April 2017

Image from webcam by Maggy, LK forum

From the egg with ”holes”in it sounds could be heard late in the evening

Tawny owl     Kodukakk       Strix aluco

So owl mother Klaara laid her eggs in the nest trunk on March 15, 18, 21 and 24. This  is how larger birds particularly birds of prey do,  because the development of larger eggs is an energy-intense activity.

In the evenings Klaara has been actively ”clattering” the eggs around and socializing with them in a quiet voice (with male Klaus she communicates quite differently).

Text and photos Margus Ots
Translation Liis

Counting geese on the ground in fields is easier than counting flying birds – they will not at once disappear from your field of view. But at the same time the geese in a large flock on the ground may be behind each other and the birds farther away may stay unnoticed. Often the geese in a field seem like a narrow band but on seeing the flock from another side it turns out that the goose flock covers a much greater area than supposed, the flock is as long as it is broad and at least half the birds were not noticed at all.

Text: Urmas Sellis, Estonian Ornithological Society

Transmission courtesy of Kernel, Tele2 and EENet

Supported by KIK

Translation Liis

Photos and text Margus Ots
Translation Liis

From the wintering areas in western Europe the first flocks, mainly consisting of greater white-fronted geese and bean geese reached Estonia already in March. The geese, heading for their breeding areas in the tundras of Russia, stay in Estonia at most until the end of April-beginning of May; in mid-May they already leave for the breeding grounds. In the second half of May only a few left behind can be seen.

The geese stay in particularly great numbers around Tartu, where nearly 25 000 geese are spending the night at the Aardla lake. Of those more than 85% are greater white-fronted geese, the remainder mainly bean geese.

Text and photos Urmas Tartes
Translation Liis

Two male brimstone butterflies chasing one female

Brimstone        Lapsuliblikas        Gonepteryx rhamni

In spring we can see yellow as well as white butterflies flying. Despite the seemingly great difference in colour we have to do with the same species – the brimstone butterfly.

The difference in colour is related to the sex of the butterfly – male brimstones are dark yellow, heralding a sunny and warm summer.

Video recorded by Shanta, LK forum
Translation Liis

The life of starlings before breeding is not simple; we can see parallels to it from a human point of view.

When the starling male had staked out his claim to the nestbox on March 23 (see the video at the end of this story) then it might be presumed that now a peaceful nestmaking and breeding would follow…

Far from it, for the third day already a serious competition between females is going on. Both the older but later arrived female as well as a younger lady try to show each other who is the mistress of the nestbox.

Whether we have a Mexican, Turkish or Estonian inspired soap – it is for the viewer to decide.

ELF invites to community actions

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

In Estonian, 10.04.2017

Road sign  "Frogs on road"

The spring evenings become warmer and the migration of frogs has already started. Take part in the community actions!

It is easy to participate and there are tasks for everyone’s strength, young or old. On taking part  it is also important to take care of your own safety!

Actions are organised in Tallinn, Tartu and Viljandi County. Read more about the organisation: LINK

Wear warm clothes, have boots on.

Equipment for carrying out the work is mostly available  in place.

Drivers, if possible please avoid late night driving on the road stretches involved in the actions.

We are grateful for all kinds of help! 

Transmission of camera images by Teetormaja

Published in Estonian 05.04.2017

Screencap from webcam Maggy, LK forum
Translation Liis

Klaara incubating this morning

Tawny owl         Kodukakk        Strix aluco

Let us look back in time - Klaara laid the eggs on March 15, 18, 21, and 24. It is common among tawny owls that the eggs are laid at intervals of a few days.

When the first egg has been laid the female also starts incubating. Until the second egg we saw Klaara quite often moving outside in the evenings – after all she may well have needed to meet Klaus and socialize.

Text Urmas Sellis, Estonian Ornithological Society and Renno Nellis, Eagle Club
Transmission courtesy of Tele2, Elisa and EENet
The project is supported by  KIK
Translation Liis

Estonian article published 03.04.2017

EENet moves the web hosting service on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at 20:00-24:00  .

During the transfer there may be interruptions in the services.

EENet apologizes for any inconveniencies that this may cause.

.

Video recorded by  Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee
Translation Liis

Black stork      Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

Today at about half past two female Kati arrived  –  what joy on both sides.

Karl arrived on April 4 in the morning and in the last five days has secured the ”home” quite substantially with branches and brought fresh moss for nest material.

The adults have spent the time since the departure last autumn apart, in different wintering areas - of course they were happy to meet again after a long time.

Video, image from web camera and text  Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis
 

The deer bulls still visit the feeding ground at the habitual rate from the winter. There is no fresh grass yet and the silage still tastes as good as before, and carrots would be nice even in summer. When the heat wave comes that gets the grass growing even in Saaremaa the visits of the deer at the feeding ground will become rarer by each time.

At the moment the antlers of the stags look very different: some have new small rounded knobs or the beginnings of branching ”woolly” antlers, others even have last year’s crowns, still usable even for contests between rivals and a third group of stags that have recently shed their antlers have neither one or the other.

Estonian Ornithological Society announces
Photo Vello Keppart
Translation Liis

Great egrets at Pedja River

Here is a summary of the final results of the Intercity Birdwatching Contest, with a species list. Please let me know if there are still any mistakes. Many thanks to all who took part!

The Intercity Birdwatching Contest that is arranged every spring by the Estonian Ornithological Society took place last Sunday. In the event 109 bird enthusiasts observed city birds in a total of 25 Estonian cities.

Despite the windy and sometimes also rainy weather this year too a great number of different bird species were noted in the cities. A total of 114 bird species was counted which is only 4 species less than the record number from last year.

Image from mobile  Mikk Sarv
Translation Liis

March 24th in  Tohkri village, Lasva parish in Võru County. The butterfly settled on Kristel Vilbaste’s coffee cup

Orange underwing    Harilik kevadvaksik     Archiearis parthenias

Quite rightly the orange underwings are held to be the earliest heralds of the butterfly period. The orange underwing is active in daytime, and it is one of the most colourful representative of its group.

The flight period of the imagos (adult butterflies) starts in March, lasting until the beginning of May.