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Friday, July 29, 2011

Black Stork colour-ring-recoveries 2011

This post gives interesting information about future ring readings in Germany and Israel since summer/ autumn 2011.


Ring scheme of German plastic white colour-ring with code "Txx" or "Txxx" (left side with 4 cm length) and German metal/ plastic rings from the three Bird Ringing C. (right above "Helgoland metal" length 2 cm, under that second kind of "Helgoland metal" 1,5 cm for Northwest-Germany, under these "Hiddensee metal" length 1,2 cm for East-Germany and below a special kind of "Radolfzell" with the black plastic ELSA-ring length 3,5 cm for South-Germany).
Counter for 208 banded 1. cy German Black Storks 2011 -
recoveries 1. cy BS after fledging; 
updated 23.10.2011: n= 33 (different Ind.) 
- the first recovery in Spain on 07.09.11 (T272)
- the second recovery in Spain on 12.09.11 (T292)
- the third recovery in Spain on 21.10.11 (T317)

The first great recovery in Thuringia in July:
On 27. July 2011 saw Simone Hauptmann (Arnstadt) a really big group of BS (6 ad., 15 juv.) near Ohrdruf (Lake Schwabhausen).
5 of 15 juv. had a colour-ring (CR). Simone could read them all:
T216, T217, T218, T219 and T309 (all German BS) from three different nests in Saxony-Anhalt!


The distances of recoveries were between 150 - 170 km SW from the three breeding places (western flyway). On 23. July were the BS "T218" and "T219" still on the nest (G. Röber).
Ringing on 10.06.2011 - four chicks "T218-T221" in Saxony-Anhalt - meeting on 27.07.2011 in Thuringia with other neighboring BS, going SW-route - © C. Rohde.
Ringing on 10.06.2011 - three chicks "T215-T217" in Saxony-Anhalt - only 10 km distance to the nest of "T218-T221", going SW-route - © C. Rohde.
Ringing on 21.06.2011 - four chicks "T306-T309" in Saxony-Anhalt - only 8 and 18 km distances to the nests from "T215-T217" and "T218-T221". A really important recovery for the SW-flyway of BS population in Saxony-Anhalt - © C. Rohde.

The second recovery is, unfortunately, victims of electrocution. "T173" was born in the Franconian Forest (Bavaria) and ringing on 20.06.2010 together with three other siblings.
401 days after the ringing found Oliver Paul the BS "T173" under the power lines near Sinzendorf (Bavaria). It was a typical mark of electrocution. The proof was around 160 km SE from the birthplace (see Google Earth image below). The BS was in the meantime already in the second calendar year! Again a tragic case.

Typical breeding sites in the Franconian Forest. In the spruce forest is located the nest. Look closely at the picture, then you can find the nest ..., 20.06.2010 - © C. Rohde.
"T173" is located right on the nest ground, only "T172" shows photogenic.... 20.06.2010 - © C. Rohde.

The next overview shows the settling behavior of the BS "TL8". I have him on 17.06.2008 ringed in Thuringia (4 chicks). Four years later, the bird has meanwhile sexually mature, it is observed from P. PODZEMNY on 09.06.2011 in the Czech Republic on the border with Slovakia and Austria during the breeding seasonA breed is very probably in the regionThe settlement would located 530 km ESE from the birth place of "TL8". Great recovery of German BS!

