05.05.2006

The Clutch at the "Internet Storks" is complete with 4-5 Eggs

The clutch at the Vetschau storks appears to be complete with possibly five eggs. On Tuesday four eggs could be seen. The NABU Project Leader, Winfried Boehmer, assumes five eggs have been laid as in previous years. Even with the nest camera observers find it difficult to look into the deep nest hollow. Only when the storks exchange brood duties and during the turning of the eggs will opportunities present themselves to see the clutch. At intervals of two days the female stork laid the eggs. After the second egg the storks began to brood.

After a brood period of 32 days, that is at the end of May the beginning of June, the young will hatch, provided that the stork will not be embroiled in eyrie battles and the destruction of the clutch. Nearly every day the storks have to defend their eyrie. Storks still returning from Africa are searching for a place to nest, preferably for one from previous years. In addition they have to be on guard against brood intruders. Brood intruders are immature young storks which attack brooding ones and destroy the clutches.

Since the start of brooding one stork warms the eggs constantly. The storks alternate in this duty. One of them protects the clutch at all times, this includes turning the eggs to assure even development of the embryos. The "off-duty" stork dedicates himself to the care of his/her plumage or flies to the nearby fields and meadows to feed. Upon the return to the eyrie, which is always accompanied by a welcoming clatter, the storks will bring back nest material. Constantly, some work is being done on the nest. Because the brooding began right after the laying of eggs, the young ones will hatch in the order the eggs were laid. "We assume, that every two days a chick will hatch," so Winfried Boehmer. Those who may wish to inform themselves of the life of storks, the necessary measures to protection them, and look into the nest at its location, any do so at the White Stork Information Centre in Vetschau/Spree Forest. The facility is open daily except Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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