The star stork couple—Hrytsko and Odarka—are back together in their nest in the Pyriatyn National Park in the Poltava region. However, this family idyll was preceded by a struggle for a home and a mate.
This was reported by researcher Iryna Sarazhynska. As a reminder, the live stream is available on the "Leleka Hrytsko" YouTube channel.
Timeline of the return
Lel was the first to arrive at the nest, which the whole country is watching. The bird returned as early as March 24. By April 2, Kvitka had arrived, and Lel and Kvitka became a pair. Observers were already getting used to the idea that a new stork family would now live in the nest.
However, the young birds’ idyll did not last long, because as early as April 5, Odarka returned to her nest and drove out the new female, but not the male—Odarka and Lel began to develop a “mutual understanding.” But this, too, was short-lived—lasting less than a day.
On April 6, Hrytsyk returned and defeated his rival in a fight, defending his nest. And last year’s partner had to chase away her rival, Kvitka, to stay at home. So now the media-famous storks are together again and have already begun settling into their new life.
Screenshot from the stork nest surveillance camera
Restoring the home
The first nest owner this season, Lel, actively prepared the storks’ home, though after the battle with Hrytsyk, it was badly damaged.
So, as early as April 7, Hrytsyk got to work and brought the first branch, which Odarka immediately began arranging.
“It was the same last year: Hrytsyk would bring the branches, and Odarka would arrange them. There is a start, and they will continue to furnish it, since this is not their first time doing this in this nest. For today, the building materials statistics end with the first branch. Not all storks are like Lel after all; each, apparently, has its own particular nest-building traits,” – noted Iryna Sarazhynska.
Screenshot from the stork nest surveillance camera
And what about the exiles?
After her defeat by Odarka, Kvítka flew to the Protsenkove nest. It remains unknown whether Lel will return to her. He had the chance to do so immediately after his partner’s defeat, but he chose to remain in the nest he had been settling since the end of March.
Recall that since 2019, the well-known nest had been home to the stork Hrytsko, but last year he did not return from migration. His place was taken by Hrytsyk, with whom Odarka raised five chicks.
