18.07.2008

The Young Storks lift off

The breeding period of the white stork approaches its completion - the young storks everywhere become fledglings. "Our" two "Internet Storks" in Vetschau/Spree Forest pratice dilligently and use their wings more every day. They not only skip around in the nest but lift off three to ten feet above it with strong beats of their wings, and today, in the morning of the 18th of July, one of the young storks ventured out on a short trip around the eyrie, after he had a disagreeable departure yesterday. During the coming days, most young storks will begin ever widening flights. The first excursions are a dangerous phase of their lives for they are still climsy, miss the landing spot, bounce against obstacles and approach dangerous medium tension power posts.

Soon, it will be difficult to differentiate the the young storks from the parent storks due to their size. The weight of the young ones will surpass that of their parents at the end of the nesting period. However, they will quickly loose this "baby fat" when the arduous days of the test flights and ever longer excursions begin. Still, something does differentiate the young ones from their parent during the first year of their lives: The beaks are not yet red but change colour slowly, from the beginning black to brown-red to the brilliant red of a mature stork. Also, the legs do not show yet the deep red of the parent storks. At this time, the storks show white clolourd legs. At this time, when the temperatures soar above 85°F (30°C) and the sun burns down brightly, the storks chalk their legs with their droppings. This protects against overheating. Only until Mid-August, after which the stork nest will be deserted, will it be possible to observe the stork family at their nest. Hurry for a visit to the White Stork Information Centre in Vetschau/Spree Forest.

NABU-Project Leader
Winfried Boehmer

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