Māra Strazda atvadoties https://www.lob.lv/2026/11/no-mara-stra ... Yf5gjMI8Cw
In memoriam. Ornitologs Māris Strazds devies pēdējā lidojumā
Māris Strazds (1960–2026)
Foto: motacilla.lv
(source: https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/latvija/in- ... juma.50347)
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marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
Māris Strazds (1960–2026) – Remembering an Exceptional Black Stork Researcher
Following the death of Māris Strazds, the distinguished Latvian ornithologist and internationally recognised Black Stork specialist, I would like to share some information about his life and work, drawing on two articles published in Latvia.
Māris devoted more than four decades to the study and conservation of the Black Stork. His contribution extended well beyond ornithological research: he helped develop Latvian bird conservation, encouraged public interest in wildlife and consistently spoke up for the protection of forests and their inhabitants.
The following are two independently written accounts based on information published in the Latvian media. They are intended to introduce Māris and his remarkable contribution to readers who may not have known him or had access to the original Latvian publications.
1. Remembering Māris Strazds – a life devoted to birds and nature
Māris Strazds was one of the important figures in the development of modern Latvian ornithology. His involvement in organised bird conservation began early: he was among the founders of the Latvian Ornithological Society (LOB) in 1985 and became its first director. He subsequently led the organisation from 1994 to 2002, a significant period in its development.
His scientific interests were not confined to a single species. He contributed to the first atlas of breeding birds in Latvia and took an active interest in the conservation of forests, habitats and threatened wildlife.
Nevertheless, the Black Stork became the defining subject of his professional life. His long-term research helped build a much deeper understanding of the ecological needs of this elusive forest bird and the conditions essential for its survival. He completed his doctoral research on the species, defending his dissertation in 2011.
Māris was also an effective communicator who understood the importance of sharing scientific knowledge beyond academic circles. His work helped bring the natural world closer to birdwatchers and other people interested in wildlife.
He regarded himself as an advocate for birds and nature – a role that involved not only studying wildlife but also speaking up for its protection. His legacy therefore encompasses both scientific knowledge and a lasting contribution to nature conservation in Latvia.
Based on information published by the Latvian Ornithological Society.
Source: Viesturs Ķerus, No Māra Strazda atvadoties, Latvijas Ornitoloģijas biedrība, 2 November 2026.
Read the original article in Latvian
2. Māris Strazds – his final flight
Māris Strazds was not only a leading Black Stork researcher but also a person whose work brought the lives of these remarkable birds to the attention of a much wider audience.
Colleagues and friends remember him as a knowledgeable, determined and approachable individual, with strong leadership abilities, a pronounced sense of justice and a wonderful sense of humour. He had been organising and leading birdwatching groups since 1989 and played an important part in the development of the Latvian Ornithological Society.
His international reputation was built on more than forty years of dedicated Black Stork research. Among his most ambitious undertakings was an expedition from Latvia towards Africa, designed to investigate the birds' migration routes, wintering areas and places where they stopped along the way.
He was also among the early pioneers of satellite tracking in Latvian Black Stork research. The transmitters made it possible to follow individual birds over enormous distances and to learn more about the hazards they encountered. Among the birds whose journeys attracted public attention were three females known as Kate, Feja and Mare. Their stories helped people appreciate that migration is not simply an extraordinary natural phenomenon, but also a demanding and sometimes fatal undertaking.
Māris's research highlighted several major pressures affecting Black Stork populations: disturbance associated with forestry, the loss or scarcity of suitable feeding areas, predation and environmental contamination, including residues of DDT detected in eggs.
He had been drawing attention to the consequences of intensive clear-felling since the late 1990s. For him, the future of the Black Stork was inseparable from the condition of the forests in which it breeds and feeds.
One particularly telling example of his commitment occurred at Rucava. An ancient stand of pine trees, including a site associated with an old Black Stork nest, was felled on state-managed land. Māris personally removed a cross-section of one of the felled trunks so that its age could be examined scientifically. The tree was believed to have been growing since approximately 1649.
This was more than an attempt to establish the age of an old tree. It was also part of his effort to document what had been lost and to seek accountability for the destruction of an exceptionally valuable forest habitat.
Through his research, fieldwork and public engagement, Māris helped reveal how closely the survival of the Black Stork is connected to the health and natural structure of our forests. His work leaves an important legacy for everyone concerned with the future of this species.
Based on information published by Latvijas Mediji.
Source: Māris Puķītis, In memoriam: Ornitologs Māris Strazds devies pēdējā lidojumā, Latvijas Mediji, 2 November 2026, 15:30.
Read the original article in Latvian
A final thought
Māris's work reminds us that protecting a species means understanding far more than its biology. It means protecting the places where it lives, recognising the dangers it faces and being prepared to speak up when those places are threatened.
For those of us who follow and admire the Black Stork, his contribution will remain an important part of the knowledge and understanding on which future conservation efforts depend.
He will be remembered through the birds he studied, the knowledge he shared and the forests he fought to protect.
Following the death of Māris Strazds, the distinguished Latvian ornithologist and internationally recognised Black Stork specialist, I would like to share some information about his life and work, drawing on two articles published in Latvia.
