Viewers of the popular online stream from the stork nest in the Tukums region witnessed a rare and, from a human perspective, cruel episode. The female white stork named Uma killed and ate one of her three chicks.
The beginning of summer in the white stork nest in the Tukums region was marked by an event that provoked a strong reaction among online stream viewers.
On June 1, the female stork named Uma got rid of the smallest chick by eating it. Numerous bird enthusiasts watched the event in real time.
According to regular viewers of the stream, the bird's behavior reminded them of events in 2023 when one of the chicks was eaten by the male, Yumis. Before swallowing the chick, he exhibited characteristic movements similar to those observed now.
The pair of white storks — Uma and Yumis — returned to their nest on April 14 last year. This season, they hatched three chicks.
Although such scenes may shock people, ornithologists note that this behavior occurs in storks and many other bird species. Most often, parents get rid of the weakest chick in conditions of limited resources or when they believe they cannot successfully raise all their offspring.
In such cases, nature effectively bets on the survival of the stronger chicks by concentrating available food and parental care on them. Such cases are part of natural selection and are regularly recorded in the wild, although witnessing them live is rare.
The stream from the stork nest in the Tukums region has been running since 2021 and is very popular among the residents of Latvia. According to specialists, more than 8,000 stork nests have been registered on the supports of power lines in the country, and about 70% of the Latvian population of white storks lives on electricity network infrastructure facilities.
The story of Uma reminded viewers once again that the lives of wild animals do not always align with human notions of care and justice.
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