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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Black Stork migration beginning

BTW: 2009-2012 in total 1953 readings from 460 different Black Storks!

Colourring-readings list autumn 2012:
Updated: 11. October 2012 - in total: 132 different birds with 362 readings.

  • Czech Rep. (38): 6144, 6FU, 6FC, 6RV, 60AA, 630V, 641V, 6360, 62V8, 6103, 62W7, 639V, 6MH, 6415, 601H, 646H, 6132, 6022, 61V4, 6164, 63MF, 60M6, 60U9, 62ML, 613U, 62V5, 638L, 63AW, 6322, 61FU, 644X, 60W9, BX 4168 (metal), BX12249 (metal), BX566 (metal), 643L, 61CA, 62W9
  • Slovakia (5): 8F2, 8382, 8AJ, 8WO, 8CN
  • Latvia (21): 0CJJ, 0A14, 0AT6, 0ACO, 0CP4, 0CP1, 0AWC, 0CJF, 0CPV, 0CMU, 0CPX, 0CHL, 0CLJ, 0A96, 0CMC, 0CL4, 0CHC, 0CLT, 0CPL, 0CLM, 0CMO
  • Estonia (2): 7014 (Raivo), 7138
  • Poland (21): 1M76, 1R49, 1B32, 1V26, 1R35, 1E83, 1H70, 1L41, 1T21, 1B16, 1P96, 1K37, 1L85, 1K31, 1H66, 1E26, 1H15, 1K30, 1T13, 1L83, 1E45
  • Hungary (16): 518V, 50N7, 50V8, 516C, 50HC, 51AX, 51H1, 517W, 50PT, 51A5, 51J0, 51N2, 5194, 511X, 506X, 51FC
  • Lithuania (11): V022, V320, 6084 (metal), V032, V060, V322, 2369 (metal), V345, V023, V333, V252
  • Ukraine (3): UAT, U83, U79
  • Croatia (1): 4022, TA06134 (metal)
  • Germany (2): TTN, TMT
  • Austria (3): 2053, 2028, DER A6825 (ELSA-ring)
  • Israel (8): ME31, L5502 (metal), ME27, ME28, ME29, L5911 (metal), L4648 (metal), L9111 (metal)
  • Bulgaria (1): 7-00933 (metal)
All migration data and images are subject to data privacy.
Encouragingly - today on 27 September was my first good day.
The last days were always very hot. 40 degrees today.
The air stream fitted. A typical weather conditions for Black Stork migration - in the afternoon it was time!
Between 14:30 pm to 17:17 pm (sunset) 2300 Black Storks moved from Jordan in the Valley. Larger flocks also continued to fly direction SSW. I think today was also a good migration day on the coast.

Migration starts 15:30 pm in the gate to the Valley.
More and more coming. The biggest flock with 420 birds. Here is  a selection.
Black Storks on arrival in the Jordan Valley.
The first Storks drink water...
But are constantly disturbances.. Here are the gas-powered cannon in the neighboring date plantations. I read before 3 ringed BS in one minute! And then the bang....it would landing so many.
And here my first German BS "TTN" (note dirty ring), ringed this year in Saxony. Great! 26.09.12 Jordan Valley © C. Rohde
28 September (42 degrees) - really the first peak day - again an interesting day!
The same place, the same time...
5.800 BS in total passing the Valley in the afternoon. Until darkness was migration time.
The following day will be very interesting (typical for good take off).

An area of the largest group of 810 BS. 28.09.12 - Jordan Valley
Continuous migration after sunset with small flocks...
Black Stork in the Moon! No photomontage. 28.09.12 - Jordan Valley - © C. Rohde
Look Urmas - Greetings from Raivo is fine  and Carsten from Israel... 28.09.12 - Harod Valley - © C. Rohde
29 September: indeed, this morning between 08:15 am till 10:30 am a really nice take off with small groups of BS and raptors.
In total 1750 Black Stork moved continuous in two hours to SW. This was followed a rain front in the afternoon and the migration stopped.
Together with the BS migration this morning (08:15 - 11:15):
Short-toed Eagle: 122
Booted Eagle: 12
Pallid Harrier: 8
Montagu's Harrier: 6
Lesser Spotted Eagle: 420
Greater Spotted Eagle: 12
Levant Sparrowhawk: 125

30 September: no migration

The colour-ring is completely dirty by Polish BS "1L85". A real challenge! Meshilot 30.09.12 © C. Rohde
01 October: small groups - in total 320 Black Storks migration by take off.

The Greater Spotted Eagle arrived in winter roost - Beit Shean Valley - 02. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
02 October: slowly in total 200 Black Storks in the afternoon.

