December 2016

Text www.maavald.ee

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Threshing barn furnace. Smith Mart Salumaa

Many linguists are of the opinion that the Estonian word jõul (roughly Yule) is borrowed from the ancient Scandinavian language around a thousand years ago. But there are those who think that we have to do with our own indigenous word.

From time to time. Christmas starts at the winter solstice  and ends a few days after the new year. “Ajastaeg” is an old Estonian concept meaning year round. It expresses recognition of the world and awareness of the cycle of time and life and more broadly the oneness of world and being.

Estonian Fund for Nature  informs www.elfond.ee
Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Spruce forest,  Elva River ancient  valley
Estonian article published 09.12.2016

The environmental organisations and the researchers from the University of Tartu and the Estonian University of Life Sciences who met in Tartu on December 8 considered  the current status of forest management and tried to find solutions that would improve the protection of Estonian forests. A joint statement underlined that Estonia must not pursue a forest policy that uses the wood resources at the expense of the future, is  hostile to the climate and not transparent to the public. A proposal will be made to the Ministry of the Environment to take in account also the ecological and social values of forests besides the economic interests, and to involve the respective interest groups in this on an equal  footing in creating a policy.

Science news from the Year of the Great Tit are edited by Marko Mägi, researcher at the University of Tartu bird ecology department

Photo Uku Paal

Estonian text published 27.09.2016

A part of birds fly for winter to remote southern countries while others don’t take the trouble to go on a long journey and when winter arrives remain in place or stray to a smaller extent towards south or north. Such migrating birds which also include the tits that breed here are called roving migrants and they are seen in the literal sense of the word roving around, searching for the best wintering places. True, there are tits that go towards southern areas but in that case too not very far. The reason may be that compared to long-distance migrants the length of the wings of tits, considering body size, became relatively short during evolution since short distances can be travelled also with short wings.

Transmission courtesy of  Elisa and EENet

Video recorded by  Fleur, LK forum
Translation Liis

Red deer      Punahirv         Cervus elaphus

Red deer gather in bachelor flocks for the winter – the mating period ended about a month ago, the aggressivity of the stags has calmed down and even the neck muscles are not as thick and ready for fight as before.

Winter is spent peacefully but the hierarchy ladder is recognized throughout the year, see the video.

Video recorded by  Aita, LK forum
Translation Liis

Brown trout   Jõeforell or hõrnas   Salmo trutta trutta morpha fario 

Usually it is sufficient for a spawning milt fish, i e a male, to look his competitor squarely in the eye or to push it with his nose, and the smaller curious explorer disappears quickly (this we often see at the spawning ground). In the video the obstreperous individual is punished by a painful tug at the fin.

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Bohemian waxwing in apple tree

Definitely an interesting exhibition, and hopefully winter apples can be tasted too.

November 30 to December 11, open every day 10-17

Videos recorded by Aita, LK forum
Translation Liis

Otter    Harilik saarmas    Lutra lutra

The otter belongs to the indigenous Estonian species and is a mammal protected by law. We have to do with an extremely mobile animal whom scientists have difficulties in monitoring.

With a good hearing and sense of smell it distinguishes moving objects in water as well as on land easily. In contrast an unmoving observer at the river bank may not be noticed.