Now the next interesting recoveries of 1.cy German BS in overview:
  • "T213" ringing 09.06.11 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 28./ 29.07.2011 in Belgium, 500 km WSW (J. POTTIER, J. DUA)
  • "T299" ringing 16.06.11 in Hesse (5 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 29.07.11 in Netherlands, 260 km WNW (J. SLAATES)
  • "TT9" a sibling of "T299" - reading alive 03.08.11 in Netherlands, 423 km NW (L. ANEMA, K. DE JONG)
  • "T9A" a sibling of "T299" and "TT9" - reading alive 07.08.11 in Netherlands, 425 km WNW (P. DHALUIN)
  • "T304" ringing 20.06.11 in Thuringia (3 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 31.07.11 in France ("Lac d'Auzon-Temple"), 525 km SW (F. CROSET)
  • "T305" a sibling of "T304" - reading alive 23.08.11 in France (Saint Viatre), 730 km SW (B. RIOTTON-ROUX) 
  • "T332" ringing 25.06.11 in Brandenburg (5 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive (but weakened found) 31.07.11 in Baden-Wurttemberg, 533 km SW (Mr. NUSCHELE) - in the meantime (04.08.11) died!
  • "T208 - T210" ringing siblings 09.06.11 (3 juv. C. Rohde) - reading alive 31.07.-02.08.11 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (border to Poland), 171 km ENE (J. KRAATZ & N. WARMBIER), on 10.08.11 still around here
  • "T306" a sibling of "T309" (see top), ringing 21.06.11 in Saxony-Anhalt (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 04.08.11 in Hesse, 245 km SW, on 06.08.11 died (W. LÜBCKE, W. LIMPINSEL)
  • "T322" ringing 21.06.11 in Brandenburg (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 30.07.11 in Bavaria, 610 km S (M. THOMA), second recovery alive 14.08.11 in Bavaria, 68 km E from first reading place (F. FISCHER).
  • "T320" a sibling of "T322" - reading alive 03.-09.08.11 in Rhineland Palatinate, 530 km SW (C. LEIBISCH)
  • "T221" a sibling of "T218" and "T219" - reading alive 06./07.08.11 Netherlands, 370 km WNW (D. MEIJER, M. DE VRIES and more), then reading alive 06.10.11 in France (Le Gros Coef), 1160 km SW (G. PERRUCHAS)
  • "T224" ringing 11.06.11 in North Rhine-Westphalia (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 03.08.11 in Netherlands, 275 km NW (R. BROUWER), then reading alive 21.09.11 in France (Mauriac), 800 km SW (A. LAFON)
  • "T310" ringing 21.06.11 in Saxony-Anhalt (3 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 06.-09.08.11 in Bavaria, 476 km SSW (S. SCHMID)
  • "T9N" and "T9P" siblings and ringing 16.06.11 in Hesse, "Vogelsberg" (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive in a group of 20 BS (incl. 1 BS from Poland "1H56" and 1 BS from Czech Republic "61MX") 11.08.11 in Saxony-Anhalt (Elbe-Valley), 295 km NE (J. STEUDTNER & A. SCHONERT) - "T9N" with the second recovery on 20th August 2011 in France, 717 km SW from first recovery (J. BERNARD)
  • "T324" ringing 23.06.11 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (3 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 06.-09.08.11 in Netherlands, 400 km WSW (R. MEESEMAKER)
  • "T203" ringing 02.06.11 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 23.08.11 near Braunschweig (Lower Saxony), 165 km SSW (D. TAYLOR)
  • "T207" ringing 08.06.11 in Brandenburg (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 21.08.11 near Stuttgart, 487 km SW (W. MEYER) - Notes: this is 2011 the second 1.cy BS from Brandenburg born near the border to Poland with migration route to SW!
  • "T272" ringing 15.06.11 in North Rhine Westphalia (4 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 07.09.11 in Spain (prov. Teruel), 1400 km SW (J.A.B. MONTAGUT)
  • "T335" ringing 25.06.11 in Brandenburg (3 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 14.09.11 in France (Lac D'Orient), 792 km SW (S. GAILLARD)
  • "T268" ringing 14.06.11 in Hesse (3 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 10.09.11 in Netherlands, 230 km NW (L. STEEN)
  • "T292" ringing 16.06.11 in Hesse (5 juv., C. Rohde) - reading alive 12.09.11 in Spain (Rio Grande, Malaga - this is a known wintering site in Spain!), 1910 km SW (T. TODOROV, Info from C. PACHECO)
  • "T317" ringing 29.06.11 in Thuringia (3 juv., C. Riesmeier) - reading alive 21.10.11 in Spain (Ebro Delta, Amposta), 1400 km SW (J. I. TEJEDOR)

The first till third reading from German 1.cy BS in Spain 2011. 
"T272" was observed on 07.09.11 near Villarquemado - 1400 km SW birth place, the second "T292" was found alive at 12.09.11 near Coin - 1910 km SW birth place and the third "T317" was observed on 21.10.11 inside the rice fields near Amposta - 1400 km SW birth place.