Rings on the tarsus are bad. The chance they to find is about ten times lower than the ring location on tibia. Here the Hungarian BS "51N2". 02. October 2012 - Newe Ur - © C. Rohde
03 October: slowly in total 340 Black Storks

04 October: only 200 Black Storks, but appr. 15.000 Lesser Spotted Eagles (Survey team)

The most important roost place for Black Storks in Israel (Jordan Valley) - Maximum 2.400 birds. - © C. Rohde
Here is a selection - 03. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
And here is the second most important place (from five) in Israel. Maximum 1.900 birds in 2011. 04. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
05 October: in total 620 Black Storks passing.

Small flocks of Black Storks on 05. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
Harod Valley - 05. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
The Storks together... © C. Rohde
Jordan Valley - 05. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
Black Storks and Little Egrets "counts" in Newe Ur - 04. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
06 October: in total 750 Black Storks in the afternoon. + 480 Lesser Spotted Eagle, 3 Griffon Vulture (Jordan Valley).

The second German Black Stork "TMT" ringed also in Saxony. 06.10.2012 - © C. Rohde
07 October: no migration day



Montagu's on the border to Jordan - all photos Jordan Valley - 07.10.12 - © C. Rohde
08 October: in total 850 Black Storks, 1880 Lesser Spotted Eagles (mostly over Jordan), 1 Saker

Black Stork over the Jordan Valley - Image from the aircraft - 08.10.12 - © C. Rohde
09 October: only 120 Black Storks

The last Black Storks on the roost place - note the spots! - 08.10.12 - Beit Shean Valley (08:45) - © C. Rohde
I measured all Black Storks roost places in the Jordan and Beit Shean Valley per Glider and GPS - Here's a really nice place (note also the spots of Black Storks and the Jordan on the ground!) - 08.10.12 - Jordan Valley - © C. Rohde
The world's largest Black Stork roost in the Jordan Valley - 08.10.12 - © C. Rohde
A lonely Black Stork between a flock of White Pelicans - 08.10.12 - Harod Valley (image from the glider) - © C. Rohde
White Pelicans in the Harod Valley - 08.10.12 - © C. Rohde
Raivos main area in autumn 2012 - 08.10.12 - Harod Valley - © C. Rohde
Black Storks, Great Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey Herons in a "pond bay". We are fortunate still to find ponds with natural vegetation. - 04.10.12 - Jordan Valley (image also from the glider) - © C. Rohde
10 October: 850 Black Storks arrived in the evening. But also two new finds in the cover nets (both still alive, I'm happy!)

Stone Curlew in olive plantations - Beit Shean Valley - 09.10.12 - © C. Rohde
Black Stork roost in the morning - Jordan Valley - 11.10.12 - © C. Rohde
11 October: 720 Black Storks arrived in the evening.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Black Stork drama in fish pond cover nets

First I would like my thanks for the help.
I apologize if I do not answer immediately.
Because my day starts at 04:00 am and I have no internet in my room. But I try always to find WI-FI stations...
Before I will still collect all the things.
Then I can make a better impression about the situation.

No matter whether a German, Austrian, Israeli, Polish, Czech or.... guy - important is the message. The mistakes that were made in Israel over the years must be eliminated!
In November 2012 - I will create a comprehensive working paper with practicable proposals and solutions.
"A completely unnecessary death of birds in cover nets over fish ponds in Israel - As an example the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) in the Jordan & Bet Shean Valley autumn survey 2012"

All Data and images are subject to data privacy. They are also not up to the publication of my paper citation reference. 

In the meantime I have to report other cases in nets.

From 05. October all new stories please again at the bottom....

Updated Black Stork "cover net survey":
25. October 2012 - Jordan/ Bet Shean Valley (checked all data)

44 cases by Black Stork in cover nets!!

thereof:
  • death in the net: 21
  • rescued: 23, unfortunately, thereof the Latvian BS "0CMU" died during the transport. It was his second net touch in two days... to much stress.
A new bad story... Slowly is dwindling my powers....

Many birdwatchers know the Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin. The gate shows the logo of the Black Stork. In my eyes really a joke! The money is provided mainly there for "beautiful" birdwatching tours, but not for the Black Stork  & Co. in Israel.
An example: near at the entry to the ponds I found today (03. October 2012) three Black Storks in nets. Only one I could help and still release. Shameful.
My baby number 17 in two weeks! Fish ponds Kfar Ruppin - 03. October 2012 - © C. Rohde 
After his release. He's fine. The ring code is "ME28" (2. cy). 
Dead Black Stork one in 1. cy - Kfar Ruppin, 03. October 2012 
Dead Black Stork two in 2. cy. - Kfar Ruppin, 03. October 2012
The everyday life... I found this BS just before sunset on 02. October near Newe Ur. The day before a case on the same place. Then I brought him to Nir David (zoo) - a long working day is finished.

