Storks Return to Nest: Odarka Enters Territorial Battle

On April 5, an interesting event took place in the village of Lelyaky, Poltava region, related to the return of storks to their nest. Last year's resident, a stork named Odarka, returned to her nest to engage in a confrontation with new inhabitants, storks Lely and Kvitka. This event sparked significant interest among bird researchers and spectators who observe the lives of these birds.

This was reported by Iryna Sarazhynska, a bird researcher who monitors stork behavior in the region. Lely, one of the new residents, arrived at the nest over a week ago. He was setting up his new home and waiting for his mate, who turned out to be a bird named Kvitka. On April 2, a stork pyramid occurred between them, indicating the formation of a pair, after which it was expected that the first egg would soon appear.

However, on April 5 at 12:37 PM, Odarka returned to the nest, having nested in this location for three consecutive years with her partner Hrytsko. When she arrived, the nest was empty, as Lely and Kvitka had flown away at that moment. Sensing that the nest belonged to her again, Odarka clattered, like a true mistress, and settled in, spreading her wings.

“At 12:38 PM, Lely and Kvitka returned to the nest. Odarka lunged at the female, although the male had settled in first by mere seconds. Odarka drove Kvitka away, and Lely chased Odarka away. One confrontation was not enough, as fights in the nest continued repeatedly for almost an hour,” Iryna Sarazhynska recounted, commenting on the unfolding events.

Despite the initial confrontation, Odarka did not back down. According to the researcher, Lely flew back to Kvitka several times, trying to bring her back to the nest; however, Kvitka was frightened by Odarka and refused to return. As a result, she remained alone in another empty nest, while Lely returned to his nest, which he had been preparing for several days, and paired up with Odarka.

“For us, the dramatic developments in the stork nest may seem incomprehensible, but in the natural world, this is how it happens: the stronger prevails. Odarka proved to be the stronger one, refusing to give up her nest, where she had successful nesting since 2023. Lely, although he flew to Kvitka's nest in Protsenkove, trying to bring her, ended up with nothing. The male made a choice in favor of the nest he had been preparing since March 28. The new pair demonstrated stork pyramids,” Sarazhynska shared her observations.

Now, spectators who are watching the lives of storks in the nest in the Poltava region are eagerly awaiting the return of last year's nest owner Hrytsyk and are trying to speculate on how the events will unfold. This situation highlights how complex and dramatic life can be for birds in nature, where the struggle for survival and territory is an integral part of their existence.