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In the area of the wintering grounds there has already been a number of storks. Apart from Esperanza (Spain) it is also Eliška (Czech), Varis (Latvia) and with certain exception also Espartero (Spain), Maija from Latvia and Dalibor (Czech). Let me explain it briefly: all the above mentioned storks are found in the savanna belt and they all may stay at their spots for whole weeks. It is also possible that they may proceed in their journeys or they may unexpectedly move such as Esperanza did.
Yes, Esperanza moved more than one hundred kilometers in a northern direction. We shall see for how long is she going to remain at her momentary site; it is most certainly not going to be throughout the whole winter.
Eliška has reached the Nile inland delta in Mali and Dalibor has got nearer her approximately by one day of flight. This area is highly important wintering ground for water birds ant it has been known to us from the past that it is also important for black storks. From those we tracked under the African Odyssey project the male stork Martin stayed there during the winter. Besides during the African Odyssey preparations we received an embarrassing announcement (more to be read in the Letter from Mali ). Of course it may happen that Eliška might fly over somewhere else (the same applies for Dalibor), nevertheless her winterizing in the Niger inland delta seems highly probable.
We are going to finish the listing of the west-migrating storks with Espartero. He keeps flying on and on eastwards having covered 1900 kilometers in this direction, now finding himself deep in Niger. He is approximately at the same longitude as once Jakub was (tracked within the African Odysey) who reached it via the eastern migratory route.
Both Latvian storks have reached the savannas of Eastern and Central Africa via the eastern migratory route. While Maija slowed down her rapid flight in Sudan Varis slowed down in Chad. Varis who moved to Central African Republic after his stay in Chad once flew similarly to Viktor. We tracked him still in Chad in autumn 1995 and I have three memories from this period: African Democracy, Pointer at the Road and Within One's Grasp. (I'll just add that we finally reached Viktor on horses and donkeys).
From those stork who still have the long journey ahead of them I would like to mention at least Tomáš. He flew over to Africa in rather curious way. He was tracked by satellites not until Saudi Arabia on the East coast of Akab Gulf - and then again not until Africa. It is possible that Tomáš flew across the spit of Sinai in the South. It is equally possible that he flew over to Africa via the Red Sea.
I am rather concerned with the fact that there has twice been no data shown on Koppány (Hungary). The long stop overs of Tooni, Margit and Claude are by no means the reason for optimism... To end with good news: in the last days two from the three Mongolian storks, which we trace in the scope of the New Odyssey set off for their journeys.
