Summary: How Iristu flew (Tuesday, April 27, 2004)
After Altynai's return, we briefly summed up her journey to the wintering places and back. Now the same about Iristu. He flew the same distance as Altynai did - approximately 9000 kilometers - but was away from his nesting place much longer - nearly 250 days.
Iristu set on his way away from the Ob river already on August 10. or 11. of 2003 and arrived at southern Gujarat on October 29. His journey to the wintering place took 80 or 81 days. However, he spent much time during the stops near Syrdaria (58 to 59 days) and Amudaria (6 days). He had been approaching the wintering places only for 15 or 17 days and the average length he covered daily was 250 to 300 kilometers. His nest was 3650 kilometers beeline away from the wintering place, the flyby around the mountains made it longer to 4750 kilometers (measured as joins of the main points of the trace including the movings during feeding near Syrdaria).
In fact, Iristu stayed the whole winter near two flood pools in southern Gujarat: Jamwari and Puldjer. Other eight black storks stayed there together with him. (More detailed information about Iristu's wintering place where we watched him in December can be found at Expedition India 2003).
Iristu started to return home on March 14 or more probably 15, 2004, and reached it after 36 or 38 days - April 19. or 20. During the first spring days, and interesting situation occurred when he had probably problems during overcoming Hindukus (see report from March 25). He paused his returning near Balkhash lake (6 days) and Irtysh (6 days as well). The speed of his advance was quite low even during the flight days - 150-250 km per day from the start and 100-200 km per day later on. His return way went along the trace 4200 kilometers long, somewhat different and significantly shorter than during the way to the wintering place.