Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 7:33 pm
by Felis silvestris
The Capercaillie (Teatrao urogallus), in Estonian metsis, is the Estonian Bird of the year 2018 (Aasta lind 2018). More information about the bird of the year can be found on the homepage by the Estonian Orntihological Society (EOÜ): https://www.eoy.ee/metsis/
This new camera in the area of Võru in southern Estonia. It is placed in a wood, where we hopefully will be able to watch the male capercaillies doing their lekking.
Most activity we will likely get to see in the morning when it becomes light until 8 or 9 AM.
The camera has got the possibility to pan, tilt and zoom, so this is the reason why the view already changed a couple of times since it started. Maybe we will have somebody to operate the camera sometimes.
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 7:36 pm
by Felis silvestris
The camera is located in this area:
Urmas, who was involved in putting up the camera, sent 2 pictures from male capercaillies he was able to see
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 7:37 pm
by Felis silvestris
Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
The capercaillie is the largest member of the grouse family. The species shows extreme sexual dimorphism, with the male twice the size of the female. It is a non-migratory, big, largely sedentary forest grouse that inhabits old conifer and mixed forests across the Palearctic Eurasia. It is renowned for its mating display, also called "lek" (Swedish for "play").
In Estonia the capercaillie was a hunting bird until the 70ies of last century and still is shown in the coat of arms of Estonian hunting association. The numbers have decreased remarkably during the last century, probably because of the forest management, particularly the land improvement or land amelioration of wet forests around bogs.
Cocks typically range from 74 to 85 cm in length with wingspan of 90 to 125 cm and an average weight of 4.1 kg. The largest wild cocks can attain a length of 100 cm and weight of 6.7 kg. The largest known specimen, recorded in captivity, had a weight of 7.2 kg.
The body feathers are dark grey to dark brown, while the breast feathers are dark metallic green. The belly and undertail coverts vary from black to white depending on race.
The hen is much smaller, weighing about half as much as the cock. The capercaillie hen's body from beak to tail is approximately 54–64 cm long, the wingspan is 70 cm and weighs 1.5–2.5 kg, with an average of 1.8 kg. Feathers on the upper parts are brown with black and silver barring; on the underside they are more light and buffish yellow.
Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow. They have feathered legs, especially in the cold season, for protection against cold. Their toe rows of small, elongated horn tacks provide a snowshoe effect that led to the German family name "Rauhfußhühner", literally translated as "rough feet chickens".
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 8:05 pm
by Felis silvestris
Urmas also sent me a paper on the status of capercaillies in the Baltic states. I need a bit more time to read it and will see what I can report here.
He also writes that the number of lekking males in Estonia has not decreased anymore, maybe related to the catastrophic fall of the wild boar population.
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 8:06 pm
by Hagnat
Birds observed on this Capercaillie cam in spring 2018
A total of 54 certain species.
Capercaille, Mistle thrush, Jay, Chaffinch, Great tit, Black woodpecker, Blackbird and Tree Pipit also seen.
The others are only heard, some only flying overhead but most of them probably breeding birds within hearing distance.
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 8:59 pm
by Fleur
Thank you for this new cam, Urmas for the info and Felis for opening this topic
I see on Urmas his picture that I was to late in the morning to see the cock in color.
But I recorded him while there was zooming, great
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 9:01 pm
by Fleur
March 26
I have not heard so many sounds so far, maybe it's a quiet environment
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 26th, 2018, 10:42 pm
by Lisbeth
This is a scary camera to watch after dark. It looks like there's a dark figure staring right back at you.
Is this the same camera that was at the heron nests? I've never seen this bird in nature, thanks for the camera!
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 8:47 am
by Liz01
March 27
good morning
7:45
7:47
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 8:48 am
by sova
27th of March
Good Morning
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 8:49 am
by Fleur
Good morning
so beautiful
8:40 in the background a second
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 9:12 am
by Liz01
9:11 a male again 8:10 camea time
Fleur
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 9:13 am
by Fleur
9:10 "special"sound
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 9:34 am
by guest
GM!
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 9:49 am
by Hagnat
The frame size is only 1280x720, so unless the operator zooms in, there is not much detail possible.
The high frequencies of the sound are limited but it is enough for most birds, probably even for Goldcrest, and certainly enough for Capercaillie.
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 10:04 am
by laranjeiras
thank you for this interesting new cam. i hope i get to see some 'lekking' - i'll have to get the computer on really early
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 10:13 am
by Hagnat
laranjeiras wrote:thank you for this interesting new cam. i hope i get to see some 'lekking' - i'll have to get the computer on really early
Yes, for the Estonians it is easy, but for me it is an hour earlier and for you two hours.
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 10:31 am
by Liz01
Video by Urmas Lett Thank you!
Fleur and guest thank you for your the videos too
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 10:57 am
by laranjeiras
from Urmas' video - 07.43:41
Re: Bird of the Year 2018: Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Posted: March 27th, 2018, 11:23 am
by Hagnat
Fleur wrote:... I have not heard so many sounds so far, maybe it's a quiet environment
Coniferous forest is never very rich in birds but so far Nuthatch and Skylark are indicating some more variety in the surroundings.
I do hope that we will hear the weird sounds of the magnificent Capercaillie real good.