Storchenstation in Tillmitsch/Austria

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    • Storchenstation in Tillmitsch/Austria

      It was in December 2006 when I got an austrian newspaper-article about stork “Flori”, a stork with a leg prothesis like "Fritz", living on a Storchenhof in Tillmitsch/Austria. Of course I was very curious to learn more about and contacted this Storchenhof. The people there were so happy about the interest and so I still get once in a while pictures from the animals there and their stories. I could imagine, that you also have fun reading about!? Here is their HP:

      der-storchenvater.com/

      Somewhere is written, so to say as a motto:
      Störche kennen keine politischen Grenzen und verbinden auf ihrem Zug ganze Kontinente. Also nehmen wir Menschen uns dies als Vorbild und versuchen, in unserem Verein ein harmonisches Miteinander von Mensch und Natur zustande zu bringen.

      Storks don´t know political borders and combine whole continents on their migration. So let us peoples take that as an example and try in our club (!? Verein) to manage a harmonious cooperation between men and nature.

      But here comes Flori´s story as I read it in the newspaper: Flori was about 6 years old, when he stepped into a (forbidden) pitfall. His leg was so bad damaged, that the vet had to amputate his left leg. What than came was blessing in disguise. The vet contacted an orthopedics company which belonged to Mr. Karl Skergeth. When this animal lover heard about Floris disaster he didn´t even think a minute but was immediately ready to make an artifical leg (!? prothesis). They didn´t find anything like this in the internet, so they tried themselves and made one out of synthetic fiber. Already the very first steps worked fine!

      And here are pictures and "the stories behind", which I got from the Storchenhof

      Flori with his prothesis:





      The pitfall in which Flori lost his leg. The prothesis is leaned against it:



      Now you must imagine one thing, Flori was a breeding stork and he was looking for food for his brood when it happened. But Flori wanted to take care of his brood! So he flew around with this pitfall on his leg,- imagine! His wife got such a shock, that she didn´t take care of the brood anymore she was only all the time with Flori and Flori wasn´t able to find food, because he couldn´t walk,- but fly! So the firebrigade was very helpful and every day (I don´t know how many times a day they came) climbing up and feeding the chicks!

      Flori they couldn´t catch because he could fly. When he was already very weak they were able to catch him and bring him to the vet - who only could amputate that already black coloured leg.

      Helmut Rosenthaler taking care about Flori after the amputation:



      Flori with “his team” :


      the two on the left made the prothesis, 2nd from left is Karl Skergeth. 2nd from right is the vet beside of Helmut Rosenthaler.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • On the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch are quite a few storks etc. and I`ld like to introduce one after the other and tell a few side stories of whats happening there. It´s a wonderful place for the birds!

      Here comes the

      Lovestory from Maxl and Stitzi during the year 2003

      "Maxl" and "Stritzi" are two storks living on the Storchenstation. Maxl is male, Stritzi female. Maxl is 10 years old and years ago one wing was so badly injured, that the vet had to amputate it. Stritzi was born in 2000 in Wieselsdorf near Poreding

      In spring 2003 these two were very much in love. They decided to built a nest in the meadow. When they had finished the nest Stritzi laid one egg. Unfortunately after only one week she damaged it.

      In August it was time to say “good bye” for Stritzi, who started her migration with other storks. One winged Maxl of course had to stay on the Storchenhof.

      But he longing for Maxl was so great, that after two weeks absence, probably in Hungaria or so, Stritzi turned and came back home to Maxl to spend the winter season with him and wait together with him for the springtime season!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 13 storks are nowadays there on the Storchenstation of Tillmitsch. A trademark for the whole village!

      But not all are able to fly!

      There is for example Blackstork „Blacky“. Obviously on one eye blind from birth. Right during his very first flight he stroke a rooftop and injured one wing. Black is in the meantime 7 years old.

      There are another 2 blackstorks living on the Storchenstation. 2 female, 3 years old. With one of them Blacky made friends,- maybe one day they´ll found a family!?
      Here a picture of „Blacky“ and his beloved „Ossi“

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Housegoose Martin

      This gander made himself comfortable on the bathing place in a neighborly area. And there he attacked the guests!

      Not only that, he also united himself with a wild duck and her 7 chicks,- their drake was given the boot, because he, the gander declared himself as the daddy!

      After he also annoyed the camping guests he extravagated and the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch was informed and asked to come and pick up the gander.

