July 2018

Text and photos  Aivar Leito
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 05.07.2018

Dear Crane Friends!

I am happy to announce that on July 3rd we caught two big crane chicks at Soitsjärve lake and marked them with coloured rings and transmitters

We used the new generation OrniTrack-L40 - leg-mount solar powered GPS-GSM transmitters manufactured in Lithuania  which have proved themselves well up to now.

The catching was done quickly and effectively, we caught both chicks together at once in early morning. The catchers were, besides me, Ivar Ojaste and Uko Bleive.

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

Estonian  text posted 02.07. 2018

Summer ended when it had just began, then returned, and thus many times over. Perhaps the Estonian climate makes mischief. The unexpected mid-summer heat in May set nature growing and everything flowering, then the pre-midsummer long dry period again put the brakes on – what do you know, maybe it is some kind of attempt by nature to keep a balance. So at the moment we can meet a cross section of all Estonia’s late spring and early to  midsummer plants flowering . The columbine is eye-catching  in this mass of flowers by its colour, shape and peculiar flower form and Father Weather’s  pranks have allowed us to see  the beauty of its flowers already for a whole month.

Screenshot from webcam  UteL, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 04.07.2018

Early morning grooming

Black stork      Must-toonekurg      Ciconia nigra

With the trimming of the plumage less ”chick down” remains, the growing proper feathers get cared for and there will be fewer pestering parasites left – there may be quite a number of them in the nest.

The adults feed the young storks well, at least four rounds of food per day.

Video recorded by Fleur, LK forum

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 01.07.2018 

Larger  spotted eagle       Suur-konnakotkas         Aquila clanga v. Clanga clanga

 

… and such the procedure is  – male Tõnn brings the prey to the nest and the female feeds the eaglet. Although the female too is away from the nest ever more often and for longer periods.

Screenshot from webcam  Hagnat, LK forum

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 22.06.2018

Birthday child

Greater spotted eagle       Suur-konnakotkas       Aquila clanga v. Clanga clanga

The time has passed quietly and seemingly unnoticed, and the eaglet became three weeks old in the care of its parents.

Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 29.06.2018

Gathering of moulting mute swans

Mute swan         Kühmnokk-luik      Cygnus olor

 

We meet such gatherings of swans in sea bays already for  weeks. The moulting lasts for a long time, swan feathers can be seen on the shore and on a calm water surface still in August..

Swan flocks feeding in such shallow waters are mostly non-breeding young birds but also adults whose breeding has been unsuccessful for various reasons.

Linnuvaatleja science news,  www.linnuvaatleja.ee

Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 27.06.2018

Sexually oriented behaviour between individuals of the same sex – climbing on back, copulating, seducing partner – has been observed in several bird species and mostly among females. The partners may for instance groom each others plumage, build or share a nest and even incubate eggs. Sexual acts between male birds are known from at least 93 bird species of which however only 18 cases (19%) have been identified in pairs in permanent relationship; most frequently male pairs are found among geese (Anseriformes) and suliform (Suliformes) birds. There are however only rare reports of common nesting attempts among male birds.