looduskalender.ee

Starlings in bare aspen. Matsalu.

 

 

The passing migraton of the starlings that have been breeding in the north and east still lasts; winter weather and the freezing of water bodies will end it. Starlings are highly skilled flyers; in the list of similar birds they are ranked just below swallows: a day’s migration of a thousand kilometres, favourable weather and they will already be in the wintering areas in the Netherlands.

 

There is no metallic gleam in the feathering of the migrants but the white flecks in the plumage are visible from far off. The migrants feed on tree buds, the few remaining berries and apples left on apple trees.
 

About a thousand birds are estimated to stay here for the winter and they are not picky about food: bird feeders that spill food are good places, garbage dumps are visited and the one who finds food leftovers is lucky.