May 2018

Screenshots  Felis silvestris and Seira, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 29.05.2018

In the morning two starling chicks left the nest box…

Starling           Kuldnokk         Sturnus vulgaris

... but in the afternoon one roving chick appeared again back in the nest box -  probably it held the familiar environment for safer but  it spent the evening as a stopper in the nest opening when the two smallest ones on the bottom of the nest box waited for feeding by the parents.

So three starling chicks stay to spend the night

Screenshots  Felis silvestris and Seira, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 29.05.2018

At  6.42 all six starling chicks were tightly together in the nest box.

Starling        Kuldnokk       Sturnus vulgaris

 

An hour later the first chick had left the nest and soon afterwards also a second one.

Screenshot Seira, LK forum

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 27.05.2018

A couple of the larger starling chicks sit by turns at the opening of the nest box, for them the nearest neighbourhood should already be familiar …

Starling        Kuldnokk       Sturnus vulgaris

The starling chicks have grown big, there is almost no space more in the nest … The work and toil of the adults can be seen as successful at this stage.

Screenshot  Utel, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 27.05.2018

Family’s  daily resting time

Black stork       Must-toonekurg        Ciconia nigra

The larger stork chick is two days older, the younger ones were hatched on the same day. The probably unfertilized egg still stands on the edge of the nest.

Screenshot  Anne, LK forum

Trail camera clips and text  Ahto Täpsi

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Estonian text  posted 24.05.15

May 18 to 22.

Ural. owl      Händkakk        Strix uralensis

The nice nest log for owls Ahto installed in the medium-aged spruce forest in January the year before last knowing that RMK would be felling  the neighbouring older forests – which was also done.

“I didn’t go specially to check  the nest log but last week one night I noticed an owl flying at low height towards the nest log. Next morning I went to check and the owl was in the trunk and so I set up a trail camera.”

Video recorded by  Ahto Täpsi

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 22.05.2018

Nightjar         Öösorr        Caprimulgus europaeus

A breeding bird in all Estonia, the number of breeders estimated at more than 10000 pairs. We can meet the arrivals most often from the beginning of May. The birds prefer sparse pine forest stands as well as mixed forests with pines dominating, sometimes also fellings.

Screenshots Maggy, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 22.05.2018

The larger owl chick begs for food

Tawny owl         Kodukakk         Strix aluco

The weeks pass quickly.

It is not easy with food for the owl family but female Klaara does her best  – catching passerines, seldom the staple food of owls this year, small rodents, moles, frogs, earthworms but also bats.

Screenshot  Ute, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 21.05.2015

The oldest stork chick, hatched on May 18, looking around

Black stork      Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

The adults have tidied away the egg shells to the nest verges so as not to disturb the chicks. All young birds have been fed, the nest ordered and the chicks despite the warm weather protected by the adult in the nest warmth.

We will see if the not yet hatched egg in the nest was not fertilized.

Screenshot IceAge, LK forum

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 21.05.2018

Feeding of starling chicks

Starling      Kuldnokk        Sturnus vulgaris

The four starling chicks, hatched one day earlier than the others, were two weeks old today. The difference in growth of the older ones is still noticeable.

The weather has been in all ways pleasant for the development of the chicks – with the warm weather many insects, their larva and caterpillars move around..

Already today the more daring starling chicks were at the nest opening.

Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 21.05.2018

Crane gathering

Crane        Sookurg      Grus grus

Veljo counted altogether 150 cranes near Leevaku (in the Räpina area) and asked this question:

Is it common that they are so many together now? How should this be explained?

Aivar Leito explains: