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This live stream is showing a stork nest at Knepp in Sussex.
The two white storks have raised chicks successfully on the same nest for the last couple of years.
If you have enjoyed watching these wonderful animals, please consider donating to support the project. Funds raised will be used to help learn more about these amazing birds from satellite tagging, live map development and feather sexing as well as other crucial parts of the project.
These two birds have been a bonded pair since 2020 when they built their first nest together. In 2021 they laid eggs on the same nest and these hatched. Sadly though, there was a severe thunderstorm and the chicks perished.
In 2022 they successfully reared young for the first time and 3 young storks fledged the nest. Then in 2023 they had even more success with 4 chicks successfully fledging.
The pair on this nest are ringed with blue plastic darvic rings on the left leg.
The male, Bartek, (GB18) is a rehabilitated bird from Warsaw Zoo in Poland. He has been part of the White Stork Project since 2017. The female, Ania, (GB5B) is also over from Poland and has been with us since 2016.
March 9th - The first egg was laid by Ania in the evening. Eggs were laid every other day up to a total of 4 eggs.
April 13th - First egg hatches in the morning. The second hatched on the same day in the evening and the third overnight at some point on the 13th or early hours of the 14th April.
The last egg hatched late at night on the 15th April or early hours of the 16th April.
After around 6 days, the four chicks started to bill clatter. The last to hatch was initially noticeably smaller than the other three but has been consistently getting food and has caught up with the others.
May 26th - The four young were ringed with blue project rings on the left upper leg, and metal BTO rings on the right lower leg. We also took feather samples to be sent off for genetic sex testing.
The blue rings read: GBG9, GBH0, GBH1 and GBH2.
Results from feather sexing show - GBG9 - female. GBH0 - female. GBH1 - female. GBH2 - male
June 25th - GBG9 flies for the first time and returns to the nest after a couple of minutes
June 26th - GBH1 flies for the first time
June 27th - GBH0 flies for the first time
June 28th - GBH2 flies for the first time.
All of these birds fledge with short flights then return to the nest and continue to be fed by the parents, though they can also go and forage for themselves.
Data from ringing:
GBG9 tarsus 230 mm, wing 419 mm, weight 3.5 kg
GBH0 tarsus 213 mm, wing 392 mm, weight 3.125 kg
GBH1 tarsus 215 mm, wing 395 mm, weight 3.250 kg
GBH2 tarsus 225 mm, wing 371mm, weight 3.750 kg
In July, some local schools suggest names on the four young:
GBG9 - Isla
GBH0 - Ivy
GBH1 - Issy
GBH2 - Ivan
We hope you enjoy watching as the season unfolds!