14.06.2004

Young Storks receive Bands

The young storks of the Vetschau eyrie will receive their bands at 10:00 a.m. on June 29th. The work will be done by Peter Schonert of Luckau. He has extensive experience is certified to do it. The lift apparatus required is supplied by enviaM. Interested residents as well as visitors to the Spree Forest are cordially invited to observe the event at the White Stork Information Centre of Lower Lusatia at Vetschau/Spree Forest. One may also follow the action live via the Internet. The rings will identify the animals at any time. For instance, one can ascertain where they breed or how old they may become. People are often concerned that the young ones could jump out of the nest, or the parent storks might abandon them. One need not worry about it. In case of an approaching danger, and at the appearance of the bander, the young storks will spontaneously press themselves flat against the nest hollow and remain motionless with necks and heads stretched out. This instintive behaviour (acinese), feints loss of movement or death and does not display any animosity. During banding in previous years one was able to witness this particularly well. Not a hitch was encountered while placing the bands. The the rigidity of the young ones relaxed after twenty minutes. The parent storks were away in search of food and were totally unaware of the process. Even in case they should have been scared away for a short time, their bonding with the young ones is so strong, they would return shortly. As in 2003 the new type of bands will be used. Urin acid will not remain on the legs during chalking of the legs. Consequently the rings can be placed above the intertersal joint and not, as in case of the old bands, at the foot. The high-banding has the great advantage of making it much more visible on the stork. The band number can be seen easily with a pair of good binoculars.

Winfried Boehmer
NABU-Project-Leader

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