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:

Screenshot Anne7, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 20.05.2018

Three stork chicks and one egg but without cracks in the shell (on the visible side)

Black stork      Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

Yesterday there were holes in two of the eggs. The hatching chick must get used to breathing and for big birds that takes time.

This morning we had three healthy stork chicks in the nest.

Webshot Birdfriend, LK forum

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 18-05.2018

Starling chicks resting in daytime

Starling        Kuldnokk        Sturnus vulgaris

The last two summery nights the starling chicks have spent on their own.

Video recorded by  Liz, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 18.05.2018

Male Karl in the nest

Black stork      Must-toonekurg       Ciconia nigra

Female Kati laid the eggs in the nest on April 16, 18, 20 and 22.

Helped by the hot weather in the last weeks incubation took a little more than a month. During the long incubation period of the black storks male Karl has supported Kati.

The friendly behaviour of the stork family has been a pleasure to watch for viewers.

...but it will soon get even more interesting.

Screenshot  Seira, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 16.05.2018

Starling        Kuldnokk        Sturnus vulgaris

As of today the starling chicks that hatched two days later also became one week old.

The development of the six chicks in a week looks remarkable but the pressure on the diligent  adults grows – ever more food is needed.

When can we then expect the fledging of the chicks? Realistically at one week old but with luck it might be a few days earlier …

Let us keep an eye on events.

Webshot Pähkinahiiri, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 15.05.2018

Family photo, for comparison see the image from a week ago below the text

White-tailed eagle       Merikotkas           Haliaeëtus albicilla  

We see the development of the eaglet in growth, plumage and behaviour.

The hot weather, in daytime more than 25 degrees, wearies everybody including large birds. The adults sit as sunshades in front of the chick – the little organism is not protected against a heatstroke.

In the second half of the week rain is promised, possibly together with thunder. The eagle nest needs ”watering” too.

Info from EOÜ 
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 14.05.2018

Photo Arne Ader

Avocet

On Saturday May 12th the bird tower birdwatching arranged by the Estonian Ornithological Society took place. From the event results were received from 13 observation towers where 148 species altogether were seen. The towers were visited by more than 70 visitors.

The bird tower watching day this time was sunny and warm everywhere. It was pleasant for the watchers and visitors to the towers, but in several places a smaller singing activity of birds was noted because of the warm weather. In many watching sites migration of Branta nad Anser geese was noted. They are currently continuing their migration to their Arctic nesting areas in north-western Russia and Scandinavia.