The next proof for western flyway from Brandenburg (near Poland), "T335" flew 791 km SW.
Overview about the 1. cy BS 2011 with "Migration trend sector" from North West to South (n=18; by 18. August 2011)
Overview of siblings "T304" & "T305" born in Thuringia with slight different recoveries in France but with direction to SW.
Crazy tour of siblings "T299", "TT9" and "T9A" from breeding place in Hesse (Rhön) "meeting" around in the Netherlands.
The complete "Storklets" "T208-T210" go to East....Perhaps one case for easterly route and I see the nestlings in Israel...or return to West?
Route of siblings "T306" and "T309" with nest in Saxony-Anhalt - both go to SW...
"T322" from Brandenburg flying the first 600 km to south and reading 30.07.11 near "Kochel am See" (Bavaria), the same direction goes "T310" the first 476 km from Saxony-Anhalt and reading 06. till 09.08.11 near Gerolsbach (Bavaria).
Different routes of siblings from the breeding place in Saxony-Anhalt 2011 - "T221" flying 370 km WNW to the Netherlands (07.08.11) and "T218" & "T219" fly 160 km SW to Thuringia (27.07.11).
German BS seems indeed regularly to fly the Dutch and Dutch coast on their autumnal migratory route - like  "T221" & "T224", note first NW-direction! Then both BS were observed in France with direction SW!
Different routes of siblings from the breeding site in Brandenburg (Prignitz) 2011 - "T320" goes 530 km SW to Rhineland Palatinate and "T322" flying 610 km S to Bavaria. "T322" with the second recovery on 14th August, goes 68 km East.
The siblings "T9N" & "T9P" from the breeding site in Hesse fly after fledging 295 km to NE inside the Elbe Valley.
But in the meantime great news about "T9N" , he was seen from J. Bernard on 20th August in France with the complete new direction to SW - 717 km in almost 8 days - see Google Earth image below:

By the way - Very interesting recoveries of German BS in the second calendar year in France - autumn 2011 (n=5)! You can see the fact of the western route is very stable and is continue to boom (two documents of eastern BS in Saxony and Brandenburg).

"Harald" and the LSE breeding season 2011

Lots of rain in June-July and no voles in the meadows and fields dominate the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) breeding season 2011.
Regionally are available in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern very bad breeding success. Of the approximately 80 breeding pairs, according to recent results, there are around 38-40 juveniles. 
But these young Eagles are still far from fully fledged!
Andreas Hofmann and I ringed till now this year 34 young Eagles in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.


This young Eagle "HR" = "Harald" - was slightly malnourished - ringed on 6th July 2011 (2,5 weeks old) - © C. Rohde
3 weeks later - I found the Eagle "Harald" (he is a male) on the ground. He was dropped from the nest with 5,5 weeks and is of course still not fledged. He needed 2,5 weeks more.... "Harald" was still agile and must have been for at least 2-3 days provided with food at the ground of the adult birds (I found a mole). I reacted quickly and built a temporary "nest" on a root plate of a spruce at 1.5 m height.
His weight was a big problem (only 1000g!!). Not enough food in the region. Even if the adults brought food to the new location. Still too little ... In addition, the bird is not safe from predators on the ground. I had to respond the next day. The brood nest in the oak was alone very difficult to reached. 27.07.2011 © C. Rohde.


I built finally on 28.07.2011 this new nest on a spruce tree. "Harald" has during insertion defended - a good sign. A renewed problem is the continuous rain....28.07.2011 © C. Rohde.

Good news - on 30. July - "Harald" look from the spruce nest and is alive (last 24 hours more than 70 mm rainfall)!
I'm so happy...and hopeful! 
Over the next few days I check "Harald" and make new images.
And now, unfortunately, bad news. "Harald" is dead!
Today on 01. August - I found him dead under the nesthe must died shortly after my last inspectionwhere he has still lived and was supplied by the parents at the new nest.
We can certainly philosophize much.
 It is first in the sum of the food scarcity, the strong and continuous rain in the last days and previously rather bad condition of "Harald".


The following things are noticed by ringing in 2011:

  • the weight of the young birds were 10-15% below the long-term average
  • the start of breeding was on average about one week later than usual
  • often no adult birds were present by still small young Eagles (< 4 weeks), both ad. birds had to procure food...
  • not enough availability of voles as the main food, very few alternatives this year
  • heavy and long lasting rainfall in June-July 2011 (reg. ∑ 320-340 mm!!), the critical age of the young Eagles
For comparison: in 2010 there were 80 breeding pairs of LSE with 46 fledged young Eagles in MV (SCHELLER et al. 2010).
What a nice view for this young LSE on the top of the pine (see the nest with LSE in the center), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania - 18.07.2011, © C. Rohde.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

The next Black Stork story



This year is full of Black Stork surprises.

Normally, late broods observed for Black Storks until mid-May (12th till 15. May). For June, there is currently no confirmed sightings in Germany till now. I was surprised as I have today found a appr. 20-day-old young BS in the nest. The start of breeding was thus following the 07th-08. June!! An incredible story. In the nest was already a dead young BS. We have measured in the region 120 mm rainfall in just two days!
This putative second-clutch is probably one of the latest in Europe (see below).

For comparison later broods (beginning) in Europe: 
  • Czech Republic: ~ 16.06.1999 (on 12.09.99 juv. staying still on the nest) - F. POJER;
  • Belgium: ~ 23.05.2011 (two cases) - G. JADOUL
  • Latvia: ~ mid-June (undated), fledged juv. mid-September - M. STRAZDS
  • Germany - ~ 08.06.2011 (J. HAFERLAND & C. ROHDE)

This approximately 20-day-old young Black Stork is on a pine. Brandenburg - 28.07.2011 © C. Rohde.
If everything goes perfectly, he will only fledged in mid-September. But it is questionable.... Apparently missing also already a parent....?! We keep an eye on things!
Lonely boy.... Keeping my fingers crossed, Brandenburg - 28.07.2011 © C. Rohde

Friday, July 15, 2011

Citrine Wagtail mixed breed with Yellow Wagtail in Spree Forest 2011

Lutz Balke a friend of mine found in May 2011 a beautiful male Cirtrine Wagtail near Lübbenau (Brandenburg, Germany). The male was busy singing and showed a clear area. Following there was then a confirmed mixed breed with a female of Yellow Wagtail (M. f. flava).
This breeding was successful. The male Citrine Wagtail was repeatedly observed during feeding in the nest area in early June and late June with the fledged young birds. The photos of the nice male Citrine Wagtail in the second Calendar year was made by myself on 24. and 25. May in 2011.




Saturday, July 09, 2011

First German Six-Pack

This year is truly a special Black Stork year in Germany. I can tell as a crowning of Germany's first "Six-Pack". Andre Maslow, a young and enthusiastic ornithologist and falconer found this new beech-nest in Thuringia, directly on the border to Bavaria.

Six nestlings and the adult Black Stork at feeding time....
08.07.2011, Thuringia © C. Rohde.

Note - the chicks are almost fully fledged - at that age can be neighboring to cheat already fledging Storks. For example, a SIX PACK are entirely fake - if they checked very late in the nest! 
These are but a secure brood with six nestlings. Two weeks ago, Andre was able to admire this chicks.

Six wonderful Black Storks - but only with six legs...  fledging in 2-3 days!
08.07.2011, Thuringia © C. Rohde.
A special thanks for taking photos from the hiding place goes to my BS-friends in Thuringia - Andre Maslow and Gunter Berwing.

From Europe there are currently 5 secured documents with six Black Stork nestlings (2x Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria).
Flight training - 08.07.2011, Thuringia © C. Rohde.

Where is my trout.... - 08.07.2011, Thuringia © C. Rohde 

Quickly disappear.... - 08.07.2011, Thuringia © C. Rohde

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Crazy Black Stork ringing tour Germany 2011

The map shows more than 51 Black Stork ringing places on my crazy 5500 km  tour across Germany between 02.06. till 12.07.2011. One place located in the Saarland (border to Luxembourg). There was the first breeding record for the BS. 
It was the last state where have been brooded no BS.
The first Black Stork breeding record in the Saarland 2011 (5 juv. ringing on 12.06.2011, about 6  weeks, nest in Quercus petraea, © C. ROHDE)
According to recent research breed in Germany nearly 600 BS pairs. The main population is located in Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia (together about 300 pairs). The greatest population density in Germany is situated in "Franconian Forest". There brood up to 10.7 pairs/ 100 sq.km [CELLE-DINGEL & ROHDE in preparation].


Till 27.07.2011 I have been able to 187 young BS ringed on 52 nests (3,6 juv./ nest with breeding success). Here were seven broods of five chicks (4 x Hesse, 1 x Bavaria, 1 x Saarland, 1 x Brandenburg)! 
Just recently I have just the information of all ringers. There are 208 ringed BS together in Germany 2011 (58 nests). 18 BS in Saxony, incl. one brood with five chicks (D. & T. Hergott), 3 BS in Thuringia (C. Riesmeier) and I myself 187 BS.
Summary (update 28.07.2011):
Hesse: 66 BS, Brandenburg: 26 BS, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: 22 BS, Bavaria: 19 BS, Saxony: 18 BS, Saxony-Anhalt: 14 BS, North Rhine-Westphalia: 14 BS, Thuringia: 9 BS, Rhineland-Palatinate: 8, Baden-Wurttemberg: 7 BS, Saarland: 5 BS.
In total I found 17 failed eggs in 15 nests (one with embryo):

One failed egg with embryo, nest together with 3 juv. in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 23.06.2011.

3 failed eggs + 1 juv. from one spruce nest in Franconian Forest,   
18.06.2011 [67.05 x 49.63 mm, 62.50 x 47.86 mm, 66.86 x 48.53 mm]


In some cases the BS-ringing was not so easy. Here's a nest on a side 
branch of Beech (almost 4 meters from the trunk), 14.06.2011, Hesse - 
© C. ROHDE.

