May 2017

Text and video record of meeting Kairo Kiitsak

Translation Liis

I am Kairo Kiitsak, a young nature enthusiast. I will tell you a little story about a thrilling encounter. On the evening of May 21st I decided to go for a walk in the Simuna forest in Lääne Virumaa, hoping to see wild animals. The weather was moderately warm and sunny. When I had entered the forest I heard at once that someone rustled among the branches. On closer inspection it turned out to be a roe deer. After the meeting with the deer I moved quietly on to the peat bog where I noticed grouse cocks. I didn’t disturb them and moved on along the road.

Videos Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee

In the morning, before seven o’clock, the fourth stork chick had hatched

Screencap from webcam Maggy, LK forum
Translation Liis

Photo Arne Ader

Owl mum Klaara yesterday brought the smallest owl chick half a brown hare leveret…

Tawny owl            Kodukakk         Strix aluco

The owl parents will not leave the last owlet in the nest box untended.

Screencap from webcam by  Maggy, LK forum

The adults have fed their youngest and smallest owl child well in the nest hollow

 

Tawny owl         Kodukakk        Strix aluco

The day before yesterday the largest owl chick went out to discover the world, today the middle one. The smallest may still take a few more days – we will see.

Screencap from webcam by Lussi, LK forum
Translation Liis

Two adults, two stork chicks, two unhatched eggs ….

Black stork        Must-toonekurg          Ciconia nigra

The eggs were laid by female Kati on April 17th, 19th, 21st and 23rd. On May 20th the first stork chick was hatched and the next morning the second one.

Video and  image recorded by  Liz, LK forum
Translation Liis

Early morning in stork nest

Black stork      Must-toonekurg         Ciconia nigra

In the stork forest the night was dark and summery, sixteen degrees of warmth.

Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Maple flowering

Maple; Norway maple        Harilik vaher         Acer platanoides

The plant world shows the beginning of spring. The flowering of maples announces the end of early spring. In southern Estonia the maples started flowering last week, in Mulgimaa on Saturday and with the warm days the flowering reached the northern coast.

Video and image recorded by Liz, LK forum
Translation Liis

Male stork caring for nest

 

Black stork     Must-toonekurg         Ciconia nigra

Ideally suitable truly warm spring day for the hatching of the next generation.

In the last days male Karl has brought softer ”nappy” stuff into the nest – moss.

Text Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Translation Liis

At the beavers’ lodge a surprisingly lively activity goes on and the beavers have become steadily more active as May proceeds and reluctantly grows warmer. The beavers have been seen busy in camera view in daylight, dusk, at night and at dawn. Daytime seems mainly to be used for rest for the beavers. Four beavers at once in camera view is the current record.

News item from Linnuvaatleja, www.linnuvaatleja.ee

Translation Liis

On observing the activities of the starlings at the nest boxes it can be concluded from the sounds of chicks begging for food that despite the late and chilly spring many starlings already have hatched chicks.

Today, on May 14th, there were 1 to 3 days old chicks in 5 out of 6 inspected nests in Vana-Kuuste in Tartumaa. Only in one nest there were still eggs but there the starlings did begin the egg-laying about one week later than the others.

Video recorded by Mats Kangur

Photo Jaan Mitt

Translation Liis

The adult knows what the calf will manage at its age

Elk (N America also Moose)      Põder          Alces alces

Elk cows started giving birth in Estonian forests in the last week of April, but the elk population will increase during the whole of May.

Screencap from webcam IceAge, LK forum

Translation Liis

Cold mornings make the owlets search for warmth

Eagle owl          Kassikakk          Bubo bubo

Screencap by  Maggy, LK forum

Translation Liis

At night the adults brought four fish to the tawny owl chicks ….

Roach      Harilik särg      Rutilus rutilus

Screencap from webcam by IceAge, LK forumt

Eagle owl        Kassikakk      Bubo bubo

From Tuesday we can see what goes on in the nest of the dusk and night active eagle owls in the night too. The Latvian team installed IR lights at the nest.

We will write more in the next few days about the nest life and activities of these owls.

Screencap from webcam Seira, LK forum

Translation Liis

Shortly before ten o’clock a m a third egg in the nest could be confirmed

Osprey          Kalakotkas        Pandion haliaetus