Control and ringing of white storks in Turiec 2023

Control and ringing of white storks in Turiec 2023

In order to learn more about the white storks born in Turiec and their fate, we carried out a check of the young and their ringing on 22.6.2023. In recent years, we have moved most of the white stork nests in cooperation with Stredoslovenská distribučná a.s., municipal authorities and the State Nature Conservancy from electric poles, buildings to separate poles and nesting pads, where storks are safe and where there is no risk of power outages due to short circuits on the lines due to contact with the nest or stork.

Thanks to the sponsorship lease of a forklift from SSD a.s., we visited nests in Dubovo, Rudno, Kaľamenová, Slovenské Pravno, Ivančiná, Jazernica, Borcová, 2 nests in Blážovce, a nest in Moskovec, Socovce, Slovany, Ležiachov, Příbovce, Žabokreky, Ďanová, Mošovce, Malý Čepčín. A total of 55 stork chicks were checked and ringed on 18 nests by Roman Slobodník, a member of the RPS in cooperation with zoologists of the Veľká Fatra National Park Administration, Mária Apfelová and Stanislava Pekárová.

4 chicks were in nests in Slovenské Pravno, Jazernica, Blážovce, Slovany, Příbovce, Ďanová, Mošovce. 3 cubs each in Malý Čepčín, Ležiachov, Socovce, Moskovec, Kaľamenová and Dubovo. Two cubs were in Ivančina, Borcová. One chick was ringed in Rudno and Žabokreky and none in Belá-Dulice, Turčianske Teplice, Dubové (at the cooperative), in Valča (only the female came here), where storks did not nest this year. Each young stork was given a ring with a unique number, which is easily readable, and in the case of observing a stork, it is possible to find out through the ringing center where it hatched, how old it is, or where it has already been observed. You can read more about ringing or reporting back here: https://www.vtaky.sk/stranka/53-Kruzkovanie.html .

In Příbovce, during its improvement, a parent couple brought twine to the nest, which they wanted to strengthen or insulate the nest. However, one of the chicks got entangled in his leg and while moving around the nest, it was strangled in several places so that at the time of the inspection part of his foot was already amputated and was hanging only on the string with which he was anchored to the nest. The cub was taken to the vet, where euthanasia was performed due to the extent of the dead part of the leg and the overall poor perspective. We also found 2 unhatched eggs and 1 dead chick in Malý Čepčín on the nests. According to the observations of the locals, one chick also died in Mošovce, when it was found under the nest. This happens if the chick has a developmental disorder or some health problem, if there is not enough food nearby, the parents throw the weak chick out of the nest in an effort to increase the chances for the rest of the offspring.

We can say that this year’s spring was one of the best in terms of temperature and precipitation compared to previous years, which was probably reflected in the amount of available food for storks and subsequently in the number of young. The population of storks and their nesting sites in Turiec is reasonably large compared to food sources. We still have to check the number of chicks in Sklené, Košťany n. Turcom, Dvorec, Diviaky (the last nests on the chimney in Turiec), Sučany, Turany and Nolčov.

A big thank you goes to all involved, to all the landowners who like storks, are interested in what is happening around “their” storks and have also checked us what we do to storks J. A big thank you also goes to SSD a.s. for many years of cooperation, support and willingness to help.