Max the stork's new babies, April 2010 (photo, ©H Buergermeister)

Fribourg, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Max the banded white stork, the world’s longest satellite-tracked animal, had four young birds 20-12 April at her annual nesting place at Tuefingen, near the Swiss-German border.

The parents, migrant birds who have now met up in southern Germany every spring for nine years to nest together, have been busy caring for the little ones.

Observers spotted four newborns in the nest Monday 26 April when the parents stepped up to spread their wings and shade the little ones because the weather had turned warm.

The babies hatch a month after the eggs are laid but it is difficult to check on the number of babies in the nest, or even the eggs, because the parents take turns keeping them warm during the month before the eggs hatch.

Max the stork's new babies, April 2010 (photo, ©H Buergermeister)

The father, Max’s partner for several years, has been carrying water to the young birds in his beak and letting it drizzle into their open beak.

Max’s travels and nestings on GenevaLunch

Links to other sites: Fribourg Museum of Natural History on Facebook and Max’s history (Fre)

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