1 pm feeding by Cico, not much.
3 pm feeding by Luna, a bit more.
3.45 pm feeding by Cico, also not much.
Luna again had problems to spit out the food. It always takes a long time.
Lunas legs are already white.
From 2008:
03.06.2008
Cico and Luna with white Legs
During these days more and more storks with white legs are observed including Cico and Luna. Is this a new species? No, not to worry! Many of our white storks, at other time with bright red legs, now "colour" their legs white. The high outside temperatures are to blame. When they rise above 30° C (abt. 85° F) and it is sunny, then the chalk their legs with own droppings. With this thermo regulation they protect their legs against over heating.
Because birds do not have any sweat glands, they begin to pant with open beaks to cool themselves off. In eyries the chicks have already hatched, the parent storks bring water to cool the young ones and shade them with spread wings.
All of these events at a stork eyrie one may follow at the Stork Information Centre, Vetschau. It is open daily except Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Winfried Boehmer
NABU Project Leader