Māris devoted more than four decades to the study and conservation of the Black Stork. His contribution extended well beyond ornithological research: he helped develop Latvian bird conservation, encouraged public interest in wildlife and consistently spoke up for the protection of forests and their inhabitants.
The following are two independently written accounts based on information published in the Latvian media. They are intended to introduce Māris and his remarkable contribution to readers who may not have known him or had access to the original Latvian publications.
1. Remembering Māris Strazds – a life devoted to birds and nature
Māris Strazds was one of the important figures in the development of modern Latvian ornithology. His involvement in organised bird conservation began early: he was among the founders of the Latvian Ornithological Society (LOB) in 1985 and became its first director. He subsequently led the organisation from 1994 to 2002, a significant period in its development.
His scientific interests were not confined to a single species. He contributed to the first atlas of breeding birds in Latvia and took an active interest in the conservation of forests, habitats and threatened wildlife.
Nevertheless, the Black Stork became the defining subject of his professional life. His long-term research helped build a much deeper understanding of the ecological needs of this elusive forest bird and the conditions essential for its survival. He completed his doctoral research on the species, defending his dissertation in 2011.
Māris was also an effective communicator who understood the importance of sharing scientific knowledge beyond academic circles. His work helped bring the natural world closer to birdwatchers and other people interested in wildlife.
He regarded himself as an advocate for birds and nature – a role that involved not only studying wildlife but also speaking up for its protection. His legacy therefore encompasses both scientific knowledge and a lasting contribution to nature conservation in Latvia.
Based on information published by the Latvian Ornithological Society.
Source: Viesturs Ķerus, No Māra Strazda atvadoties, Latvijas Ornitoloģijas biedrība, 2 November 2026.
Read the original article in Latvian
2. Māris Strazds – his final flight
Māris Strazds was not only a leading Black Stork researcher but also a person whose work brought the lives of these remarkable birds to the attention of a much wider audience.
Colleagues and friends remember him as a knowledgeable, determined and approachable individual, with strong leadership abilities, a pronounced sense of justice and a wonderful sense of humour. He had been organising and leading birdwatching groups since 1989 and played an important part in the development of the Latvian Ornithological Society.
His international reputation was built on more than forty years of dedicated Black Stork research. Among his most ambitious undertakings was an expedition from Latvia towards Africa, designed to investigate the birds' migration routes, wintering areas and places where they stopped along the way.
He was also among the early pioneers of satellite tracking in Latvian Black Stork research. The transmitters made it possible to follow individual birds over enormous distances and to learn more about the hazards they encountered. Among the birds whose journeys attracted public attention were three females known as Kate, Feja and Mare. Their stories helped people appreciate that migration is not simply an extraordinary natural phenomenon, but also a demanding and sometimes fatal undertaking.
Māris's research highlighted several major pressures affecting Black Stork populations: disturbance associated with forestry, the loss or scarcity of suitable feeding areas, predation and environmental contamination, including residues of DDT detected in eggs.
He had been drawing attention to the consequences of intensive clear-felling since the late 1990s. For him, the future of the Black Stork was inseparable from the condition of the forests in which it breeds and feeds.
One particularly telling example of his commitment occurred at Rucava. An ancient stand of pine trees, including a site associated with an old Black Stork nest, was felled on state-managed land. Māris personally removed a cross-section of one of the felled trunks so that its age could be examined scientifically. The tree was believed to have been growing since approximately 1649.
This was more than an attempt to establish the age of an old tree. It was also part of his effort to document what had been lost and to seek accountability for the destruction of an exceptionally valuable forest habitat.
Through his research, fieldwork and public engagement, Māris helped reveal how closely the survival of the Black Stork is connected to the health and natural structure of our forests. His work leaves an important legacy for everyone concerned with the future of this species.
Based on information published by Latvijas Mediji.
Source: Māris Puķītis, In memoriam: Ornitologs Māris Strazds devies pēdējā lidojumā, Latvijas Mediji, 2 November 2026, 15:30.
Read the original article in Latvian
A final thought
Māris's work reminds us that protecting a species means understanding far more than its biology. It means protecting the places where it lives, recognising the dangers it faces and being prepared to speak up when those places are threatened.
For those of us who follow and admire the Black Stork, his contribution will remain an important part of the knowledge and understanding on which future conservation efforts depend.
He will be remembered through the birds he studied, the knowledge he shared and the forests he fought to protect.
-
marika.solo
- Site Admin
- Posts: 29435
- Joined: 29 Sep 2021, 09:38
Re: small talking
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija ... s.a670233/ (video too)
https://nra.lv/latvija/533530-miris-maris-strazds.htm
https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/sabiedriba ... s-strazds/
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/736234-mu ... is-strazds
https://www.apollo.lv/8575910/muziba-de ... 3#cxrecs_s
https://www.santa.lv/raksts/privatadziv ... zds-86627/
https://www.1188.lv/zinas/muziba-devies ... azds/76038
https://nra.lv/latvija/533530-miris-maris-strazds.htm
https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/sabiedriba ... s-strazds/
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/736234-mu ... is-strazds
https://www.apollo.lv/8575910/muziba-de ... 3#cxrecs_s
https://www.santa.lv/raksts/privatadziv ... zds-86627/
https://www.1188.lv/zinas/muziba-devies ... azds/76038