February 2017

Photos from Wikipedia, unknown author

Last photo Arne Ader

Celebration of February 24th in 1919 in Peetri plats, Tallinn

On February 23rd, 1918, the Estonian Independent Republic was proclaimed for the first time from the balcony of the Endla Theatre in Pärnu.

The manifesto ”To All The Peoples of Estonia“ was read by Hugo Kuusner, member of the Province Assembly. On February 24th, 1918, the Estonian Republic was proclaimed in Tallinn and the Provisional Government was formed, with Konstantin Päts as head.

Photo Arne Ader

Hepatica

The search for spring begins on March 1st and it will last until the end of May.

Children in the older groups in kindergartens and pupils in classes 1-9 are invited to take part.

We learn to notice the changes in nature and get to know the most common animal and plant species, observing when familiar animals and plants appear in nature in spring. 

As heralds of spring we note the plants that begin to flower first, the arrival of migrant birds, emerging butterflies, amphibians and fungi.

Those who take part as well as all interested nature friends can follow the observations that are entered in the database on the web.

The working language is Estonian but instructions in Russian are also available on the web.

Videos recorded by Ahto Täpsi and Kalle Pihelgas
Translation Liis

A group trotting away after noticing humans. In the video we see that the younger elk bull still has its antlers, usually male elks are ”bareheaded” by February.

Elk, European elk; Moose (US)     Euroopa põder or põder       Alces alces

What animals did our forebears hunt? Bone findings from nine thousand years ago confirm that both elk and beaver meat was used for food.

The elk, with a large head, hooked nose and a beard tuft can be held to be among the most majestic of the mammals in our wildlife.

Text and photos Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis

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It is worthwhile to take the trouble to look up the ancient tree with the droll name, since where else but here would a tree have its own guest book!

The stout  Tülivere oak hides near Kuusalu on the bank of a stream in the small Allika village. At a first glance the old tree, sheltered between pretty cattle paths and stone fences at the bubbling water, is difficult to see but a map application brings a hiker with dendrological interests unfailingly to the site; the path to the tree is not signposted.

The Tülivere oak is an ancient grove tree that was still in active use in the 20th century but no longer today – the wind tugs at a couple of lonely faded ribbons in the tree crown that someone’s hands tied there long ago.  

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Raccoon dog

Raccoon dog    Kährikkoer or kährik      Nyctereutes procyonoides

Surely you remember the wild boar camera, although now already absent for a year, where raccoon dogs too came to eat; one year they even had transmitter collars  (zoologists studied how the season influenced their movements and use of the territory).

Photo Arne Ader

Video Ahto Täpsi

Translation Liis

Foxes courting

Red fox; European fox   Punarebane or rebane        Vulpes vulpes

Since the end of last summer when the young foxes left the care of the adults they have lived solitarily. They have marked their territories that may be about ten square kilometres in size.

Text: newspaper Võrumaa Teataja

A rather rare incident when a bird flock gets involved in a car accident, newspaper Võrumaa Teataja writes: LINK

Comment: Arne Ader

Siskins are seed-eaters. Mostly they are busy in the crowns of trees but when the seeds drop they can also forage on the ground. Seeds that have been frozen into the snow from the road can sometimes be released all at once – when the cold decreases and the road thaws.

Similar behaviour can also be seen towards spring on the ice of lakes and rivers but there it is not dangerous for the siskins: LINK

Photo Simmo Kikkas
Translation Liis

Portrait of young world citizen on Friday

Grey seal; Gray seal     Hallhüljes        Halichoerus grypus

Thanks to Simmo who went by kayak to count the seal pups the web camera was also adjusted and other necessary jobs got done – it is more uncomfortable for white-tailed eagles to sit on the camera now!

The Baltic-facing side of Saaremaa is free of ice and the pupping of grey seals is in its early stage. Thirteen females have given birth, all young are alive and healthy.

Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Bog edge with haircap moss

 

Common haircap moss; Golden maidenhair     Harilik karusammal or käolina      Polytrichum commune

Estonian moss friends chose a moss of the year for the first time; of seven candidates it turned out to be the common hair cap moss. Seven species in Estonia belong to the Polytrichacea family: the best known of them and most widely spread is the species that was chosen as the moss of the year.

Editor of science news from the Year of the Great Tit  Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee, bird ecology researcher at University of Tartu
Translation Liis

That tits are the most numerous of bird feeder visitors is also confirmed by the results of the Winter Garden Bird Watch. The tits bustle briskly at the bird feeders in early light, leaving only when dusk falls, and it is almost impossible to make sure who came, who left, to where and whether a bird actually returns to the same bird feeder.

Info from Estonian Ornithological Society
Translation Liis

On February 9th Estonian Post in cooperation with the Estonian Ornithological Society published a stamp, an envelope and a postcard with the Bird of the Year. The stamp shows the turtle dove, the postcard the collared turtle dove and the envelope both the birds of the year. Moreover a special first day stamp was created.

Science news from the Year of the Great Tit edited by Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee bird ecology scientist at the University of Tartu
Translation Liis

Published in Estonian 17,01.2017

Scientific news from the Year of the Great Tit edited by Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee , bird ecology researcher at the University of Tartu
Translation Liis

Published in Estonian 29.12.2017

Ecologically species can be divided into specialists and generalists. While the specialissed species are adapted to specific environmental conditions and rapid changes may become difficult for them, then generalists can cope with a variety of conditions – both urban and rural, warm or cold, in forests or open spaces. Thus it is no surprise that that the generalists are often synanthropes, or associated with humans, i e species that have been able to adapt urban life and become numerous, due to their high adaptivity and small selectivity. One of the best known generalists is man himself who can cope in all regions (except the Arctic areas). Few animal species manage to match humans in this.