      That´s how „Martin“ came to the Storchenstation. This was 5 years ago. He still thinks he is the alpha male and also requests respect from the other animals. And so he first had to live locked up in an enclosure. He doesn´t have a partner, because the wild duck didn´t come along with him……
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 2nd of February 2007

      A Newspaper article from the 2nd of February 2007 said the following:

      The electric company Gruber from St. Nikolai/Sausal is taking care for warm nests on the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch

      from Waltraud Fischer

      Every year storks also spend the winter in our area and don´t fly south, because they are too weak or malnourished. “But also the change of climate is responsible” stork father Helmuth Rosenthaler knows and underlines “in the previous year the loveable birds suffered extremely under the winter temperatures. At minus 20°C it can happen, that the storks have to suffer from frostbites and something worse on their toes or legs

      Electrical heating for two nests

      A throughout Austria unique idea was introduced on the Tillmitsch Storchenstation. The electric company Gruber from St. Nikolai installed in love of the birds a heating free of charge. “By that, when it´s bad cold, the heating band will be warmed up to a certain temperature. The nest is kept clear of ice and the storks don´t get cold feet in the future” general manager Michael Gruber is glad about his first storknest heating. And the Storchenhof Tillmitsch is thankful, that this special action was made only after a talk about.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • February 10 2007

      September 2006 two white storks were brought to the Storchenstation who obviously missed the connection to migration. They were well taken care during the winter on the Storchenstation.

      On the morning of February 9th Helmut Rosenthaler got a call that a dead stork was found. Only about 300 m away from the Storchenstation – death by flying into an overhead line.

      It was one of the white storks who came there in September 2006.

      „Electrocution“ ….. when will peoples finally understand???


      Who else is there permanent living on the Storchenstation?

      Well, there is “housestork “Maxi”, 10 years of age.

      Why “housestork”!?

      When he was a chick he fell out of the nest (or was he helped to fall out by his parents!?) Anyhow the, at that time, ‘storkmother’ rescued him from a rooftop where he was hanging in snowbars and brought him up affectionately.

      Meanwhile the storkmother is 85 years of and moved away to live together with her daughter. That´s how this tame (domesticated!?) stork came to the Storchenstation.

      And you will find out, that ‘Maxi’ is not a male but a ‘Maxeline’, female stork!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 23rd of April 2007

      News from the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch!

      Stritzi got her summerfriend Gustl back. He came back and both are already breeding!

      And Maxi, the stork the aged lady gave to the Storchenstation because of moving, turned out to be a Maxeline! On Easter Monday she laid the 1st egg – in the meantime there are 5 eggs in the nest…..

      Two young storks came back from the winter journey and Helmut Rosenthaler assumes that both had been brought up on the Storchenstation, because they know very well the feeding ritual …..

      Another stork had blessing in disguise: he got stuck in the crown of a tree and was so badly injured, that one wing had to be amputated. In the meantime he, so to say, recovered and lucky enough he can live his life on the Storchenstation.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 16th of July 2007

      News from the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch! First: Stork Flori is feeling very well!

      But there comes a sad story. On the Storchenstation one winterstork is living, Hansl, who, when she is coming back from migration is a pair with females stork Grete. Their nest is in Kumberg, near Graz. This year they had 5 chicks. Only unfortunately Grete had an accident with a bus, survived, but is badly injured on head, shoulder and leg. Grete got a concussion, bruise of the shoulder and on the leg the tendon is injured, she cannot stand up.

      But Helmut Rosenthaler doesn´t give up that fast and is very much taking care of Grete. He feeds her and treats her and so one only can hope, that Grete will recover very soon:



      But Helmut Rosenthaler is not only worried about Grete. No, one of her chicks was about at the same time attacked by a strange stork and injured badly on the head. Meanwhile he is on the way to recover!

      First the chicks remained in the nest and were fed, but somehow that didn´t work to good and so they all came to the Storchenstation and are very well taken care there:



      Housegoose Martin is keeping track of everything and ‚controls the situation’!!!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 7th of July 2007

      The first picture from Grete was done shortly after her arrival on the Storchenstation beginning of July. In the meantime Helmut Rosenthaler is making the first attempts at walking and she is very slowly improving step by step!



      What else is going on at the Storchenstation? Well, Flori is in this heat (37°C) also rather hiding in the shadow:




      Blacky and Ossi, are, as we already predicted, a pair. Only without eggs unfortunately,- but maybe next year!?




