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This year´s pre-winter started already in the second half of November.

At the moment, a camera picture with a Christmas mood comes from Saaremaa, where even under the forest there are only patches of snow.

Our usual winter bird camera in Southeast Estonia got buried under half a meter of snow, which completely ruined our installation plans. There were power outages and at that time the camera system could not be started. We'll try again in a few weeks.

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Click on the image, a live image will open via Youtube

 

Grey-headed woodpecker    Hallpea-rähn or hallrähn      Picus canus

 

 

The rains of the last few  days have reduced the snow cover in southern Estonia significantly. The southerly winds help the movements of migratory birds – life goes steadily towards spring. It is a good time to end  the small bird feeder camera transmission. Our thanks to all viewers!

The Nordic winter is a harsh challenge not only for birds but also for mammals. Some bats fly to spend winter in warmer parts of Europe, others stay to hibernate at home. Bears, badgers, raccoon dogs, dormice, birch mice and hedgehogs also hibernate. Many quadrupeds however remain to face  hunger and cold and so do not even shy off from the dangerous proximity of humans when  searching for food and shelter. Smaller mammals – for  instance some rodents - also visit the birdfeeders.

Squirrel / Photo:  Arne Ader (www.loodusemees.ee)

Great tits, greenfinches, tree sparrows…

Those who feed birds know that the first arrivals are the great tits, already in the morning dusk – the winter bird webcam watchers notice it too.

The earliest is of course some older great tit that knows the neighbourhood thoroughly and has spent the night nearby. Together with the blue tits they cooperate peacefully and nicely in  order  – the older, larger birds are given priority. Marsh tits are the last arrivals among the tits. The first three-quarters of the hour belongs to the tits.

The season has arrived when we can observe the birds visiting the winter bird feeder and see their doings for the 13th year. The images from the winter bird feeder camera at Otepää reaches all interested watchers through the cooperation of Loodusemees, Linnuvaatleja and Looduskalender.

Screencap  IceAge, LK forum

Spring has dragged this year and with the snowy weather after the Easter holidays  the birds visited the feeder quite busily.

The birds seen in the camera this year were introduced by the Linnuvaatleja, www.linnuvaatleja.ee

Our thanks to the Looduskalender forum!

The camera operated at Otepää in the yard of  Arne Ader. The birds were fed by Balsnack, www.balsnack.ee

Until meeting again in the new season!

The northern winter is a severe scourge not only for birds but for mammals too. Some bats fly to winter quarters in warmer areas in Europe, others stay to hibernate in their native country. Bears, badgers, raccoon dogs, dormice, birch mice and hedgehogs also hibernate. Many quadrupeds however are left to face the cold and famine and in the search for shelter and food they do not even shun the dangerous closeness of humans. Smaller mammals – for instance some rodents – also visit the birdfeeders.

Already for the twelfth winter season we can observe through the webcam the birds visiting the feeder and their doings. The activities in the winter bird camera that is installed at Otepää are made avaialable to bird friends by Looduskalender, Loodusemees and Linnuvaatleja.