My new Baby. After the release, I have observed one hour. Nice, it has recovered well. Tomorrow I will look   again. A small success. 01. October 2012 - © C. Rohde

Total of other species by "net survey Bet Shean & Jordan Valley 2012" (updated 11. October 2012):

  • Black Kite: 17 cases, thereof 6 released
  • Marsh Harrier: 3 cases, thereof 2 released
  • White Stork: 8 cases
  • Grey Heron: 14 cases
  • Night Heron: 44 cases, thereof 9 released
  • Little Egret: 26 cases, thereof 11 released


One of 8 released Night Herons till now - Gesher - 01.10.12 - © C. Rohde

























I'm just angry and helpless - two new cases in nets.
Both young ones dead - I was too late...
Simply too lazy dismantle the side nets!
Location of the tragedy - Newe Ur - 30.09.12 
No chance - Young one!
Young two!
Another big problem are the unprotected pylons in Israel!
Newe Ur - 30.09.12 © C. Rohde

A main problem is the abrupt drives by fishermen and birdwatchers along the net ponds. The birds get great panic, fly down into the net.....

A fisherman comes with a car driven very fast. The birds get panic. An adult BS stays in net. The fisherman does not register such cases - or he will not...

Great stress, especially adult BS, they are very aggressive during the rescue.
Five minutes after the rescue. The BS is okay and take off later...
"0CMU" after the second net touch.
Completely weakened - he needed to the care station. Unfortunately, he died during the drive. The long trips to the station are also a problem.
The circumstances are not optimal. Cement ground.. Further deficits..

The almost daily picture....
My equipment. The floating mat I "borrowed" me... Like a combat diver in GDR times. It's not funny anymore.
Drama of 26. September. Two dead BS plus rescued one BS.

Other information:
Unfortunately I did not write the time to detail.
But now I have but some news from the guerrilla front...
Everything starts with a mesh size of 10, 13,5  or 15 cm. The first death sentence.
When used herein a distance of 2 cm. then is helped the most birds. More material - but not a problem in Israel, the land of waste in the wrong place...
The precise facts and suggestions I come to finish my tour.

The nets are also to flat over the water level. The temptation is to great for Stork, Herons & Co. The Stork here was still alive. I can still save him. It's often the same dangerous ponds. Also an important starting point. Gesher  fish ponds - 22.09.12 © C. Rohde
Besides a second juv. Black Stork.
After my salvaging. The Black Storks rent a car. The next problem is the care. I'm 30 km with the Storks go. Fortunately Kobi Meyrom helped. One of the rare active conservationists in the Jordan Valley. Also there are solutions, if you will... The Storks were released the following day. A small part of success.
One day later, I'm too late. The same pool. 23.09.12 - Gesher ponds - © C. Rohde

The Night Heron has the largest death rate in the nets. Right the dead Black Stork. 23.09.12 - © C. Rohde
Sloppy economy. The nets can be removed. But as the GDR era... I addressed these things again and again. But now must be simply be acted. 23.09.12,  Newe Ur ponds - © C. Rohde
Black Stork in the second calendar year. The list gets longer and longer. The eyes are watering and my heart hurt. Newe Ur ponds on 24.09.12 - © C. Rohde
The deadly mesh size of 13,5 cm......
Without word....
Compared to the nets is the jackal like a joke for Black Storks. Border to Jordan - 23.09.12 - © C. Rohde
Just for the muse. Landing to the roost place - 23.09.12 - © C. Rohde
This Black Kite has the rescue indeed still released - Newe Ur - 30.09.12 - © C. Rohde
It is again a dilemma after the story in Kfar Ruppin. Meanwhile the birds are "thoroughly cleared". But today on 05. October hangs the next Black Kite on the net.

1. cy Black Kite in Kfar Ruppin - 05. October 2012 - © C. Rohde
But the dilemma is elsewhere. It involves the care of birds in the Beit Shean and Jordan Valley. From today, no more birds cared in the surrounding area!
So I can not find any more birds....
They did say that the birds are to be picked up by rangers - but then it goes a long way to Tel Aviv...Holidays should then be not be..but the half October consists of holidays in Israel...

What could us say the image. Not a good future for the protection of the Storks and Herons in Israel...  (cover nets, power lines and kind of pylons). It's my opinion - It rust everywhere! 
My private hospital!

My last handover for album near Nir David - 05. October 2012
Not to understand - In the Beit Shean Valley stand new pylons for new power lines. Note the dangerous isolators. Amidst the main migration route and roost of White Storks in Israel and the world!
How exactly are working the nature conservation authorities with the government on such projects and how is the involvement? Or the project was stopped? Because the pylons are more than a year without lines...
I hope my last baby - here before the mudslinging...... - Newe Ur - 11.10.12 - © C. Rohde
After his release... for me, a successful conclusion after 3,5 weeks hard and difficult job...
TIME FOR A TURNING!
My last action today, the release of this 1 cy. Black Kite (number six by survey) at sunset. 11.10.12 - Jordan Valley - © C. Rohde