      Stritzi and Gustl were breeding on 3 eggs, but than the came the sudden change in weather with cold rain and the eggs couldn´t survive:



      And here are the ‘hottest news’ from the Storchenstation:
      Maxeline, who actually came as ‚Max’ (=male) to the Storchenstation, suddenly laid 5 eggs and that made it clear what sex ‘Max’ has…. now ‘his’ name is ‘Maxeline’!

      This Mixeline doesn´t have any storkish friend, no, she decided in another way and her heart and big love belongs to Helmut Rosenthaler only! She follows him at every turn and if she feels that anybody could be a corrival she is also ready to attack ….. no, not storks, but humans!



      Maxeline is most clever, she even clatters by command!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 7th of September 2007

      Many times I asked myself how Grete might feel in the meantime and finally I got news today from Tillmitsch!

      Grete ….. Helmut Rosenthaler is trying very hard to keep her alive. Daily he is training with her to stand up





      On the left leg the tendon which had jumped out (!??) is normalized in the meantime, but Grete just cannot stand up ….. cannot put her leg in a straight position and the vets assume, that the leg problems have something to do with the head injury. Apart from that Grete seems to be feeling much better, is eating well, - only the standing up is a problem …..

      And how is Maxeline doing, who is jealously watching the storkfather? She discovered her aversion against women! Lately she even attacked the lady who brought her up,- much to the ladies distress!

      Blackstork Ossi had been away for 4 weeks this summer. After that he came back with 2 young black storks (!!). couldn´t be the own breed, time was too short. Kidnapping? Whatsoever, they felt fine on the Storchenstation! Shortly after Ossi disappeared with one of the black storks …. The other youngster stayed on the Storchenstation.

      On the 15th of August the storks and also the 7 youngsters who were brought up on the Storchenstation (including Grete´s chicks) gathered together and started their migration to the winter domicile.

      This stork with the turned leg landed on the Storchenstation:



      He disappeared with the other storks, came back the next day and disappeared after 4 days for good…..

      This young stork from Leinitz did not make it:



      He was brought to the Storchenstation with bad head injuries, but the injuries were too bad. This summer many young storks were by thunderstorms and heavy winds blown out of their nests. Many suffered head injuries ……

      One young stork flew away from the Storchenstation and didn´t come back. Later he was found near the Storchenstation,- he had collided with a car.
      Good and bad times are so closely and so is reported from Flori, that he is fine and an all around happy stork – despite his artifical leg.

      Another touching story from Stritzi, who this year was related with Gustl. Unforunately the own breed didn´t work, because the 3 eggs fell victim to the cold rain. But Strizi anyhow showed mother feelings, as one of the 7 young storks got lost and landed in her nest and immediately and constantly begged for food….. well, what did Stritzi do!? Flew down on the ground, picked up some food and brought it to the youngster. Gustl didn´t think that this was a good idea, no he wasn´t enthralled at all! In a moment of bad mood he wanted to chase away that youngster, but this one was stubborn,- he liked it at “Mama Stritzis” and so he didn´t give up and again and again came back. And what was the upshot? Gustl did a runner!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 22nd of October 2007

      News from the Storchenstation – good news:
      Stork Grete in the meantime can sit by herself!!!



      and nobody is happier about the success than Helmut Rosenthaler

      And Stork Maxeline?



      Now after breeding season she is gathering with other storks and everybody hopes, that one day she will accept a partner and is not only fixed on Helmut Rosenthaler!
      Still Maxeline is clattering whenever asked!

      Just in time of autuum also Stork Hansl, who was breeding in Kumberg (near Graz), arrived at the Storchenstation about what Stork Stritzi is most happy:



      How is black stork Blacky?:



      He and his sister Ossi were brought up in the year 2000 on the Storchenstation. 2002 Ossi flew away and came this summer with two beautiful youngsters back to the station. The youngsters migrated, but Ossi obviously will stay during the winter together with her brother on the Storchenstation:



      Housegoose Martin of course takes the bisquit (!??) – this year he felt himself as the guardian of young swans – woe betide the one who wants to come close to them, Martin can be extremely noisy!



      Injured swans came again and again – with head injuries or swallowed fishhooks. But all are fine again and were put back to freedom.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 5th of December 2007

      Today very sad news from Tillmitsch: Stork Grete has not made it, she died today in the arms of Helmut Rosenthaler who just carried her.

      The informations I got read like this:

      Since this week her health was deteriorating. She didn´t eat any more. Her feathers looked untidy.
      Helmut washed her and took care of her. It looked so good and we all were sure she would make it.
      She wanted to get up herself, but she couldn´t ….

      Here the last picture of stork Grete:

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 19th of February 2008

      Springfever everywhere!? White as well as black storks perform the courtship display …..
      Also in Tillmitsch, from where there are news again with beautiful pictures!

      One ringed stork, witht the ring no. H 2807-DEH arrived and seems to feel well in Tillmitsch (was ringed near the Papendorf area???) Maybe likes to breed here!?

      If Stritzi and Hansl will tolerate this?



      Blacky:



      Ossi:



      Regularly Helmut Rosenthaler is cleaning Floris artifical leg:



      Who is happily checking his home. He is feeling very fine!



      And Maxeline???



      Well she is again and always on Helmut Rosenthalers heals like she wants to say “ach… if he would be a stork …..”

      And one has the control of the whole situation Martin the house goose is the chief (as he thinks ….)

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 5th of June 2008

      A sensation on the Storchenstation: an addition to the stork family and a very special one by breeding on the ground. The parents are Max, already since 12 years and Sofie since 7 years on the Storchenstation. Both had as young storks each one injured wing which had to be amputated. And this year the miracle was perfect. 3 eggs were laid and one chick hedged. Unfortunately the stork parents didn´t take care of their chick, so Helmut Rosenthaler had to interfere and cake care of the chick, feed it and keep it warm with a hot water bottle:

      1 day of age:


      1 week of age:


      2 weeks of age:


      3 weeks of age:


      In the meantime the chick weights 2 kg. It luxuriates. Helmut already puts the chick during daytime in the storknest and during night time in an aviary. In august it should go for migration.

      And another stork chick is there. Stritzi and Gustl also have one chick. And they are very well taking care about it. A real pleasure for the Storchenhof, and everybody is most happy!

      The other animals like Martin, Maxeline, Blacky and Flori are very fine.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 16th of July 2008

      Finally again news from the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch!

      Remember the chick from Max und Sofie, who didn´t really taking care and Helmut Rosenthaler had to raise him.



      What a beauty! In the meantime he is ringed and got the name „Tilli“. The major himself took the sponsorship!!! Could be a nice example for other majors!?

      Allow, Tilli:







      Meanwhile Tilli is making first flying exercises and is not obeying the “big ones”!!! Soon he will start migration ……

      Stritzi and Gustl are very caring parents:



      Here Stritzi with her chick:



      Who is growing nicely and looks like a real „big one“:



      Maxiline became more quiet, but still doesn´t care about females:



      And Flori how is Flori? Just fine:



      Gander Martin is still feeling bossy, unfortunately without picture today.

      Black stork Blacky:



      and than the story of the little swan, who had blessing in disguise
      his parent and his three siblings were killed by dogs on their pond. The left over young swan came to the Storchenstation:

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 2nd of September 2008

      News from Tillmitsch today – good and sad, very very sad ones. The latter I tell first,- was it because of him, I first took notice of the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch. Flori a white stork, like Fritz with an artifical leg:



      Happily he lived on the Storchenstation and now, despite shortened wings, he took off. He was even seen by doing so, also was seen where he first landed, but when Helmut Rosenthaler rushed to the place, Flori flew in the direction of the town. Maybe animated by a migrating group of storks!?
      No sign of him where ever and they fear, that he already passed the boarder. Also announcements in the radio and Newspapers about a missing stork with an artifical leg didn´t bring any feeback.
      Is it possible, that nobody recognizes a stork with an artifical leg??? After Flori is unringed he also don´t have an “address” with him where he could be brought back ….. a most sad story, because I don´t really know how big are the chances that he can survive by himself. In case he breaks or loses the artifical leg!?



      That happened already 1 month ago, but of course we won´t give up hope, don´t we!? Wonders are happening again and again ………… and the hope that Flori will land one day again on the Storchenstation is given.

      What else news are to tell from the Storchenstation?

      The young stork Tilli



      who was born on the ground, brought up by hand and also the chick from

      Stritzi and Gustl



      already migrated. The adult storks are still around.

      This year, lucky enough there were not so many injured young storks brought to the Storchenstation, but of course there were rescue operations for storks and swans!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • One rescue operation was extremely dramatic and this kind of accidents unfortunately happen again and again everywhere. Often enough they are even not recognized and have a deadly end for the storks, because nobody even notices. In Weiz one adultstork and one young stork (mother and chick) fell in an open chimney. Here the newspaper article about it:

      Absturz zweier Störche

      By sheer chance (!!) at this moment there were done cleaning actions around this chimney and so the two helpess traped storks were found. Thanks to the watchful workers the storks are still living.

      The vet from Weiz arranged the immediate transport to the Storchenstation. The adult stork




      had blessing in disguise. She was not injured, stayed only for a few days for observation and was than brought back to her nest.

      The young stork was not as lucky. He had a brain concussion and a broken leg:



      Vet. Mag. Brandly had to nail the leg. The physical condition of the young stork was bad.



      He neither wanted to eat nor to drink. But with that he was exactly at the right address at storkfather Helmut Rosenthalers! Helmut Rosenthalter does not give up that quickly, as we know from the past. The stork was forced to eat and to drink. Around the clock Helmut Rosenthaler took care until the success was there. And as one can see it was worth the effort!



      We just can say thank you for all the trouble Helmut Rosenthaler and his crew are going through to help the animals! Thanks to Tillmitsch!!!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • How is black stork Blacky doing?



      After Ossi came back after months of absence pretty good!

      Apropos black storks:



      As many as this year never had been on the Storchenstation! 3 young black storks came rather scraggy to the Storchenstation. Helmut Rosenthaler cockered them up and until now they didn´t show any intention to migrate ……

      Maxeline, the beauty,



      she is fine. As well as gander Martin who, on this picture, is taking in presence of Ossi and Blacky an intensive bath:



      And unfortunately close to the Storchenstation;



      an electrocuted stork:



      It is so terrible sad, that this man made death traps are everywhere on their way and take so many victims.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 24th of September 2008

      Last picture of Flori, taken shortly before he disappeared:



      Until now no sign of life from Flori despite so many calls from the radiostations and Newspapers, obviously peoples don´t recognize even a stork with an artificial leg!? Is it possible that Flori migrated? Best would be of course if he would land next spring again on the Storchenstation ……

      The 3 blackstorks finally decided to go for migration:


      Come back healthy and happy!!!

      The young stork with the nailed leg is feeling much better. He already can stand on his nailed leg!



      And Stritzi, how is Stritzi doing, the summertime-wife of Gustl!? As soon as Gustl went for migration, only next day Hansl appeared…..:



      Hansl who is breeding during summer in Kumberg near Graz, but during winter he is coming to the Storchenstation to spend the cold season together with Stritzi. Since 3 years that is going on like this! Sounds like a secret arrangement, doesn´t it …….

      Here is Stritzi begging Helmut Rosenthaler for food:

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • On the 14th of September another rescue operation had to take place at Tillmitsch pond. Again a young swan was the victim of anglers. An aware visitor there noticed, that the young swan somehow couldn´t swallow his food. He immediately informed the Storchenstation and asked for help. Helmut Rosenthaler asked the fire brigade for help and so they went with a motor boat to catch the swan, which wasn´t to easy. But finally they succeeded:



      and as Helmut touched the swans neck he found his fears came true,- the swan had swallowed a fish hook. Immediately vet Dr. Kröll was informed and the swan brought there for surgery,- a cut in the esophagus was made:



      And a fish hook with pellets all round was removed:



      After that the swan was brought to the Storchenstation to have the chance to recover.

      So many times Helmut Rosenthaler asked already the fishing association to PLEASE immediately report such incidents to the animal rescue organisations, but nothing happens ………
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • 17th of Nevember 2008

      On the 17th of Nevember 2008 this newspaper article was to be read in the Kleine Zeitung Steiermark (sorry only in german language) about a stork pair from the village of Zeltweg who just missed to go in time for migration….. :

      Here a picture of this storkpair from Zeltweg in its nest.



      After in Zeltweg the temperatures drop down to -20°C and more, the storks hardly have a chance to survive the winter. Until -15°C they might do when they get well fed, without frostbites, but more …. I doubt! There is a very nice lady, Mrs. Tielitz, who has a biiig heart for this storks and she is feeding them for the time being with food Helmut Rosenthaler is bringing to her place

      But this is not the way to help them over the winter. Helmut and his helpers try now everything to catch these storks and bring them to the Storchenhof to give them a chance. Helmut built a trap and the day before yesterday this was transported to Zeltweg:



      and there installed:



      And look, the storks already took notice of it







      Daily the bucket with food in it will be brought closer to and inside the trap until it´s possible to catch them, which is not so easy. Storks have to be handled with great care! I remember when Michael Kaatz caught Prinzesschen …..

