Storks and Painted Storks (Lakhundar, Monday, December 8, 2003)
We are running short of time today, so our report is going to be very short. The photo we are sending over the satellite can make up for the shortage of words: black storks in company of a painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) are something ornithologists will surely appreciate.
We have been working in two groups from early morning until late at night. Lubos spent a hard and hot day, in a hideout on the peninsula that the storks frequent. The rest of us explored the surrounding area. We found Altynai exactly where the satellite localised her. There are small water sources in the proximity where the storks probably feed. Shortly before eleven, she took off and flew over to the peninsula, where Lubos was waiting for her. He watched her for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, we further explored the surroundings, including two distant dams which did not look suitable for storks.
We are all starting to look rather worn out apart from our driver Umesh who always wears a finely ironed collared shirt and well-creased trousers. I wonder how he manages to do that.