April 2016

Text Triin Leetmaa

Translation Liis

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I was asked to play child-minder to a seven-year-old chit of a girl. We watched multifilms and talked for at bit but as sunset approached we went into the forest for adventures. We walked and climbed in the trees when I suddenly noticed that we had reached the badger castle. I tried to explani what kind of place this was when I was suddenly told that someone had looked out of the mouth of the den opening that we were standing beside. With a slight smile I tried to find out what the creature looked like. The reply was very concrete: ”White and some black too!“  Was it the imagination of the child or did the badger really greet its visitors? It did make me a little envious.

Maire lets us know

Photos Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Cuckoo

.I was in the country today in the forest near the Koidula (Värska) border post and heard the cuckoo calling. It called in the Kolodovitsa village forest at about two o’clock in the day. The weather was sunny and quite warm. I also found some false morels or turban fungi (Gyromitra esculenta). They however were very small

Turban fungus, Gyromitra esculenta

Photos Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Golden saxifrage 

Golden saxifrage      Harilik lepiklill    Chrysosplenium alternifolium

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The golden saxifrages flower in wet bog forests, on the banks of water bodies throughout the whole mainland, but for the Saaremaa people the golden saxifrage is unknown.

The golden saxifrage has a peculiar appearance, light yellowish green in colour and even the leaves in the same colour, creating a nice collar around the inflorescence which in turn is supported by the leaves or bracts. The bracts are fleshy and with serrated margins. The golden saxifrage is not easily confused with any other plant

Image captured by  Lussi, LK forum

Translation Liis

Black stork pair at nest, male Karl at left replaces brooding female Kati

Black stork     Must-toonekurg        Ciconia nigra

A brief survey: the eggs appeared in Kati’s nest on April 12, 14, 16 and 17. The incubation time lasts about one month for large birds, so we can begin to expect hatching of the chicks from mid-May.

The last couple of days with rain and cold weather was replaced by sunshine today – it dries the nest a little; the adults are busy draining the bottom.

Video recorded by  Mutikluti, LK forum

Translation Liis

White-tailed eagle   Merikotkas       Haliaeetus albicilla

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We have reached a line of birthday celebrations. In the white-tailed eagle nest the eagle chicks were hatched on April 13, 16 and 19, so the oldest and largest eagle-to-be has two weeks of life. The middle one becomes two weeks old on April 30, and the smallest on May 3.

Science news of the bird of the year conveyed by Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee

Translation Liis

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Calcium is necessary for the normal functioning of the organism and the development of bones, for birds also for breeding making up the larger part of the egg shell and giving it resilience. Nearly 90% of the calcium in the organism of birds is tied in the bones..

Image from webcam captured by  Maggy, LK forum

Translation Liis

Tawny owl       Kodukakk        Strix aluco

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Time flies. The trio that hatched on the night of April 12 has become two weeks old. The last owlet, that hatched 4 days later, cannot even out the difference in development; for tawny owls as for many other species the strongest individuals stay alive..

Owl mum Klaara no longer covers the young in the night, they must become hardened. Of course the food need grows by each day. The adults have managed nicely despite the changeable weather.

If you go out in the forest looking for a badger, for instance to take part of the campaign for nature observations arranged by the Environmental Agency, then be sure to remember to write down your story. For the observation campaign the coordinates must be entered and a brief description, for us the story of finding the badger. Send it to us! It is not easy to meet a badger, and so stories about its activity traces are welcomed. Even stories where the badger was not found. Badger experts will comment doubtful points. We announce a badger story competition that will last until the end of the badger year. The best will receive prizes, among others a photo from the photo competition ”Mägral maja nagu vaja . Badger had a house as he should".  We look forward to stories heard from elders as well as own adventures

Badger story from our southern neighbours, written by Ineta from Riga

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Frog pond

In the rain on Saturday night* there was a significant frog migration on the roads around  Harku lake and the weather forecast promised suitable migration weather on the following days.

The Estonian Fund for Nature (Eestimaa Looduse Fond, ELF) announces

The annual frog migration is once more gathering momentum due to the suitable weather. For this the Estonian Fund for NAture (ELF) calls for volunteers to help the amphibians across roads crossing their migratin paths. Car drivers are also asked to be observant on the frog migration that takes place in the dark, for the sake of the amphibians as well as the volunteers helping them. The frog actions take place all over Estonia, for the fifth time.

Video record and image from webcam captured by  Mutikluti, LK forum

 Translation Liis

White-tailed eagle    Merikotkas    Haliaeetus albicilla

On Saturday snow fell in West Virumaa, on Sunday on the Lääne county coast.The worse the weather, the more energy is used and the eagle chicks demand food, be it raining ”dogs and cats”.