      Here is a picture from yesterday (but only one stork and we need both .....):

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Part 2
      The extention, respectively rebuilding of the Storchenstation is still a topic, but the negotiations are to be continued. The commune didn´t want to buy the new ground, but now they want, because the nature conservation society (=Naturschutzbund) is interested in the project. Wait and see, what will happen! We keep our fingers crossed!!!



      Martin, the house goose is most happy that Martinmas is over,- the day too many peoples love to eat goose...:



      While black stork Blacky, :


      who is parting his enclosure now with a young black stork

      and black stork Ossi enjoy the sunshine in the safety of the Storchenstation, - Ossi still is flying around quite a lot, the cold seems not to bother him for the time being



      This buzzard, who was brought to the Storchenstation, was not that lucky. He collided with a car, broke one wing and had to be operated. After recovery he will be brought to the animal biological station in Bruck.



      The young Weizer stork (you remember!?) unfortunately still is not able to fly, the recovery of the nailed leg takes very long

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • A wild stork is very much interested in Maxeline. But she declines with thanks! Still she only knows one love …… storkfather Helmut Rosenthaler. Here a picture of beautiful Maxeline:



      And how are Stritzi and Hansl doing, the winter couple? Beginning of the season is always a little bit difficult. When Hansel is coming to the Storchenstation in autuum it takes a few days before they come acquainted to each other. First Hansl is throwing Striezi out of her own nest, which of course won´t do! After a while they are united and spend their winter time in harmony on their heated nest.





      In springtime Hansl will fly back to his own nest in Kumberg and hopefully Striezis partner of the last year will come back from migration.

      In the moment there are 4 free flying storks and 9 enclosure storks for the winter season on the Storchenstation,- hopefully the two from Zeltweg will soon join.


      News from Tillmitsch! No, unfortunately it was not possible to catch the storks from Zeltweg and bring them to the Storchenstation before the New Years banging. But they came through it.

      Thanks to a very nice lady they even have the chance to survive the winter. She is like an rescuing angel and is feeding them every day. The storks understood and are coming as soon as they see the lady with the bucket.

      And the lady also gave them names:

      Hansi und Lisa!



      Forward march!

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Unfortunately not a very good start this year for the Storchenstation in Tillmitsch.

      We remember both storks from Weiz, mother and child, who fell in the chimney and were, thanks to watchful workers, rescued. (story from Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:55 am). The storkmother wasn´t injured and was brought back to her nest, the storkchild had a broken leg which was operated and lately all the people on the Storchenstation thought, that he would be able to fly within this year.

      ‘Things never turn out the way you expect: the young stork injured his other leg at the heel, was treated by the vet, but couldn´t survive and died a few days later.


      Also a great bittern (Botaurus stellaris), which was hit by a car and came badly injured to the Storchenhof, didn´t have any luck. It was operated by the vet, but died because of the heavy injuries


      A buzzard was shot and also brought to the Storchenhof. Helmuth Rosenthaler brought him to the vet who removed 3 pellets of a shotgun. The peoples from the Storchenstation reported this to police and put out € 300 reward for finding the shooter.


      But there are, thanks to…… also good news:

      A sparrowhawk had a little accident while hunting, but could be released after a few days of rehabilitation at the Storchenhof
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • And than of course the winterstorks of Zeltweg -






      For the time being there is lots of snow and also very cold temperatures. But thanks to the intensive care of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Judenburg and Mrs. Monika T. and all her family, the storks seem to be quite well, at least well fed. Here a picture of the feeding place:


      2 storks in the snow …..:



      News from the Storchenstation! First from the storks who stayed over the winter in Zeltweg and whose nest, which is located on a tree is destroyed, because they cut the tree …..

      But now, fortunately, they are busy to built a new nest in another tree for Lisa and Hansi the storks:



      Hopefully the storks will accept it …..
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • And now directly to the Storchenhof:


      The heron



      was brought to the Storchenstation with, as far as I understood, broken wing which was operated by the vet, Mag. Brandl. He made a good recovery and is now living with the other birds on the Storchenstation.

