23.08.2006

Departure to Africa

On August the 11th at about 11:05 a.m. "our" stork couple was together at the eyrie for the last time. Clearly, Luna was the first to begin the flight to the south. Cico remained for several more days at the eyrie to rest and to spend the nights. From August 18th to 19th he slept for the last time at the eyrie and flew away very early in the morning.

The divided departure of Luna and Cico confirms once more that stork couples are together during the brood period, otherwise go separate ways.

Young and also the parent storks gather into stork troupes at feeding areas and begin during these days the flight to the African winter quarters. Oftentimes the young ones leave earlier than the parent storks. They find their way without the help of the parents. Firstly the flight heads toward the southeast. The way of all storks from Eastern and Central Europe leads across the Straits of Bosporus, through Turkey, along the coast of the Mediterranean to Israel coast, and finally across the Sinai to Egypt along the Nile River to Central Africa. At the beginning of December many even continue all the way to South Africa - a distance of about 6,500 miles.

Countless stork friends have followed the events of the Vetschau Storks on the Internet as well as at the White Stork Information Centre. Now, many good wishes from thousands of stork fans from all corners of the world accompany "our" storks on their journey. All hope, that Luna and Cico will return safe and sound next spring and successfully raise four or five young ones.

Now, the Stork Team of enviaM and NABU will hold a backward look, is preparing the removal of the eyrie and the camera (we will advise the time and dates!) Green cutting deposits with high fungus content will be eliminated until spring.

Also, at this juncture, a heartfelt "thank you" to all supporters of the Stork Centre. Without your financial help the broadcast and many measures to protect the storks would not have been possible.

Winfried Boehmer
NABU-Project Leader

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