January 2020

Transmission courtesy of  Teetormaja
Estonian text posted 29.01.2020

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Estonian Ornithological Society announces
Estonian text posted 27.01.2020

Web camera  images IceAge, LK forum
Estonian text posted 22.01.2020

We have seen this view repeatedly in the evenings – the fox making its rounds.

By morning the seed and fat ball has disappeared from the birch trunk, to the chagrin of the great spotted woodpeckers. The fox has grown bold, but regrettably hasn’t been caught in camera view.

Estonian text posted 13.01.2020

On the Soil Day at  the EstonianUniversity of Life Sciences (Eesti Maaülikool) in Decemberr 2019 eroded soil was proclaimed Soil of the Year 2020

In Estonia eroded soils make up only 1,2%  of the total soil resources; their share is largest on agricultural lands or about 3,1%

Author     www.eoy.ee/aed
Estonian text posted 24.01.2020

928 birdwatchers in 524 gardens took part in the Garden Bird Summer Diary in 2019. Many thanks!

In the sixth season of the Garden Bird Summer Diary as a result of the combined efforts of diligent bird and nature watchers 27 218 observations were gathered adding to the 111 000 observations from earlier years.

The observations were grouped as follows:

• 15 493 first sightings of birds,
• 2105 breeding observation,
• 1390 observations of other vertebrates,
• 7766 phenological observations of plants and insects
• 464 observations of pollinators at 1412 plant visits  

What was memorable in the 2019 season?

Estonian Ornithological  Society encourages you to take part
Image from web camera  IceAge, LK forum
Estonian text posted 21.01.2020

This weekend, January 24-26, the Estonian Ornithological Society invites you to observe and note winter garden birds. Although we have no normal winter weather it is important to report the observation results even when no birds are encountered.

Everyone who is interested can take part in the winter garden bird observations in their own home garden, in a nearby park or elsewhere. To take part you need to watch birds during one hour, to record all bird species encountered, and for each species the largest number of individual birds seen at any one time. The observation results must be submitted by February 2 at the latest on the computer questionnaire form or sent by regular mail to the Estonian Ornithological Society.

Photo Arne Ader
Estonian text posted 20.01.2020

Tawny owl   ( www.loodusemees.ee )

Tawny owl     Kodukakk      Strix aluco

Information for bird fans: about an hour before midnight you can hear territory calls of the male owls. In quiet weather maybe earlier too. The birds can also be heard in early morning, about an hour or one and a half before sunrise .

Photo VikipeediA
Estonian text posted 13.01.2020

Marsh fritillary, photo Le Loup Gris

Marsh fritillary       Teelehe-mosaiikliblikas       Euphydryas aurinia

Estonian Orchid Protection Club (Eesti Orhideekaitse Klubi), http://www.orhidee.ee/
Photos Arto-Randel Servet
Estonian text  posted 08.01.2020

Marsh helleborine

Marsh helleborine      Soo-neiuvaip       Epipactis palustris

Photos  Peep Männil
Estonian text posted 06.01.2020

Winter quarters of bear photographed in spring

Brown bear      Pruunkaru  or karu     Ursus arctos

Despite the snowless winter the breeding season for brown bears in Estonian forests started already in December and it can still last  until February. About sixty bears have already or will bear cubs in that period.

Written and read in Kuku radio by Kristel Vilbaste
Photos VikipeediA and Arne Ader
Estonian text  posted 28.12.2019

Climate discussions have become the most important issue for Europeans. And at a time when the decisions have already to be taken by politicians, not only by employees of the environmental protection agencies, much anger and controversy surround these.  But that something is happening to our globe is understandable even for a small child. The understanding starts with small details, the ability to look around to see how the other inhabitants of the planet live, or even those whom we meet each day in nature. I looked in my  notes about what in nature made my heart beat harder this year:

Text and photos  Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
Estonian text posted 09.01.2020

The Tree of the Year 2020 is the common spruce (Picea abies), or more precisely in English the Norway spruce. For us here in the north it is so common that we simply leave the word ”common” out of its name and so familiar that it might even be boring. So for Christmas we may bring in something more exotic, such as a fir that has been grown god knows where.

Snowy spruce forest

Yet the spruce in all its shapes is so conspicuous in our nature and culture.

Information from Estonian Ornithological Society
Photo Arne Ader
Estonian text posted 02.01.2020

Great crested grebe at nest ( www.loodusemees.ee )

Estonian text posted 12.01.2010

Looduskalender’s frequent visitors have noticed that beginning from December 20 the web and forums of Looduskalender could be extremely slow, or not accessible at all.

The reason was an unprecedented number of requests to our server in afternoons and evenings. Most of them arrived from China, sometimes also from Singapore, some but fewer from other Asian countries as well.