Only 100 meters away from the nest on this Spruce is a federal highway. For weeks there - great construction site noise. Nevertheless, a successful breeding with five nice chicks.... Holy moly..., 18.06.2011, Franconian Forest, Bavaria - © C. ROHDE.

Typical nesting situation in the Franconian Forest. Often, the nest trees at the forest edge. Note the typical greenish color of the tree trunk below the occupied nest. It helps very well in the search for nests, 18.06.2011 - © C. KELLE-DINGEL.

This year was indeed a very special BS year. Many rivers and streams demonstrated only a relatively flat water level. Optimal for my beloved Black Storks - they are perfect in their main food - FISH - come .. 
Black Storks usually feel for their prey. The parents were constantly filled with throat to the nest. The nutritional condition of the chicks was therefore ideal. Thus it was no surprise that the adult BS stayed much longer at the nest. I had a meeting of the third kind with adult BS at the nest. It was just incredible. And I've always dabbled in the position of the BS to move. As I stood at the 1.5-meter ringing right next to the adult BS - and the chicks had long since grown out of the critical security age - I was actually probably have long since a BS himself. In one case showed the adult BS almost a little more unstressed expression. He even showed a sort of embarrassment courtship display.... The BS have let me into their empire - I let him take it on as a sort of thanks for my many years of conservation effortsBlack Storks have simply something magical.... 

Note the age and the excellent condition of the juv. BS (38-44 days). It is no longer a critical guarded age more. I am very quietly climbed to the nest. No hasty actions. Again and again I have spoken with my Storks. 
At rest, then I have photographed the old BS with the chicks - the distance was 1,5 m !!, 16.06.2011 - Hesse - © C. ROHDE. 

Only when I am over 25 years have studied with the behavior of the BS, I dared the ringing. The right way when I go into the privacy ...
The "boys" were much more aggressive. The old BS of course shows a tense posture. But who has studied the behavior of these fascinating species very closely - see - there is no acute stress position. If the nest had been greater, then he would have been ringing my guest - I'm convinced.
Especially for large breeds come about age distances visible (hatching). Between the second and third juv. from the left, there were over 8-10 days! Five chicks after the ringing on 16.06.2011 - Hesse © C. ROHDE.

In the spring (April) was this nice nest in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania still occupied. But the female (left bird) in the 3rd Calendar year has left the place after just one week. Following the nest was deserted from mid-May. One such factors must also be observed in occupation - 21.04.2011 © C. ROHDE!
The beautiful male from the same pair and nest - 21.04.2011 © C. ROHDE.
In the Franconian Forest, Bavaria - ringing on 18.06.2011 - © A. KELLE
Note the worn primaries in the spring. A good feature to distinguish between individual adult birds in densely occupied areas! - Bavaria, Franconian Forest, 02.04.2011 © C. ROHDE.
The same male "sings a song", indicating that the nest area. The nest is located approximately 300 m away. What many do not know - Black Storks are very "happily call" - they have a broad repertoire © C. ROHDE.
Very important - I always ringed the chicks on top - the young Storks are selectively covered with a very light blanket and calmed. The action does not take longer than 10-15 minutes in the nest. I try not to give the birds so much stress. A ringing on the ground is completely unnecessary!, Franconian Forest in Bavaria, nest on Abies alba, 17.06.2011, © C. KELLE-DINGEL.
A special thank you for this ringing-season goes to my BS-friends (hopefully I did not forget anybody)


Hesse: J. Burkard, T. Gröbel, I. Hausch, M. Hormann, A. Rockel, H.-O. Thorn, S. Thorn, W. Schindler;
Rhineland-Palatinate: A. Kunz, P. Schiefenhövel, S. Schmidt-Fasel;
Saarland: C. Braunberger, B. Diener, N. Roth, N. Fritsch; 
Baden Württemberg: G. Heine, G. Maluck;
North Rhine Westphalia: M. Jöbges, H. König, L. Scholz;
Bavaria: C. Kelle-Dingel, A. Kelle;Thuringia: A. Goedecke, M. Göring, S. Jähne, C. Riesmeier, R. Sienhold, C. Unger; 
Saxony-Anhalt: G. Dornbusch;
Saxony: D. & T. Hergott;
Brandenburg: L. Balke, O. Büxler, M. Flade, J. Haferland, P. Schonert, H. Schröder, B. Schulze, A. Weingardt;
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: H. Eggers, A. Ritter, R. Rusnack, J. Schilling, E. Schreiber, D. Winkelmann.

Take care my Black Storks and I see you in Autumn in Israel 2011!  Carsten