      Gander Martin

      is terrible excited because somehow he got the idea, that he is fully and alone responsible for all the other birds on the Storchenstation. People near him he would love to attack ……

      Maxeline

      is in full spring mood and building the whole day her nest….


      Blacky

      also is in spring time fever. Only his wife is sometimes for days absent. Most likely she met another black stork!?

      Stritzi

      is longing for her summer friend (‘Gustl’) to come back from the south – winterfriend ‘Hansl’ already left for his nest in Kumberg.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Yesterday, as promised, Helmut Rosenthaler came to install the nest on the chimney on Mrs. Tielitz´ house. Until this moment Hansi and Lisa tried to build a nest on the ‘Pichlerspruce’. So now they have the selection, they can decide for themselves, where they want to live:





















      A hearty thank you to Mr. Helmut Rosenthaler for all his efforts for the wellbeing of the storks and of course also to Mrs. Tielitz.

      Have a very good stork season!!!
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Spring came:



      Maxeline is so much in l0ov with the stork father. She hovers over him….. Best would bei f he would take his place in her nest…..


      In the meantime Sophie and Max – the parents of last years Tilli – layed already the fifth egg


      Again and again injured swans are coming to the Storchenstation, which are given back to the nature after recovery


      The heron is feeling well among the storks.


      Martin ist he hero of the Storchenhof. Nobody is supposed to come too close to him. And nobody even got this idea after Martin is immediately becoming very noisy…..


      Good and bad are so close together ……

      Stritzi is missing since 6 days already. Nobody knows why Stritzi disappeared suddenly. The Storchenhof people are very much worried about the whereabouts of Stritzi. Stritzi built so nicely on a new nest. This is the last picture of her
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • April 12 2009

      Yesterday was quite a dramatic day in Zeltweg..

      First Monika could make pictures from Hansi und Lisa ……..:








      Than a 3rd stork arrived:




      And Hansi und Lisa lost their egg. By the hectic movements it slipped to deep and Lisa could catch it any more:






      Very sad of course, but hopefully Lisa und Hansi won´t give up and built a better nest.

      For the moment they are checking the other spruces around…..
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • April 20 2009

      What good news, Stritzi came back. After one week of absence she came back, accompanied by an unknown stork. This stork seemed to be very interested in Stritzi but not so vice versa….. and than, at 7 p.m. on the same day, he came – Gustl, Stritzis summertime-friend – back from Africa right to the Storchenhof. Did she fly his way – is that possible??? Gustls first job was of course to show the strange stork, Stritzi had brought along, the way off.

      Gustl and Stritzi happily together again:







      and building their nest:



      Stritzi laid 2 eggs in the meantime. All the peoples on the Storchenhof are very happy about this all.

      Sofie and Max
      are breeding .



      In the meantime she laid egg nr. 5.


      With Maxeline it´s really a pity, that she does not have a partner of her own kind, she laid already 3 eggs. Helmut hat to go to her nest, than she is happy:

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Dear Blacky is sad, because his friend Ossi isn´t around. Helmut thinks, she moved to the woods where she found another partner – Blacky unfortunately is not able to fly.



      Martin reached the peak of his aggressions.



      He even started to attack the storks. From Maxeline he pulled out already a few feathers. Now he is kept away from the others.

      All other animals are fine.

      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • Another nice story from Zeltweg, not about storks, but a wild duck family :

      Last year in autumn we built the pond actually for the storks. What we digged out we elevated aside for a waterfall. This wild duck came since a few weeks every day at least once, we also fed her.
      Twice she brought her drake (!?) along. And now she brought her offspring:































      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    • News from the duck family in Zeltweg:

      To save the ducks from nightly robbers in the first night Monika and her helpers made nightwatch! They were successful in chasing a cat an a marten away.
      The husband of one of the animal protection ladies built a duckhouse the next day, that all are save.






      They even span a net over the pond after a raptor tried to attack


      But the duck mum prefered to move. Finally worried peoples phoned and told that the duck mum is on the way to the railway station together with her chicks.

      They tried to catch them, but only were successful with the chicks.






      As the chicks arrived with Monika in her home, the duck mum was already waiting for them on the pond….

      During the night they stayed in the duck house but next morning they went on the way during the town again.
      We were successful in catching all and brought the duck family to a beautiful natural pond without fishes


      There duck mum can raise her chicks in peace and we hope that she can protect all her chicks.
      Viele Grüße von
      Brit

      „Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut. Das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar.“

      Antoine de Saint-Exupéry